Short course description
The course “Journeys to the Land of Israel” offers critical insights into the importance of Israel in Judaism and Jewish life. It also deals with many of the issues and ideas that have played a pivotal role in shaping our identity as a people and sheds light on some of the key moral and political problems that we face today.
This text-based course focuses on aspects of the very first journeys to the Land of Israel as it is described in the earliest books of the Bible. It will begin with a studying of the journey of Abraham and the ideas that emerge from it and then proceed to offer insights into the importance of the land in biblical thought as well as the choice the Land of Israel in particular. The subsequent lessons will focus on problems that arose as a result of the tension between the promise of the Land and the reality on the ground, both within the community of Israel as well as in the community’s dealings with the nations in, and along the way, to the Land.
Who is the target audience?
“Journeys toward the Land of Israel”, which offers important insights into the meaning of Israel and our identity as a people through the study and analysis of selections from the biblical text, can be a source of personal enrichment for teachers of Bible, Jewish thought, Jewish history and Zionism and help provide them with tools and texts for teaching these subjects to their high school students. Furthermore, it can serve as a vital source of knowledge for the intelligent and interested lay person who seeks to deepen his or her knowledge and understanding of some of the burning issues of our time.
Goals
- To foster a deeper understanding of the centrality of Israel in Judaism and some of the key principles which have shaped our identity as a people.
- To instill an appreciation for the biblical text and of its meaning and relevance for contemporary Jews.
- To enrich students by providing a forum for an ongoing dialogue with others who will share their perspectives on the text and on its meaning and significance.
- To cultivate an engaging and thoughtful community of learners who will use this course as a springboard for continued study.
Time commitment
This course is a serious and challenging text based course that requires 4-6 hours weekly over a period of 4 weeks.
Course Description
This course is comprised of 5 units.
Unit 1– Methodology
Unit 2 – “Moving to a New Land – Fears and Hopes – The Story of Abraham”
In this unit we will discuss some of the fears and hopes that are related to moves from one place to another and the extent to which these are reflected in Abraham’s dramatic move from his native land to the Land of Israel.
Unit 3 – “Why a Land? Why the Land of Israel?”
In this unit we will try to understand why God called upon Abraham to move from his native land to the Land of Israel. In addressing this question we will discuss both the relationship between land and people-hood in general and the relationship between the Land of Israel and the People of Israel in particular.
Unit 4 – “Preparing for Entry into the Land”
In this unit we will move forward in biblical history to the time in which the promise to Abraham regarding the Land was on the verge of fulfillment. We will see the “mission” that was sent in preparation for the imminent entry into the Land, the reactions of the people and the leadership to this mission, and the way in which the mission affected the journey into the Land.
Unit 5 – “Ethical Concerns in the Journey toward the Promised Land”
In this lesson we will discuss the role that ethics played in determining both the length and the course of the journey toward the Promised Land. We will see the critical role that concern for the territorial rights of other nations played in the fulfillment of the divine promise.
Methodology
The Structure of the Units – Each of the 4 content units includes the study of texts of the Torah (Bible), either individually or in chevruta (pairs or groups) as well as discussions on issues and themes that are related to the text study. The text study will be prefaced by a series questions to help guide students through the texts and then followed by the teacher’s analysis of the texts. It is assumed that students will abide by the honor system and not refer to the analysis of the teacher until the completion of their assigned text study. Each of the content units will include a 5-10 minute lecture that will parallel the answers provided in written form. At the end of the second unit and at the conclusion of the course there will be a live event focusing on certain issues studied in the course and their contemporary relevance.
The Text – The central text of the course is the Torah (Bible). However, due to educational considerations, we will not be including the relevant sections of the Torah in each unit. Thus, it is imperative that students of the course be equipped with their own English version of the Torah. We strongly recommend the JPS translation and we strongly recommend the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh in which the Hebrew appears alongside the English. On the few occasions in which we will be discussing Torah commentaries, we will provide the text on screen.
Interactive Learning – Our approach to learning is interactive and this course is designed accordingly. The course includes chevruta (pair, or group) assignments, discussions on the Discussion Board and live events. Furthermore, students are welcome to contact the teacher via e-mail with any questions or comments relating to the material of the course and can expect a swift reply.
Relevance – Both the selection of topics as well as the way in which these topics are presented and studied reflects maximum concern for contemporary relevance. We will try to show how many of the issues addressed in the text help shed light on some of the critical issues that we face today, such as the challenges to Jewish faith and commitment, defining the role and significance of Israel for the Jewish people, the problem of Israel in the media, and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Requirements – Students are expected to spend between 4-6 hours on each unit. However, since this course is being run as a pilot and does not yet offer students the option of formal accreditation, no research paper will be assigned. Nevertheless, at the completion of the course, students will be asked to write a 2-3 page reflective evaluation.
