Learners in our fourth grade embark on a geographical and historical study of the land, people, and state of Israel. Over the last ten weeks, they’ve explored Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well as the Negev and Galilee regions. They’ve learned about lone soldiers and the IDF, about the Druze, Bedouin, and Arab populations in Israel, and about the re-development of the Hebrew language in the modern state. This lesson is meant to help illustrate the connection between us, in the Diaspora, and Israel.

One of the ways that we support Israel is through our tzedakah giving. The lesson pictured here empowers the learners as they begin their own philanthropic journeys. How do we choose the causes that matter to us? Each learner researched one of five Israeli organizations, then presented their findings to their classmates. The classes then voted on an organization to receive their tzedakah that day – with a matching gift from Rabbi Phyllis.