The State of Israel - Past, Present, and Future - How did we get here and what comes next?
In the aftermath of the devastation that befell the State of Israel and the Jewish People, which began on Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023, many may have found themselves on very shaky ground. How did this happen, why did this happen, what actually happened, how can I explain how I feel and why. Join Israeli tour guide and Jewish educator, Uri Feinberg for a deep dive into the history of the State of Israel that will offer a first step towards creating a broader, stronger foundation of knowledge on which to stand. This history will allow for a more solid introduction to the events of the current war, from its painful beginning through what tomorrow may bring.
The State of Israel is a vibrant, pulsating, historic, energetic, challenging and challenged heart of the Jewish People. Did we mention layered, complex and beautiful? Join us for a journey through the history of the young state. We will begin our journey with the early days of Zionism. Creating a foundation of knowledge that will take us through the turn of the century, and the British mandate period, we will be better equipped to experience the founding of the State, together. As we traverse that Mt. Sinai-esque moment in 1948, we will continue through the earlier and more recent decades of the State of Israel, engaging with the momentous occasions, the prideful peaks and precarious pitfalls.
These moments, of course, all accompany the living and breathing entity that is the Jewish State itself, with its successes and failures. We will then tackle Oct. 7th and the events of this current war. Following almost two years of war, our second conclusion will not only provide us with a deep dive into the events of this war, it will allow us a glance towards what’s next, and given the recent events in Iran, there may be no real way to predict. Either way, over 8 lectures, we will have an opportunity to strengthen what we already know about Israel, add information that wasn’t previously there, and regardless of our opinions about Israel, allow us to ask ourselves (and maybe even answer) much more securely, how does all this relate to us and why do we care?
Classes meet on Zoom on Mondays and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. for 75-90 min.
Registration is required
Feb 9th and 12th
Feb 16th and 19th
Feb 23rd and 26th
March 2nd and March 5th
Uri Feinberg has been a Jewish educator for 30 years. Born in the US, Uri immigrated to Israel when he was ten, grew up in Jerusalem, served in the IDF, and then traveled the world. Uri has a Master’s Degree from the Hebrew University in Contemporary Jewish Studies, and was a Jewish history teacher for North American teens, in semester programs in Israel, for many years. A licensed tour guide since 1999, Uri has worked as a tour educator for a wide range of groups including synagogue, Federation, URJ and CCAR leadership, interfaith, multi-generational and more. He has guided Jewish heritage trips throughout Europe and has lectured on Israel and Jewish identity across North America. Uri and his family live in the city of Modi’in, and are active members of their Reform congregation, YOZMA. Uri’s experience has been driven by a clear desire to share the power of the Land and State of Israel, to strengthen Jewish identity and a connection with the Jewish People. With his unique perspective, Uri recognizes that this process includes building bridges and having the ability to inspire and to be inspired.
Session 1: The foundation of Zionism: Was this in fact the beginning? We will begin in the middle of the 19th century, looking forward but with a glimpse behind us. We will follow this new movement through its unity and division, its ideology and practice. This will propel us towards WWI where we find the early Zionists with a foot on the ground and hands in it. We will also be on the cusp of changing tides as new outside forces begin their pressure on the land and on those in it.
Session 2: WWI and The British Mandate will leave its mark, for better and for worse, on the region, on the Jews and on the Arabs living here. Maps, letters and agreements will create a tidal wave of events that will sweep through the region during the war, and pave the way for the rise of British control in what will become known as the British Mandate of Palestine.
Session 3: Following the first decade of the Mandate, what seemingly was a slow trot will turn into a gallop. Immigrations, legal and clandestine; partitions accepted and rejected; city- scapes and agricultural fields. Tension, threat and hope, all set the stage for the Sinai-esque moment of the founding of the State of Israel.
Session 4: With yearning now behind us, living as a sovereign in our land is a miracle manifest. With doors open for the ingathering of Jews around the world, great heights will be reached even when missteps and mistakes are made along the way. Achievement and challenge will present itself, as we continue through the momentous early decades of the young state.
Session 5: The momentous early decades will dissipate into our own growth spurt- growing pains and all. This will include continued ‘wars of no other choice’ and their appropriate success and failures. We will engage with great elation both external and internal as all of our best wishes for ourselves will manifest themselves even when it seems as if the still young state of Israel is destined to face multiple challenges. As the State undergoes upheaval, political and otherwise, Israel will reach beyond its borders once again to take care of its own. This however will also bring familiar missteps along the way. Great courage will be found in war and in peace as visions for new tomorrow arise and fall.
Session 6: Uprising and startups, disengagement and disillusionment, hope and hanging in there, we will now make our way through the momentous latter decades. Becoming a nation amongst the nations, internal strife, pride and power, overcoming threat, internal and external, success at home while reaching out to help the world. All of these descriptions don’t do justice to all that the State of Israel has seen, done, been proud of, and been devastated by- and this all before 2023. Hopefully by the end of our first 6 sessions, we will strengthen a foundation of knowledge about the Jewish State, we will be able to zoom out and zoom in, contextualize and be ready for what comes next.
Sessions 7,8 and if needed, 9: What happened on October 7- what happened to the State of Israel, what happened to Israelis what happens next. We will take a closer look at the events that began on this terrible day and led the state of Israel into a state of war. Everything is on the table because we have everything to lose: An open conversation about the war in Israel, based on any and all questions you might have, even when the conversation isn't easy, including very difficult answers, even when there isn't always one to give. However, true success will be established if we can part ways and feel comfortable asking the question- why do I feel this why about Israel, what do I think and why do I care?