(Courtesy of Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy) On a recent Thursday night, members of the Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy senior class of 2023 gathered at the home of their principal, Rabbi Shimmy Trencher, and his wife, to discuss issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This was one of many after-hours sessions in preparation for the first-ever BCHA senior trip to Israel.
Back in the earliest years of Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy, now 67 years old, Walter Shuchatowitz, founding principal, was years ahead of his time in his commitment to send the school’s entire eighth grade to Israel for a trip prior to graduation. And while this tradition continues to this day in the middle school, the seniors are participating in an Israel education program and trip to Israel for the first time.
“A senior trip of this nature is critical for students who are college bound,” said Rabbi Tzvi Bernstein, BCHA head of school. “It is our responsibility as Jewish educators to prepare our students prior to arrival on any one of the thousands of college campuses that are rife with anti-Israel sentiment supported by pure propaganda. We want our students to be fully equipped to recognize truth from lies and possess the commitment to Israel and the Jewish people to stand up and set the record straight for their fellow university students, faculty and administration.”
Rabbi Shimmy Trencher, principal of the BCHA upper school added, “By combining a solid Israel education curriculum with a capstone mission to Israel, we are hoping that the combination of affective and cognitive elements will help our students solidify both a connection with the land as well as a nuanced, thoughtful understanding of Zionism and the State of Israel.”
In developing the trip, Rabbi Trencher and his team researched numerous Israeli education programs but ultimately settled on two curricula to implement before the trip. The first, Unpacked for Educators’ “Teaching the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” aims to help students “evaluate their own development as Zionists as they study the political, geographic, religious and military history of the State of Israel and integrate it into their evolving identity.” The second is “Investigating Modern Conspiracy Theories: Anti-Zionism and Academic Integrity,” based on Scott Shay’s recent book, “Conspiracy U.”
“We knew that we wanted our students to have a solid understanding of the history of Zionism, the foundations of the State of Israel, the conflicts and wars that have occurred, and the modern-day challenges in the region,” said Rabbi Trencher.
As Rabbi Trencher worked to develop the curriculum and trip itinerary, he shared the plans with Yoav Yaron, the community shaliach for the United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan and Darien, who immediately knew that he wanted to get involved. In short order, Yaron agreed to take on the role of lead educator. Over the past many weeks, Yaron and Rabbi Trencher engaged in intense conversations with students as they deepened their understanding of Israel’s strengths and challenges and the role Israel plays in their lives and in the lives of the Jewish people. Yaron will be a chaperone on the Israel trip, as well.
