Improving Israel Education in North American Day Schools

Faculty of the Melton Centre at Hebrew University conducted both a field wide scan of how Israel is taught in Jewish day schools across North America, as well as an intensive study of 16 schools’ efforts in this area. The findings revealed that few schools utilize their full potential to achieve the outcomes defined by the Melton Centre: nurturing (1) an appreciation of Israel’s central place in Judaism and Jewish life; (2) an understanding of the origins of the State of Israel and its contemporary experience; and (3) meaningful life-long relationships with the State and people of Israel.  Instead, the report described a field confused by a lack of clear educational purposes.