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Building a Spirit of Jewish Resolve in Our Children:
5 Ideas for Parents
Friends:

More than a week into the war in Israel, our initial shock has settled into a mix of grief for the fallen soldiers and civilians, admiration for Israeli courage and creativity under fire, and a firm resolve to defeat our ruthless enemies in the name of Jewish liberty.

As more details emerge regarding the brutality of October 7th—and as we encounter the harrowing images on television and social media—Jewish parents face a great challenge. As mothers and fathers, we carry the heavy and sacred responsibility of explaining the meaning of this moment to our children: the death, sadness, and destruction as well as the show of Zionist strength, perseverance, and unity. What do we say? What don't we say? What is our call to action as Jewish parents right now? In this grave hour, how do we build in our homes a spirit of Jewish resolve?

This past Sunday night, I sat down for a serious discussion with Dr. Rachel Fish, a remarkable Jewish and Zionist educator who has served on the faculty of The George Washington University, Harvard, and Brandeis. Rachel is a self-described "scholar warrior" and the co-founder of Boundless, an organization that partners with community leaders across North America to revitalize Israel education.

I hope you will watch our conversation, and that you will also consider these 5 practical ideas to help our children meet the challenges of the moment:

1. Remind our children that there is much more to Israel than this dark hour.

Make it a point to show videos and images that celebrate why Israel exists and what kind of people we are. Focus on stories of Jewish solidarity, heroism, and resolve. Continue to cultivate a connection to Israel steeped in joy and pride. Examples of positive content to share include:
  • 25 year old Israeli woman hailed as a hero for saving her kibbutz
  • In order to cook for tens of thousands of soldiers, Tel Aviv restaurants kasher their kitchens
  • An Israeli soldier gets married during war
  • Ishay Ribo, famous Israeli singer, performs for soldiers on frontlines
  • Huge numbers of Israeli reservists show up to serve their country in war
2. Think about how to instill a spirit of Jewish peoplehood.

For young children, recite Shema and Hatikvah together in the evenings and explain that Shema connects us to our spiritual identity and Hatikvah to our national one. Fill our walls with books, art, and music that infuse our homes with symbols of our national identity. Display the Prayer for Israeli Soldiers and the Prayer for Captives in our homes and create a routine around praying for their wellbeing.

3. Model moral courage and moral fortitude in the face of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.

Write to leaders of institutions who have perpetuated lies, falsehoods, and half-truths in their statements about Israel. Write to journalists and podcasters who offer incorrect and harmful portrayals of Israel. Organize or participate in pro-Israel community demonstrations. And beyond writing and demonstrating, make sure to explain to our children what we are doing and why. If we have given philanthropically to the organizations involved in Israel relief, explain this to them. Here are just a few examples of moral courage to share:
  • Marc Rowan urges university donors to close checkbooks to campuses that foment anti-Semitism
  • Bill Ackman calls on executives to refuse to hire members of student groups at Harvard that signed letter blaming Israel for Hamas's deadly attack
  • Eitan Moore, a member of Tikvah's Beren Collegiate Forum, gives an incredible speech at MIT's Israel solidarity rally
  • Tikvah students on campus have published over 40 pieces since the war broke out, proudly and courageously defending Israel
4. To build Jewish resilience, spend time away from social media.

Passively consuming the lowest forms of social media is demoralizing and erodes our sense of agency. Social media is often where civility breaks down and moral seriousness evaporates, especially in the kinds of content targeted at young people. Young people should engage instead in real-life dialogue and real-world activities (i.e. volunteering through communal institutions, writing to soldiers in Israel, showing up for communal demonstrations, and finding time to speak meaningfully with peers, educators, and spiritual leaders). Social media wars do not count.

5. Seek out serious education about Jewish values and strategy in wartime.

Convey to our children that for Israel to win, it needs Jews—in Israel and the United States—to understand the strategic realities of the Israeli war and the deeper lessons of Jewish faith and history. Their call to action as young people is to study history, strategy, Jewish ideas, and the complicated fault lines of Israel and the greater Middle East. We encourage you to explore learning opportunities through your own local institutions as well as Tikvah's 5 weeks of daily learning on Jewish Values and Strategy in Wartime, with classes aimed at young people interested in ideas.

If you have any questions or ideas or would like to learn more about the Jewish Parents Forum, please write to me directly at cbryk@tikvahfund.org. I would be delighted to connect with you.

With prayers for the protection of the IDF and comfort to the people of Israel,

Caroline Bryk
Executive Director, Jewish Parents Forum

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