May 2008 Featured Books: Israel’s 60th Anniversary
It’s Israel’s Birthday!
Israel ABCs
The Creation of Israel
On May 14, 1948, the day Israeli independence was officially declared, a British major presented the key to the Zion gate to Rabbi Mordechai Weingarten, the mukhtar1 of the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. “From the year 70 A.D. until today, a key to the gates of Jerusalem has never been in Jewish hands,” he said. “This is the first time in eighteen centuries that your people have been so privileged.”2
The 60th anniversary of the state of Israel is an occasion to teach students about the history of a turbulent region and the vibrant culture of one of the most diverse areas of the world. Because the themes of conflict and violence dominate discussions about the Middle East, many students may know little about Israel’s geography, religious and ethnic diversity, political system and artistic contributions to the world.
The Anti-Defamation League therefore features books this month that celebrate the people, places and history of Israel. Through imaginary visits to a kibbutz and the Dead Sea, glimpses into the lives of Bedouin and Palestinian people, and the story of the birth of Zionism and creation of the modern state of Israel, students will deepen their understanding and appreciation of one of the world’s most historic and vital nations.
1 Elected leader of government of a village or of a neighborhood within a town.
2 This anecdote taken from Whiting, Jim. 2007. The Creation of Israel. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane Publishers.
Part of the “It’s Time” series, this book celebrates Israel’s 60th birthday by taking youngsters on a pretend trip to Israel, where they board a plane, visit a kibbutz, enjoy the shuk (outdoor marketplace) in Jerusalem, float in the Dead Sea, visit the Kotel (Western Wall), and experience Israel in other ways.
Israel ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Israel Holly Schroeder (author), Claudia Wolf (Illustrator)
In this ABC tour of Israel, readers learn about the peoples, places and history of one of the world’s most ancient lands, including Bedouin people, the Dead Sea, Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, the Knesset (Israeli parliament), Palestinian people, Dead Sea Scrolls, Via Dolorosa (Street of Sorrows), Zionism and more.
This book offers a balanced look at the events leading up to the creation of the modern state of Israel. Chapters include the Birth of Zionism, The Balfour Declaration, The Vote for Partition, The End of the Mandate and The New Nation. Side bars with added information, maps, illustrations, a timeline, glossary and list of further reading make this an accessible history for upper elementary students.
