How can teenagers develop a deeper understanding of Israel in a world where information arrives instantly from countless sources, often presenting vastly different versions of the same reality?
The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville's Israel and Overseas Department is launching a new six-month cohort program, Beyond the Headlines, for Jewish high school students in grades 10-12. The program will provide a space for teens to explore Israel through history, identity, current events, and diverse perspectives while developing the skills and confidence to engage in thoughtful conversations about complex issues.
Rather than telling students what to think, the program will encourage them to ask questions, examine different viewpoints, think critically, and develop their own informed perspectives.
Through interactive learning, small-group discussions, peer-to-peer engagement, and guest speakers, participants will explore topics including the relationship between the Jewish people and Israel, Zionism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, contemporary Israeli society, and the ways news and social media shape our understanding of current events.
The program will culminate in a capstone project, with participants working in pairs to explore a topic of their choice and share their findings with the group.
Beyond the Headlines will launch in December, with an information session scheduled for Nov. 1. Additional details, including stipends, program dates, registration information, and a special opportunity for graduating seniors to apply for a fully funded spot in the six-month Gal.il Mechina gap-year program in Israel, will be shared soon.
Join us to learn more about this new opportunity for Nashville Jewish teens to engage with Israel, explore complex issues, and look beyond the headlines. Register for the Nov. 1 information session at 6 p.m. via Zoom at https://www.jewishnashville.org/beyondtheheadlines.
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