When it comes to Israel and Zionism, there's a lot of noise, and not a lot of nuance. In this course, designed for all knowledge levels, Jewish Federations’ Rabbi Mike Uram guides you through the facts, nuances, and complexities of Israel and Zionism.
The final chapter provides a factual account of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. We’ll explore how the attacks were perpetrated, including the difficult topic of sexual violence as a tool for terror. Lastly, we’ll address the nature and impact of Israel’s military response following the 10/7 attacks.
10 Feb 2025
How the Oslo Process Failed
Despite initial hopes for a lasting resolution, this chapter delves into the factors that led to the collapse of the Oslo peace process. We'll analyze the lasting impact of this failure on Israeli and Palestinian consciousness, and how it continues to shape the political landscape today.
10 Feb 2025
Origins of the Oslo Peace Process
This chapter explores the historical context of the Oslo peace process, examining why it offered a unique opportunity for peace in the Middle East. We’ll analyze the key elements of the Oslo Accords and their impact on Israelis and Palestinians.
10 Feb 2025
Second intifada
This chapter explores the origins, tactics, and impact of the second Palestinian uprising, which saw the use of suicide terror attacks as a tool of war, and the building of a security barrier between Isreal and the West Bank. We’ll also explore the routes and the materials used to build this security barrier and attempt to answer questions about its nature and purpose.
10 Feb 2025
Birth of Hamas
This chapter provides essential background on Hamas, including its ideology and origin. Understanding Hamas is key to understanding the October 7th terrorist attacks and Israel’s subsequent military response.
10 Feb 2025
First Intifada
This chapter examines the Palestinian uprising in the late 1980’s and its profound impact on Israel-Palestinian relations. Catching Israel and Palestinian leaders off guard, this unexpected uprising set the stage for the next phase of Palestinian-Israeli relations and future peace negotiations.
10 Feb 2025
The Six-Day War & Birth of Settlements
This chapter explores the unexpected outcomes of the Six-Day War. We’ll examine the challenges that winning the war created for Israel, the changes to its borders, and the emergence of Jewish settlements in newly-acquired territories.
10 Feb 2025
Israel 1949-67
This chapter explores pivotal moments in Israel's early history, including the Decade of Calm, the reparations agreement with West Germany, the Eichmann Trial, and the 1956 Sinai campaign. This background provides crucial context for understanding that precipitated the Six-Day War in 1967.
10 Feb 2025
Creation of Refugee Problems
This chapter explores the creation of both Arab and Jewish refugee populations between 1948 and 1952. We’ll examine how this large-scale movement of people reshaped the demographics and political landscape of the region and the newly-established state of Israel.
10 Feb 2025
The 1948-49 War
This chapter delves into the complexities surrounding the 1948-49 War, including questions about its justification and nature. We’ll also unpack terminology used by Israel’s detractors to describe this war.
10 Feb 2025
Origins of the Conflict & Palestinian Leadership
This chapter explores the origins of the Arab-Jewish conflict, which is now known as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We’ll examine the complex questions of “who started it” and how far back the conflict really goes.
10 Feb 2025
The Debate: Simple Labels Don’t Work
This chapter takes us deeper into understanding Israel and Zionism by emphasizing facts and complexity over simple slogans. It highlights how simplistic labels and characterizations fail to capture the nuances of the situation.
10 Feb 2025
Who Is Indigenous to the Land?
There’s so much debate and misunderstanding about who are the true indigenous people of this tiny strip of land. This chapter gets us grounded in the facts and unravels many of the overly simplistic claims made about the region.
10 Feb 2025
The Birth of Modern Political Zionism
This chapter helps dispel some misconceptions about Zionism that exist both within the pro-Israel community and among Israel’s detractors. It shows how Zionism is deeply focused on solving the Jewish question and how to make Jews “normal.” This chapter also unpacks many of the accusations made against Zionism.
10 Feb 2025
The Palestinians Today & Their Origin
This chapter gets us grounded in the key terminology and history of the Palestinian people and their origin.
10 Feb 2025
Getting Grounded in the Basics of Israel and the Map
This chapter gets us grounded in the fundamental facts needed to understand the maps, demographics, and key data related to Israel and its neighbors.
10 Feb 2025
Nuance and the Words We Use
This chapter introduces our educational philosophy, which prioritizes nuance, facts, and complexity over simple talking points and slogans often found in social media and political advocacy.
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