Embrace Your Inner Girl – Powerful (even with the Rachel Corrie reference)

Last Updated on Saturday, 30 January 2010 08:31 Written by bryfy Friday, 29 January 2010 08:27

Today I was blown away by a video I saw: Eve Ensler from Vagina Monologues was speaking at a TED conference in India.

There is one line, in the 20 minute presentation, that some/many Jews might have a problem with (others might agree) – it is a reference to Rachel Corrie, a 23 year old peace activist who was killed on March 16, 2003 when she was crushed by a bulldozer on the Gaza Strip. Admittedly I was taken aback by the reference, which appeared to be out of context and over-simplified in order to make a point.

Despite the one line – I think that Ensler’s presentation is powerful and a must view for any one involved in the education of today’s youth – especially the education of young women.

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.