Presented by Rabbi Zachary Goodman:

Based on material from the Shalom Hartman Institute, this 8-part series is for those wanting to learn more about the history of Israel through such pivotal events as the Balfour Declaration (1917), the UN Partition Plan (1947), and the Six-Day War (1967), while also contextualizing these milestones in the wake of October 7, 2023. Each session features a lecture and roundtable discussion, with optional background readings and primary sources for deeper exploration. No prior experience required.

Session #2 Overview:

In this session, we will examine key primary source documents to explore the complex years leading up to the creation of the State of Israel. We’ll trace the evolving relationship between the Arab population and the Zionist community, the impact of Jewish refugee influxes from both Europe and Arab countries into the 1950s, and the triumph and trauma of the 1948 War of Independence. We’ll also examine the origins of the Palestinian refugee crisis and its enduring legacy.