For the Sake of Zion
Subtitle: A Curriculum of Israel Studies
Publisher: Jewish Agency for Israel; n/a
Published: 2010 (Third Edition)
Place of publication: Jerusalem, Israel
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 135
ISBN-13: 9789657118153
Description: This educator’s guide is intended to provide students with a sense of pride and understanding of modern
Zionism and its achievements.
Once Jewish students leave the protective bubble of school, home or intimate social group and enter the
“real world” of a mixed college campus, sometimes hostile to Jews and Zionism, they often find themselves
uncomfortable, on the defensive and unable to speak about Israel, in part because they lack the
knowledge of and passion for Zion.
In order to respond effectively with a sense of self-respect and to be proactive, students need commitment
and pride, as well as knowledge and tools. The units in this guide are structured to paint broadbrush
strokes of Zionist literacy and focus on heroic men and women who helped shape the Zionist
dream. This is a curriculum of “Identity Zionism.” There are many “triggers” that should lead to passionate
group discussion and debate. The clips on the suggested films listed in the index will enhance many
units. It is recommended that this course be taken in conjunction with, or as a precursor to, a college
activism piece such as the excellent curricula available from AJC and AIPAC and “The David Project,” and
of course a visit to Israel , preferably in a peer group educational touring program.
In addition, the educator should also utilise the resources provided in the appendix in order to develop
a comprehensive course on Israel that will provide the students with the specific responses to challenging
questions. The appendix includes:
1. A chronology
2. A bibliography containing recommended books to enhance each unit
3. A list of suggested films to accompany each unit
4. A list of useful educational websites
5. An index of maps and illustrations
The units are structured in the following manner:
• The first pages of each unit are the educator’s guide (blue stripe on top), followed by the student
worksheets (grey stripe on top).
• The first three units are foundation units dealing with the necessity to define Zionism in the twentyfirst
century. This involves exploring our historical and religious connections to the Land of Israel.
• The next four units concern the rise of the modern Zionist movement and the Yishuv (pre-state
Israel). Streams of Zionism will be reviewed as well as the Chalutzim (pioneers) and the hope and
betrayal of the British Mandate era.
• The culminating units relate to the Modern Jewish State, including Israel at war and peace, and acknowledge
the importance of having a Jewish country of our own after almost two stateless millennia.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: For the Sake of Zion: A Curriculum of Israel Studies; title: Unit 1: The “Z” Word; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2; title: B. Examining Current anti-Zionism/anti-Semitism on College Campuses .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 3; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 4; title: Worksheet #1 – Definitions of Zionism .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  5; title: Worksheet #2 – University of Michigan to Host “Zionism is Racism” Conference . . . . . . . . . 6; title: Worksheet #3 – Violence at Concordia University, September 2002 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 7; title: Unit 2: The Historical Connection: “A Link in the Chain”; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12; title: B. Introduction to Jewish History .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  14; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .15; title: Worksheet #1 – “Incitement and Propaganda Against Israel and Zionism” .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  16; title: Worksheet #2 – Letter of Yonatan Netanyahu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17; title: Worksheet #3 – Mark Twain, “Concerning the Jews” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18; title: Unit 3: The Religious Connection: “My Heart is in the East”; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20; title: B. Israel in our Faith: Faith in Israel .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .21; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .21; title: Worksheet #1 – Tanach: G-d’s Promise of the Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22; title: Worksheet #2 – Natan Sharansky: “Next Year in Jerusalem” .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  24; title: Worksheet #3 – Talmud: Mitzvah of Living in Israel .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  25; title: Worksheet #4 – Rashi on Genesis 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26; title: Worksheet #5 – Siddur: Theme of Zionism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27; title: Unit 4: Streams of Zionism; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30; title: B. Left, Right, Religious, and Secular .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .31; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  32; title: Worksheet #1 – The Basel Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33; title: Worksheet #2 – Political Zionism, Theodor (Benyamin Ze’ev) Herzl .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  34; title: Worksheet #3 – Cultural Zionism, Achad Ha’Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36; title: Worksheet #4 – Labour Zionism, A.D. Gordon .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  38; title: Worksheet #5 – Religious Zionism, Rabbi A.I. Kook .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 40; title: Worksheet #6 – Revisionist Zionism, Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42; title: Unit 5: The Pioneering Spirit; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46; title: B. The Chalutzim (Pioneers) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  4; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  48; title: Tuvia 3rd Edition 2010 r08 draft 06.indd 7 7/27/2010 6:44:31 AM; title: viii; title: Contents; title: Worksheet #1 – Mark Twain, “The Innocents Abroad” .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  49; title: Worksheet #2 – Chaim Nachman Bialik, “In the City of Slaughter.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50; title: Worksheet #3 – Personal Statements of Chalutzim, Rachel, and Joseph Trumpeldor . . . . . . . 52; title: Worksheet #4 – Poetry of Rachel Bluwstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55; title: Unit 6: The British Mandate – Part One: The Hope; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58; title: B. The British Mandate .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  59; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 60; title: Worksheet #1 – The Balfour Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61; title: Worksheet #2 – The McMahon Letter .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  62; title: Worksheet #3 – Maps of the Ottoman Empire Before and After World War One .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  63; title: Worksheet #4 – The Zionist Contribution to Great Britain’s War Effort: The Zion Mule Corps,; title: The Jewish Legion and Nili – Sarah Aaronson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64; title: Unit 7: The British Mandate – Part Two: The Betrayal; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68; title: B. British Betrayal .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  69; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  71; title: Worksheet #1 – League of Nations Mandate for Palestine .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  72; title: Worksheet #2 – The British Mandate White Papers .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  73; title: Worksheet #3 – Chana Szenesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75; title: Worksheet #4 – Aliyah Bet (Clandestine Immigration) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  77; title: Worksheet #5 – Chomah U’Migdal (Tower and Stockade) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 80; title: Worksheet #6 – Jewish Resistance Groups Under British Mandatory Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81; title: Worksheet #7 – Dov Gruner .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  84; title: Worksheet #8 – Orde Charles Wingate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85; title: Unit 8: The State of Israel: War and Peace – Part One: War – “The Silver Platter”; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88; title: B. The Wars .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  89; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 90; title: Worksheet #1 – Natan Alterman, “The Silver Platter.” .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  91; title: Worksheet #2 – The War of Independence (1948–49) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  92; title: Worksheet #3 – David Marcus: American Jew – Gibor Yisrael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93; title: Worksheet #4 – The Sinai Campaign (1956) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  96; title: Worksheet #5 – The Six-Day War (1967) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  97; title: Worksheet #6 – Eli Cohen and Shaul Cohen’s Bar-Mitzvah Speech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99; title: Worksheet #7 – Yom Kippur War (1973) and Avigdor Kahalani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102; title: Worksheet #8 – Lebanon War (1982) – “Operation Peace for Galilee” and Alex Singer . . . . . 104; title: Worksheet #9 – The Second Lebanon War (2006) and Michael Levin .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .106; title: Worksheet #10 – Operation Cast Lead (2008–9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108; title: Tuvia 3rd Edition 2010 r08 draft 06.indd 8 7/27/2010 6:44:31 AM; title: ix; title: Contents; title: Unit 9: The State of Israel: War and Peace – Part Two: Peace – “A Light Unto; title: the Nations”; title: A. Introduction and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110; title: B. Our Israel: Putting the ‘is’ back into Zionism .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  111; title: C. Conclusion .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 113; title: Worksheet #1 – Declaration of Independence, May 14, 1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114; title: Worksheet #2 – Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, “Nature not Nurture” .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 117; title: Worksheet #3 – Operations Moses and Solomon .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 118; title: Worksheet #4 – Israel’s Achievements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120; title: Worksheet #5 – Challenges Facing Israel in the 21st Century: Israeli Arabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121; title: Worksheet #6 – Israel’s Achievements in Medicine and Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122; title: Worksheet #7 – Ilan Ramon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123; title: Appendix; title: Chronology .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 124; title: Suggested Additional Bibliography to Enhance Each Unit .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 127; title: Useful Websites – Media, Social Action, Israel Education and General Israel Links .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 128; title: Suggested Films to Enhance Each Unit .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 132; title: Map and Illustration Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133; title: About the Author .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  . 134; title: In Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135