In a world that continues to see acts of hatred and violence daily, it is more important than ever to support students as they develop a strong ethical compass and a critical lens by which to engage what they see, hear, and encounter. Social media and other social networks normalize extremist views, and teenagers face the challenge of engaging one another in civil discourse. It can be easy to share particular views with those who agree with us, but are we giving our students the tools they need to express their opinion while leaving room for someone else’s differing viewpoint?
Through meaningful reflection and emotional engagement with traditional Jewish text, students are able to form opinions about real concepts such as power, systems of inequity, and multiple ways of being human in our world today. When students are supported by their teachers to critically engage with the conflicts, themes, and personal narratives in complex Judaic texts, they have the opportunity to relate their own choices to those made by individuals outside of their lived experiences. By utilizing specific strategies and educational approaches, some traditional to the study of Jewish text, students also gain the skills needed to make their own voices heard while ensuring that they are open to the voices of others.
As an example, students reflect on Avraham and Sarah’s journey away from the home of their childhood to an unknown country where they would resettle and build their family utilizing such essential questions such as:
How is identity shaped and reshaped by my circumstances? In what ways is identity fluid and malleable?
How does immigration affect the identities of individuals, communities, and nations?
How do the legacies of past events influence us and our world today?
Universal questions like these encourage students to think about their own family stories of immigration as well as the stories of others who might be part of the mass migration taking place in our world today. The goal is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions, grounded in Jewish identity and values, that will empower them to actively and thoughtfully participate in their local, national, and global communities. In this example, students have the opportunity to develop and practice sharing their unique point of view on the topics of immigration and the refugee experience.
The Jewish education team at Facing History and Ourselves supports educators as they guide students to deeply reflect on complex Jewish texts through an exploration of human behavior and decision making. It is essential for our students to explore the role of perspective-taking, ethical reflection and building empathy and to put those values into practice in daily classroom interactions.
In an often-bifurcated curriculum, general and Judaic studies appear to students to be two distinct pieces of their education, and perhaps of their identities, without understanding the powerful connections between the two disciplines and how each enriches the other. Our goal is for students to find their own point of view and understand the implication of their choices, applying these skills across the curriculum in one holistic educational experience. We strive to educate students to build a capacity for civic agency and to stand up for democracy against acts of hate and bigotry. This, all while learning how to listen and engage in brave conversations across differences.