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A Hanukkah Letter From Moscow
In this lesson, young students will be introduced to the idea that Jewish people in the Soviet Union were not free to express themselves as Jews or to emigrate to a different country.
June 19, 2018
Purim: Hidden Identities
One of the central ideas in the book of Esther is the concept of concealed identities. The Jews are spread out amongst the Persian Empire, Haman calls for their destruction, and little does he know that the queen herself is a Jew. It is a story of overcoming a tyrannical empire and using identity to bolster and empower the community; very similar to what the Soviet Jews faced.
June 18, 2018
Hanukkah and Soviet Jewry
This lesson reviews the theme of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as a metaphor for hope in the face of darkness.
Winter Holidays and Jewish Identity in the Soviet Union
In this lesson students will examine ways in which Jewish identity interacts with other cultures and practices, in particular in the former Soviet Union.
June 17, 2018
Escape Room Activity
In this lesson, students will learn about the struggle of the Soviet Jews in the 1970s and the different ways in which they fought back against the oppressive regime that denied them the right to emigrate.
The Fall of the Iron Curtain
In this lesson, students will learn about the fall of the Iron Curtain and about the release of the Jews from the Soviet Union and its aftermath.
Social Action Reading and Discussion
In this lesson, students will learn about the importance of social action and will think creatively to promote causes for which they see a need to take action.
Zionism and Aliyah
In this lesson, students will learn classical sources related to Jews living in the Land of Israel and will debate the issue of making Aliyah today.
Freedom on Passover
In this lesson, students will explore the meaning of freedom and will reflect on slavery and freedom in the lives of the Refuseniks and in their own lives.
Profiles on Courage Research Project
Students will research different personalities from the Soviet Jewry movement. They will determine what motivated them, what happened to them, and what happened to them after the movement ended.
June 14, 2018
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