Top 5 Moments in Israel’s History

Goals:

1. Students will appreciate the importance of three key moments in Israel’s history and how they shaped the country’s creation. 
2. Students will think critically about the different choices Israel’s early leaders had to make.
3. Students will be able to explain the significance of the Balfour Declaration, the Haganah and Irgun, and the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948.

Big Ideas

1. The creation of the State of Israel was shaped by tough decisions and deep historical connections.
2. Different Jewish groups had diverse views on how to respond to threats, but all shared the goal of building a Jewish homeland. 

Essential Questions

1. Why did Jewish leaders believe it was important to create a state, even when it meant going to war?
2. How do the stories of Israel’s founding help us understand what we remember on Yom HaZikaron and celebrate on Yom Ha’atzmaut?
3. How much should Israel care about what other countries think when making important decisions today?