High School Israel Education

Students in the High School explore the place of Israel in Jewish consciousness from the ancient world to today, looking closely at how that connection to Israel manifests into a modern Jewish nation-state and framing their own relationship with the state of Israel and her people. 

The High School offers many opportunities to engage with Israel, both inside and outside the classroom. Our Israel engagement program offers opportunities throughout the year for students to explore contemporary events happening in Israel, to meet with guests both virtually and in-person as we learn about various aspects of Israeli society and history, and to celebrate Israeli holidays and commemorations communally. Our Israeli students lead a meaningful, somber commemoration marking Yom Ha-Zikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) before students and faculty gather together for the Silberg Family Yom Ha-atzma-ut Celebration. Students engage in various learning opportunities about Israeli culture and society, dine on a scrumptious falafel lunch, and celebrate with our annual Zimriyah - a song and dance festival in which each grade performs a modern Israeli song as part of a fun, festive, and friendly competition.

Students engage with academic learning about Israel in their Jewish text, Jewish history, and Hebrew classes, continuing to add nuance and complexity to the history learned earlier in their years at CESJDS. 9th grade students explore the foundations of the Biblical kingdom of Israel and discuss the beginning of the longing for Zion from the Babylonian Exile through the Medieval period. In 10th grade, students learn about the groundwork for why Zionism develops in its modern form as they explore the evolution of both European and American Jewish communities. 11th grade students study the History of Modern Israel in a survey course exploring Israel in-depth, from the rise of modern Zionism to today. Students utilize an academic approach to inform their own relationship to Israel in these courses, learning the tools of discourse and discussion that will empower them to dialogue about Israel on the college campus and beyond.

The 11th and 12th grade curricula offer additional opportunities to study Contemporary Israeli Society through a sociological and anthropological lens, and to dive deep into the History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Students utilize primary and secondary sources to explore a multitude of perspectives on the Conflict, as they look for ways to move forward toward resolution. 

Hebrew classes offer students the opportunity to engage with the culture of Israel through use of authentic Hebrew texts and Hebrew language. Students continue their relationship with students in the Keshet Schools in Israel as they prepare to travel to Israel after graduation. 

At the close of their 12th grade year, students explore and grapple with Israel on college campus through our Zitelman Senior Seminars. This is an opportunity to gain advocacy skills and to consider how they will take everything they have learned about Israel and the relationship they have built with them beyond CESJDS.