The Jewish world in the age of coronavirus – A special Israel Hayom project
Part IV: Can Israel replace Jewish summer camps?
Last year's civics matriculation exam left out a section on Diaspora Jewry. But since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it seems natural that the missing section be required and taught with great attention in the next few years. Recognizing the various Diaspora communities as equal members of the Jewish people should highlight the role Israel plays in helping them develop and flourish, especially at a time of global crisis.
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When it comes to the world of formal Jewish education, the civics exam notes that "Israel must work to inculcate Jewish legacy, education, and culture to the Jews of the Diaspora." And some think that the COVID-19 crisis could be a landmark moment for Israel to define that role.
"Israel can and should help more in completing the educational experience for participants in Jewish summer camps whose activity has been canceled, and even fly them to Israel," says former MK Dr. Einat Wilf.
"At the same time, we should move ahead with organizational and technical help to yeshivas and synagogues in the Diaspora where precious time has been lost for studying or distance learning. All this comes from the fact that Israel is the strongest force in the Jewish world, and therefore has responsibility for the Jewish people's welfare and future."
According to Wilf, "As a state, it is time to bring an end to the exile structure that grants authority to rabbis. Of course, they can interpret texts and be teachers, and in my opinion, that is the message we must send to the Jewish people. Over time, the goal of the State of Israel is to be a state in which there is no rabbinical authority, but rather sovereignty by Jews who decide their own fate. That's the idea that in my opinion completes the Zionist revolution."
According to Ami Infeld, director of the Melitz Jewish Zionist education programs, "The foremost mission we must teach is to ensure that Judaism and the Jewish people remain meaningful and relevant for generations to come."
"Every generation requires people to look at themselves as if they just left Egypt, to look inward and ask himself how people can free themselves in their own time. The corona crisis has simply accelerated the dissemination of our messages."
Infeld explains that Jewish education must take an integrative approach. "The educational challenge is to teach modern, multidimensional Jewishness and focus on personal choice of elements of identity and how each choice promotes the overall mission."
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