Israel Education: Myth or Reality

Last Updated on Saturday, 5 December 2009 12:11 Written by bryfy Sunday, 8 November 2009 09:28

Teaching about Israel is not as simple as it might first appear. One of the first issues that all educators need to consider is which Israel they want to portray – a mythical image or a realistic one.

On one hand you don’t want to fill people with mythical images of the country that once used to be. Believe me I have seen many activities even today that ask children to pick oranges, make sheep out of cotton wool and milk plastic gloves that barely resemble cows – all in the name of re-creating a classical Israel.

On the other hand I have also seen activities which deliberately try to shock and awe youth into seeing all of the scars and warts of Israeli society.

Obviously the best practices in Israel education lie somewhere in between – but this may not be as simple as it first seems.