Introduction
This Israel Forever activity was designed to address the issues of political identity and the struggle of diaspora Jews who are often asked to choose between the land of their birth and the land of their heritage, Zion.
The Israel Forever Foundation develops and promotes opportunities to strengthen and celebrate personal connections to Israel.
Learning Objectives
- Identify various factors that shape identity
- Students will understand the elements that make up the Jewish/Soviet identities
- Students will understand how the Israel impacted both these identities
Procedure
In this lesson, students will learn that like Jews from other diaspora communities, Jews living in the former USSR were extremely marginalized. Years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Jews from Soviet countries are still referred to as “Soviet/Russian Jews”, by others and by themselves, wherever they live (Israel or the Diaspora). These Jews still speak Russian, eat Russian foods, sing Russian songs, read Russian books, watch the Russian news.
Students will discuss how these two different identities.
To view the complete lesson plan from the Israel Forever Foundation click here.
View Lesson plan
Click here to view the full lesson.
Contributing Organization
