March 1, 2024

Am I responsible for Israel?

Overview This resource examines our relationship with Israel through the value of responsibility. At-a-Glance:

This resource was created in partnership with Unpacked for Educators. This resource explores the complex realm of personal responsibility and its intersection with our connection to Israel. It gets us to think about the intricate tension between chosen and thrust responsibilities, inviting participants to reflect on their motivations and values in carrying out these obligations. The session includes a thought-provoking activity using Hanan ben Ari’s song, “Moledet,” “Homeland,” to deepen our understanding of the impact of events in Israel on our lives and the sense of responsibility they evoke. Participants will leave with meaningful commitments to navigate this delicate balance effectively.

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Full Resource

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Frame The Issue

Explore The Value: Responsibility

Activity

Jewish Anchor

Prompt Action

Close with intention

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Frame The Issue

Read the following for context: Many of us feel connected to Israel, whether due to our Jewish identity, personal experiences, or a sense of shared heritage. At the same time, the question of responsibility for Israel is a difficult one. Who are we responsible for as Jewish individuals? Do we get to choose our responsibilities or are some thrust upon us? Do we bear a responsibility for Israel, and if so, what form should it take? How do we navigate our connection to Israel and the impact of its events on our lives? In this resource, we’ll explore the inherent tension between feeling dependent on Israel’s well-being while seeking independence in our actions.

Facilitator prompts the group:

Reflect on your personal ties to Israel. What aspects of your identity or experiences connect you to the country?
How do events in Israel impact you, whether you actively engage with them or not?

Explore The Value: Responsibility

Read the following: Responsibility can be a complex web, intertwining our sense of duty, our choices, and the expectations thrust upon us. It often involves navigating the balance between dependence and interdependence. Do we willingly embrace certain responsibilities, or are they imposed upon us? How does that impact our acceptance or resistance to certain responsibilities? Are our responsibilities towards Israel a choice we make, or are they inherent due to our shared identity? How do we navigate the tension between the responsibilities we choose and those that are thrust upon us, especially in the context of our connection to Israel?

Facilitator prompts the group:

Share a moment when you have willingly chosen responsibilities, and how these choices have impacted your life.
Share a time when responsibilities were imposed on you, and how you navigated the expectations of others.
How do you perceive your responsibilities towards Israel? Use the scale below to plot yourself on a spectrum of choice---interdependence (with the Jewish community).

Choice-------------------------------------------------------------------------Interdependence

Activity

CIRCLES OF RESPONSIBILITY: Facilitator prompts the group:

Create a visual representation on paper with three circles, one inside the other. In the innermost circle, jot down the people, groups, and places for which you feel the highest level of responsibility. In the middle circle, list those for whom you feel a moderate level of responsibility, and in the outermost circle, note those for whom you perceive the least level of responsibility.
Pair up with another participant and take turns sharing your circles of responsibilities. Make sure to explain the reasoning behind your choices.

Then, reflect:

What patterns or values influenced your choices as you created your circles of responsibility?

-Reflect on the innermost circle - what does it reveal about your core values and significant relationships?

-Consider the outermost circle - why did certain responsibilities end up there, and what factors contributed to your perception of lower responsibility?

Where in your circles did you see the tension between chosen and thrust responsibilities in your life?
Did Israel feature in any of your circles? Why or why not?

Pair up with a havruta/partner and compare your answers.

Jewish Anchor

Scan the QR code or click here to listen to the song “Moledet,””Homeland,” by Hanan ben Ari. This song was written after the Oct. 7th 2023 war broke out between Israel and Hamas. You can follow along in the English copy of the lyrics below:

Homeland

I hope that you still preserve happy moments as a reminder once people still wrote to you here songs in notebooks do you remember?

The sleeping beauty until when will you bleed? in the streets everyone without a window nor a ladder also there is no door or a sign

So I sing to you an ancient song an ancient song an ancient song I remain faithful to you faithful always always

The prophets predicted you differently someone fell asleep during the watch where is the dream no truth and no peace also no justice only a fissure

So I sing to you an ancient song an ancient song an ancient song I remain faithful to you faithful always always i'll never break in peace and in distress in sweetness and in bitterness only with you I sing only with you I sing

You are the special only one you will always be my homeland even on the edge of the abys even inside Hell itself

You are the Garden of Eden the Garden of Eden

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/moledet-homeland.html

Facilitator prompts the group:

What do you think is the message of this song?
Select a few phrases from the song that resonate for you when considering how you view your responsibility to Israel.
Where in the song do you feel a tension between dependence and independence with regard to responsibility?

Prompt Action

Facilitator shares the following prompt with the participants: Please take two minutes to respond to the following prompt in writing: Reflect on the circles of responsibility you created and the tension between chosen and thrust responsibilities. Identify one concrete step or action you can take to better navigate and embrace your responsibilities, both chosen and thrust, in your connection to Israel and your broader community.

As a result of this session, one way I can better navigate the tension between my chosen and thrust responsibilities is: ________________

Facilitator prompts the group: If you are comfortable, please pair up with another participant and share your commitments. Then, reflect on the following:

How might you balance independence and dependence in your responsibilities moving forward?
How might you navigate this tension specifically in your relationship with Israel?

Close with intention

Facilitator reads to summarize: In this resource, we delved into the complexities of navigating our responsibilities, both chosen and thrust, in our personal lives and in connection to Israel. We examined the tension between dependence and independence within these obligations, exploring the motivations behind different responsibilities and what that signifies about our core values and identity. Additionally, we considered how events in Israel impact us, often regardless of our intentions, and the resulting influence on our sense of responsibility.

One way I’m thinking differently about responsibility after this session is:__________________________

Please check me, something wrong

Facilitator reads to summarize:

In this resource, we delved into the complexities of navigating our responsibilities, both chosen and thrust, in our personal lives and in connection to Israel. We examined the tension between dependence and independence within these obligations, exploring the motivations behind different responsibilities and what that signifies about our core values and identity. Additionally, we considered how events in Israel impact us, often regardless of our intentions, and the resulting influence on our sense of responsibility.

One way I’m thinking differently about responsibility after this session is:__________________________

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