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The Unexpected Role of a Lone Soldier in Israel
Yom HaZikaron is the Day of Remembrance for Fallen Soldiers of the IDF and for individuals who were murdered in terror attacks. It is a day full of tears and sorrow because everyone in Israel is somehow connected to the tragedies.
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Cultural Zionism in Tel Aviv
The students went on two tiyulim (field trips) to understand Zionism in action in the late nineteenth century. This approach helped them learn how the goal of having a Jewish state was reflected in the differing beliefs of the main Zionist leaders of the late 19th century.
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Yam L’Yam: Discovering The Strength Of Community
The students were quite divided during the weekend before Passover. Many of us found ourselves with family, friends, and in some cases at the home of strangers. Although a few students began the weekend with some doubts about being thrown in a new environment with people they'd never met, I can confidently say that the majority of us had a pleasant weekend, and started or strengthened friendships that we were happy we were given the chance to create.
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URJ Heller High: Marissa Steiner, Fall 2016 Alumni
Marissa Steiner, Fall 2016 alum captured all the exciting and unique activities that students participate in while at URJ Heller High.
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Auschwitz: Exploring History & Trying to Bring Life Back
Auschwitz. We all knew this day was going to be difficult, and for some of us it was exactly what we expected, but for others there was no way to prepare for what we were going to see.
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The Crusades & The City of Kabbalah, Tzfat
Yesterday was a long all-day tiyul to a Crusader fortress and to the city of Tzfat. Our first stop was the Crusader fortress named Kokhav HaYarden (Star of the Jordan), more commonly known as Belvoir, which means beautiful view.
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Rabbi Loren Sykes’s Islam Tiyul Reflection: Meeting the Other
Last week, we had an interaction that is all too rare today in Israel, the US and around the world. We visited the Israeli Arab village of Ein Rafa which sits at the base of the hill below Kibbutz Tzuba.
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Diversity of Jewish Life in Middle Ages (Less Foreign Than You Would Think!)
At the Israel Museum, we focused on the diversity and uniformity of the various Jewish communities throughout the world and Jewish life in the Middle Ages.
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Loving your Fellow as Yourself: Lessons from Heller High & Beyond
For their latest assignment, students had to choose a mitzvah (commandment) from Leviticus 19 and express how they could relate to the mitzvah. Ryan picked “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself.”
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The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots
Last week we visited the Israel Museum to learn about the Roman Period and the different groups of Jews who lived under Roman rule - the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots.
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