The Passion of an Experiential Educator

Last Updated on Friday, 8 April 2011 09:23 Written by bryfy Friday, 8 April 2011 09:23

Often when I ask groups to articulate the most important qualities of educators the word “passion” rises to the top of the list. Up there with charisma it is one of those elusive elements that many claim helps to make for great educators.

I am reminded by a colleague that the word “passion” has its origins Middle English/Old French/Medieval Latin and stems from the word passiō that describes Christ’s pain and suffering on the cross – hardly the qualities that many of us would associate with that which is necessary to be a great educator (although perhaps reminding some of us of those terrible classroom moments we may have experienced at some stage of our careers).

This week I had the fortune to explore the word “passion” in real time. Combining it with my affinity for experiential education and my ongoing curiosity of learning things from the “other”  I found myself at The Holyland Experience, a theme park in Orlando – a “biblical museum that takes you 7000 miles away and 2000 years back in time to the land of the Bible. Its unique sights, sounds and tastes stimulate your senses and blend together to create a spectacular, new experience.” And that it certainly did. Some of you might recognize the theme park from Bill Maher’s “Religulous.”

Before visiting the theme park I had told a receptionist that I was (a Jewish educator) and that I was mainly interested in the first half of the park. He didn’t find that quite as amusing as I thought he might but he also insisted that I would enjoy the whole experience if I allowed myself the chance to feel comfortable. But it was in this experience that I was confronted by the origin of the word “passion.”

As I walked into the theme park there was something quite welcoming. Being greeted by a scene of the Old City of Jerusalem, then the shuk (market place), followed by the Ten Commandments,  Noah’s ark and finally Jonah inside the belly of a whale (or a big fish), all combined to make me feel strangely at home – a Jewish theme park perhaps. (I was also  slightly bummed to miss the David and Goliath performance.)

As I rounded the corner I found myself standing within a massive replica of the Second Temple, a visual of  the Church of Gethsemane,  and  a miniature model of ancient Jerusalem adjacent to the Shofar auditorium.  again all of this was eerily familiar to someone who has spent considerable time living and touring in Jerusalem.

And then as the clock struck 5 and the crowds started moving toward the ampitheater for the final show of the day: “Behold the Lamb: The Passion Drama.” And it was really here that my journey became a bit foreign.

But just in case I thought I was becoming completely separated from this story there were constant reminders to let me know that I was also part of this narrative. There were mutterings of Hebrew throughout the performance. There were icons and Jewish symbols embedded in the characters costume and language. And notice the shroud that is being held up after Jesus’s body is removed from the tomb – a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl).

Later on I learned that the financial savior of the theme park was a Jewish man who had converted to Christianity – or at least that is what my taxi driver told me.But whatever the background it was clear to me that there were some very serious Jewish underpinnings to this theme park

By this stage of the “performance” many in the audience were crying in what was clearly a powerful and emotional experience for them. As Jesus’s body disappeared from the tomb  we were all asked to move toward the Second Temple site for the grand finale of the play. As if we all didn’t already know the ending!

The day ended in mass, with Several people praying with their hands raised to the sky and echoing calls of “amen” and “halleluyah.” By this stage I felt enough out of place to remove myself from the prayer service.

As if I wasn’t confused and troubled already, listen to the music being played in the Jerusalem marketplace as I left the Holyland experience.

The experience, as you can probably tell left a profound impact on me. I wonder why so many people go to this theme park. I wonder how young people feel as they walk through the experience – and as I heard at least one family comment – tomorrow they would be going to Disney World.

The day certainly left me with more questions than answers and so I am turning to some of you to help me better understand some of the many questions that i was left with after this experience:

1. Where do we as Jewish educators derive our “passion”? Is passion in Jewish life also derived from such pain and suffering? Even last week I was asked by someone why when we as Jews recount our most significant Jewish stories that so often they are associated with painful moments?

2. What does this theme park tell us about experiential education? How much does one really need to re-live an historical moment in order to empathize with it?

3. If you were to create a Jewish theme park – what would your grand finale show be? And for those of you who are feeling slightly more creative – what sort of ride could you imagine in a Jewish theme park?