Unpacking Shula Cohen

Shula Cohen seemed to be a conventional Jewish Lebanese housewife, but behind that veneer lay a uniquely courageous hero. Born in Jerusalem, Shula was married to a man 20 years her senior and moved to Beirut to build a family. When she was expecting her 6th child, the UN voted to partition Palestine into two states: one for the Jews and one for the Arabs. But war was about to break out and Shula overheard the plans of some of the Arabs in her neighborhood, launching her into a position of power and intrigue to help the fledgling State of Israel and the Jews who needed safe passage from other Arab countries which were suddenly turning against their Jewish citizens. This lesson explores the risks that Shula had to take in order to help those who needed her and the motivation that allows someone like Shula to take those risks to help others. 

Big Ideas

1. Individuals who feel a sense of responsibility toward others or towards a group are more likely to take risks to help others.
2. The contributions of seemingly simple individuals can have a significant impact on historical events.
3. The story of Shula Cohen, the risks she took, and the price she paid should be kept alive and appreciated.

Essential Questions

1. What motivates individuals to risk their lives to help others?
2. How do we respond to events which change the world around us?
3. Why is it important to remember the story of individuals like Shula Cohen?