Israel at 60 - Israel is our Jewish Home: Integrating Israel at Home with Young Children
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand wither.
Let my tongue stick to my palate if
I cease to think of you. (Psalms 137:5-6)
Our connection to and love for Israel is at the core of a Jewish identity. Our relationship with Israel connects us to Jews all over the world. We strive to instill in young children a feeling of belonging to Israel because Israel gives us so much: a sense of pride, a connection to our history, a gathering place for all Jews, and a place to feel holy and close to God. While the concept of "country" is very difficult for young children to grasp, the concept of "home" is not. Israel is our Jewish home. We want children to love Israel, even if they don't understand just how far away it is.
Both of my children went to Israel in utero, and we took my eldest daughter there when she was a year and a half old. It was too young for her to remember the trip, surely. But later, at four years old, she knew that she had been in Israel, saw the pictures of herself standing in front of the Kotel (Western Wall), and felt connected to the place that her parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents have visited many times. She knows she will go there again (although she told her best friend Marc that while they can go to Israel to visit our friends David and Hadas, they can't live there, since it's too far from her parents).
Bringing even very young children to Israel is the best way to begin to build a strong foundation of love for Israel. But as with any destination, the more you know before you go, the more powerful the trip will be. And even with no visit to Israel on the horizon, we are bound as parents of young children to immerse children in Israel, to begin to build a foundation of love and connection to Israel. The more children feel connected to the land and people of Israel before they ever make the trip there, the more meaningful the actual trip will be, and the more long-lasting the experience and the connection to Israel.
Establishing a relationship between Israel and our children is a first step toward implanting a feeling of peoplehood within them as Jews. At a World Zionist Organization Early Childhood Conference, Dr. Ruth Pinkenson-Feldman discussed thematic approaches to teaching about Torah and the land of Torah: Israel. She said that the child in the Diaspora is born into an Israel of the imagination. Unless (or until) children go to Israel, they can only imagine what it might be like. Children worldwide need to be welcomed into a relationship with Israel.
Children have the ability to connect to Israel in different ways at different ages. The youngest children, infants to under two years old, are very concrete. They can listen to Israeli music, play with the colors and shapes of the Israeli flag (no need to “get it right,” just play), and they can learn to identify the Magen David (Jewish Star) on the Israeli flag. Two-years-olds can begin to understand that they live in a certain town, and that other people live in other places. With two-year-olds, name recognition can begin. A typical conversation might go like this: We live in Teaneck. Where does Grandma live? That’s right, Grandma lives in Chicago! And where does David (if you have a personal friend or relative living in Israel) / Kippi ben Kippod (if you watch Shalom Sesame, the Israeli version of Sesame Street) live? He lives in Israel! Three-year- olds will really enjoy learning words and songs in Hebrew, and will be able to understand that people in Israel speak Hebrew. Three-year-olds who have been on an airplane trip can understand that Israel is a long plane ride away. Four-year-olds can begin to connect to Israel as their Jewish homeland, a place where Jews from all over the world go to live. Four-year-olds can compare the weather in their own town to the weather in Israel. Four-year-olds can recognize the flag of Israel and the shape of Israel on a map. And four-year-olds can pray for peace in Israel.
There are many ways Israel can be woven into life at home. The first way is by bringing in Hebrew in playful ways. Websites like www.israeliscent.com (or just google Israeli children’s music) have wonderful Israeli children's music. Even if you don't understand all the words, the music is terrific to dance and play to, while creating a background of connection to Israel. You can also play Israeli modern artists like David Broza and Achi Noam Nini. Additionally, you can add some basic Hebrew phrases to your every day repertoire – like Boker Tov (good morning), Todah (thank you), and b’vakashah (please as well as you’re welcome).
Israeli food is another important point of connection. Beyond the typical pita, felafel and hummus fare, it is a good idea to point out, and buy, Israeli products in the grocery store. "See these oranges? Jaffa oranges come from Israel!" Chocolate, cookies, spices – you will find all sorts of foods that come from Israel, if you take the time to look. And the grocery store is not the only place you'll be surprised by the Israeli goods. Clothing, bathing suits, and hand lotions are just a few of the items that might be Israeli. When you discover an Israeli product, point it out to your child. Take delight with your child in being able to buy something from Israel. In this way, "Israel" becomes a household word.
You can also help build your child's connections to Israel by involving your child in giving tzedakah to Israel. Plant a tree through JNF and let your child pick the design of the certificate. Seek ways through your school, synagogue or local federation to give to Israel. Anything your children might be interested in using their tzedakah money for – helping children, animals, the environment, hungry people, whatever – can be supported in Israel. Talk with your child about how you are helping people in Israel, and let your child put the check in the mailbox.
As Israel is turning 60, you can find new ways to connect your children to Israel. Consider assigning your child the task of finding someone they know well who is 60 years old (give or take 1-2 years). Then have your child find someone they know well who is significantly older than 60 (70+) and ask that person to tell them what they remember about Israel becoming a state.
Jewish children need to be drawn into a relationship with Israel. Using books, stories, pictures, food and other strategies, parents need to do everything in their power to help flesh out each child's imagination of Israel so that each child begins to form a connection to and love for this home so far away.
Maxine Handelman is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Consultant for Early Childhood Education.
Israel at 60: Book Recommendations as Israel Turns 60 Years Old
As Israel celebrates its sixtieth year enjoy reading from the following book selections taken from the PJ Library (check out PJlibrary.org)
For one-year-olds:
Let's Visit Israel, by Judye Groner (published by Kar-Ben)
For two-year-olds:
It's Israel's Birthday, by Tod Cohen (published by Kar-Ben)
For three-year-olds:
Sammy Spider's First Trip to Israel, by Sylvia Rouss (published by Kar-Ben)
For five-year-olds:
Snow in Jerusalem, by Deborah da Costa (published by Albert Whitman)
For six-year-olds:
One City, Two Brothers, by Chris Smith (published by Barefoot Books)
The PJ Library seeks to engage Jewish families with young children. Each participating child receives a high quality Jewish children’s book or CD every month, through age six. Each book comes with resources to help families use the selection in their homes.
Jerusalem of Gold — A Book for Parents to Enjoy
Jerusalem serves as a cultural cornerstone in Jewish history and folklore. “That is the wonderful thing about Jerusalem: it is a place where the historical and the legendary meet.” – From Jerusalem of Gold: Jewish Stories of the Enchanted City
Jerusalem, throughout history, has been central to the life of the Jewish people – so much so that in ancient times it was often portrayed as the center of the world. This sacred city has two histories: one is the actual history and the other is a legendary one. Each is vitally important. Now – as we approach Israel’s 60th year – is an important time to teach children about Jerusalem.
Jerusalem of Gold: Jewish Stories of the Enchanted City (Jewish Lights Publishing/ August 2003/ Hardcover), retold by Howard Schwartz and illustrated by Neil Waldman, is a collection of some of the finest timeless tales ever told about Jerusalem. Collected from a wide variety of sources, ranging from the Talmud to midrash to Jewish folklore and mysticism, these retellings are beautiful and meaningful, fantastical and true – inviting readers to honor the traditions and wisdom of the sacred city.
Jerusalem of Gold: Jewish Stories of the Enchanted City reinforces that everything in Jerusalem is sacred – from the dust under one’s feet to the sun that shines down on the golden city. It celebrates this holy place that has been a rich resource for the Jewish imagination for three thousand years. Readers will discover inspiring classic tales, including:
- The Bird of Happiness
- How the Walls of the Temple Were Built
- The Miracle of King David’s Tomb
- Rabbi Nachman’s Chair and many more
Replete with illustrations and historic background, Jerusalem of Gold will help deepen understanding of Jewish tradition and the words that helped it survive. This book answers such intriguing questions as: “Why is the Western Wall so important?”; “Where did the very first vampire story come from?”; and, “What did the Red Sea look like as the children of Israel passed through it on their journey to Egypt?”
