The Promise to Avraham

Reflect on today's discussion regarding God's promise to Avraham. Imagine that you are Sarah, wife of Avraham, and your husband has just related to you that your family will inherit the land of Israel. Writing in the voice of Sarah, answer the following questions:

• How does this promise make you feel? What emotions are you experiencing?
• How will your life be changed by it?
• How will your husband’s life be changed by it?
• What responsibilities come with this promise?

Zionism: Linking Old and New

In today's 3-2-1, a student astutely noted that it is very hard in today's world to hold on to one's roots. She expressed admiration for the State of Israel which has been able to hold on to the Jewish past in a modern society. Please consider this point and reflect on the following:  

1) In your view, what specifically does Israel hold onto that is difficult for it to do? Give two examples of ways in which Israel has held on to its roots and explain why it has been hard to do so. 
2) In a society in which "new and improved" is valued, and "old" is considered obsolete, how can we effectively explain to others why we/Israel continue to hold on to the "old." What argument would you make to someone in this regard? 

Zionism I: Anti-Semitism in 19th Century Europe

Assume the role of a blogger reporting on anti-Semitism in 19th century Europe. Write a blog post summarizing the Damascus Blood Libel, Mortara Affair, rise of Romantic Nationalism, the Dreyfus Affair and the 1881-1882 pogroms and the impact they all had on the Jews of Europe.

Zionism II: The Irgun

Please read the following short article on an aspect of the Irgun that we have not covered in class: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/irgunill.html and answer the following questions: 


1. What aspect of the Irgun does the article highlight? 
2. Does this article change your perception of the Irgun in any way? Why or Why not? 
3. The argument has been made that there is a difference between a terrorist organization and an organization that carries out terrorist acts. Do you agree or disagree with this distinction? Why? Could this distinction apply to the Irgun? Why or why not? 

Zionism I: Historical Context for the Emergence of Zionism

If Moses Mendelssohn, Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch and the Chatam Sofer were all to come to your house for Shabbos dinner and you were able to ask each of them two questions, what would you ask?

Zionism II: Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Revisionist Zionism

Read and listen to the Betar anthem at:http://www.saveisrael.com/jabo/jabobetar.htm and post answers to the following questions:

1) What images does the music evoke?
2) What themes emerge from the lyrics?
3)  Based on our discussion in class about Betar, is this anthem appropriate for the youth group? Why or why not?

Zionism II: Tefilla L'Shlom HaMedina/Prayer for the Welfare of State of Israel

Every Shabbat, many shuls read the Tefilla L'Shlom HaMedina which opens: "Heavenly Father, Israel’s Rock and Redeemer, bless the State of Israel, the first flowering of our redemption.." Please read remarks given by Rabbi Yaakov Bieler about this tefilla:  http://www.kmsynagogue.org/RabbiSpeeches/5764/Geulatainu.html Please respond to the following:

1) Give two reasons why Rabbi Ariel (as cited by Rabbi Bieler) considers our era to be the "pre-Messianic" age.
2) Give two difficulties, according to Rabbi Bieler, of why it is hard to call our current era "pre-Messianic."
3) Give two things, according to Rabbi Bieler, that we can do to jump start the Messianic age.
4) Do you think the modern State of Israel marks the early stirrings of the Messianic era? Why or why not?

Instructions: Answers to Questions 1-3 should be sent to me via e-mail while the answer to Question 4 should be posted on the blog.