Theodor Herzl joined us on Tuesday for a surprise visit. He told us about his experiences with anti-semitism as a journalist in France and Austria and role in the birth of the modern Zionist movement. Oddly, his beard kept falling off.Our class watched several excerpts from the Israeli documentary series Pillar of Fire. We viewed footage from the infamous Dreyfus affair and an interview with a delegate from the Sixth Zionist Congress, recalling the decision whether or not to accept Britian's offer of a Jewish homeland in Uganda. Lastly, students pretended they were delegates at the Congress. They wrote and delivered speeches encouraging their fellow delegates to vote either for or against creating a Jewish state in Uganda. Here are 2 of the speeches - feel free to cast your vote in the comments section of the blog!
Jennie:
I think that we should vote for the Uganda Plan. I think we should because then we can have a place of our own. I also think that we should take this offer because then we could build up a great community for us to live in. Also, if we never get to Israel/Palestine then we waited for nothing. This is a good offer but if we turn it down we might not get another offer like this.
Isaiah S:
The idea is horrible.If the Jews should have a place to live, it should be Zion - only Zion. Was Uganda the promised land? NO! More than one person was promised Zion. All the Jews were promised Israel. I say we turn it down and wait for Zion. Whatever happens we should stick together.
Morah Amy
1 comment:
Great Stuff! I heard that the Uganda arguments were pretty compelling, overall, tho' IM must say that Im' glad we ultimately followed Isaiah's lead on this one...Still, pretty interesting to sort of come full circle, as it were, in the students' making connectins with the converted Jews of Ugandah this year.
The Map work of recent classes also wa a hit, from what I could tell of the feedback that came home.
Randi
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