Earlier this month, nearly 300 Jewish educators convened in five cities across the United States to gain new frameworks for approaching Israel’s National Days (“Yamim”) as part of M²’s Yamim Project.
This year’s theme, “Reaching for Hope,” focused on four core values—humility, kindness, covenant and courage—to help guide educators in crafting meaningful and uplifting experiences for Israel’s national holidays, Jewish holidays and other days that hold significance for individuals and communities.
The Yamim Project was established in the months following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, to offer Jewish educators new frameworks for developing Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut programming that would resonate with their communities amid the backdrop of war.
This year, Jewish educators gathered in person and online for a workshop featuring group discussions and active learning. In one of the most experiential activities, participants explored the use of light in Jewish tradition, such as the role of the ner zikaron (“memorial candle”) in commemorating the fallen. Using light as a symbol of hope in moments of darkness and uncertainty, participants constructed lightboxes designed by Jerusalem-based artist Eli Kaplan-Wildmann, which illuminated the program’s four core values, written on each side of the design.
The gathering concluded with a group reflection, during which educators shared their hopes for the communal contributions they aim to foster during this delicate season and throughout the Jewish calendar.
“We are in a moment where it is incredibly hard to make sense of time,” said Mollie Andron, vice president of programs at M².
“One of our jobs as educators is to do just that. To accomplish this, we must be intentional,” she continued. “Through grappling with four timely values of humility, kindness, covenant and courage, our educators found ways to infuse Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut with meaning and purpose for community members.”
Rabbi Lauren Henderson of Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Ga., said: “I left feeling deeply grounded in not only my connection to my fellow educators, but also to Jewish values, particularly the value of courage during this fragile time. I look forward to sharing these ideas and resources with my community and facilitating impactful educational experiences not only for the upcoming holidays but throughout the year.”
Each workshop was held in partnership with a local Jewish organization:
- Baltimore, in partnership with the Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore
- Atlanta, in partnership with the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
- Philadelphia, in partnership with the Jewish Learning Venture
- Palo Alto, Calif., in partnership with The Z3 Project and the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center of Palo Alto
- New York, in partnership with The Jewish Education Project
- An online session for global educators was also held in partnership with the Samis Foundation.