Ignorance breeds antisemitism, and both have been on full display following Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel.
Protestors have accused Israel of genocide, denied the millennia-old ancestral heritage of Jews in Israel, rejected the centrality of Israel to Jewish identity, and compared Israel and its leaders to the Nazis. All such accusations are shameful, offensive, and inaccurate.
These examples are extreme but tragically common. Ignorance of the rich history of Jews in Israel is a society-wide problem. The Holocaust taught us that Jews suffer immeasurably when misinformation dominates, and we must continue to insist that facts matter.
In February, The Florida Holocaust Museum was proud to present History of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel, a three-part course taught by Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Founder and CEO of Repair the Sea | Tikkun HaYam. The course is focused on actual facts. Rabbi Ed is a master teacher who left all participants better equipped to think and talk about Israel, its connection to Jews, and the pathway to peace. It will continue to arm the public with the information necessary to continue to combat the latest manifestations of antisemitism.
The lecture series was presented in partnership with Congregation B’nai Israel of St. Petersburg and Temple Beth-El and sponsored by The Sher Endowment Fund.
We thank everyone who came out to learn in person, and we’re so excited to now make this course available to everyone online. You can access the recorded sessions at the links below.
An overview of each session follows:
Session 1: 4,000 Years in 40 Minutes
Abraham, David, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims.... so many people and conquerors and so little time. This session will be an overview of the Land of Israel and the continuous Jewish presence amidst its tumultuous history.
Watch Session 1 Now.
Session 2: A Peace to End All Peace
A step-by-step examination of the changing borders in the Middle East over the last hundred years, the impact these changes have had, and the challenges they present for the future.
Watch Session 2 Now.
Session 3: Words Matter
Around the world, Israel is accused of genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and colonialism. This session will address these terms and examine in detail the reality on the ground.
Watch Session 3 Now.
