Know Before You Go

The transition to university life can be challenging for Jewish students. On top of the regular stresses of course work, assignments and exams, many students are being forced to confront disturbing anti-Israel sentiment. Zionism is being increasingly stigmatized by professors and student activists alike. While Jewish students have confronted these issues for years, they have become even more pronounced in the wake of the terrible events of October 7. These experiences are leaving many Jewish students feeling isolated and distressed.

Know Before You Go Lesson Series was created to empower students with the confidence and knowledge to confront these challenges while also strengthening their pride in the State of Israel and Zionism. This resource comes complete with lesson plans, slide decks, and further learning resources and is designed for 11th and 12th grade students.

Essential Questions

1. What does it mean to be genuinely prepared for Israel discourse on campus?
2. Where does legitimate critique of Israel end and delegitimization begin?
3. How can a student hold a confident Zionist identity while engaging with hard, unresolved questions about Israel?

Big Ideas

1. Feeling equipped on campus depends more on understanding underlying history than on memorized rebuttals.
2. Many arguments against Israel are contested because they rest on different historical frameworks, not because one side is clearly right.
3. Confidence and pride do not require certainty about every unresolved tension in Israel's story.
4. Engaging in courageous conversations can lead to understanding.