During last week’s Limmud, 10th through 12th graders participated in a powerful and thought-provoking Israel Symposium, exploring various aspects of Israel’s history, culture, and current events. With ten diverse sessions to choose from, students heard from expert speakers, participated in deep discussions, and had hands-on experiences that broadened their perspectives and strengthened their connections to Israel.
Sessions included Israel, Journalistic Bias, and Media Literacy; When Your Favorite Author Calls for a Boycott of Israeli Culture; and Israel: Start-Up Nation—all of which prompted students to think critically about media narratives, innovation, and the complexities of cultural boycotts. Other offerings—such as Make Israel Bloom Through Art; Israeli Graffiti; and Israeli Dancing—provided creative ways for students to engage with Israel through artistic expression and movement. Students chose the topics that resonated most with them, allowing for a personalized and meaningful learning experience.
Students told us one of the most impactful sessions of the symposium was 500 Days Later: Surviving Nova, where they heard firsthand from Din Tesler, a survivor of the October 7 attack at the Nova music festival. Din shared his harrowing experience and the story of his friend, Bar Kupershtein, who was taken hostage and is still being held in Gaza. Students expressed how deeply moving Din’s story was, reflecting on the fragility of life and the small things they often take for granted.
The symposium highlighted Gann’s commitment to fostering thoughtful, informed conversations about Israel, equipping students with the knowledge and perspectives to engage meaningfully with Israeli culture.
You can read descriptions of all the Israel Symposium sessions here.
Check out this video of student takeaways from the Israel Symposium, on Facebook or Instagram.
In “Making Israel Bloom Through Art,” students painted kalaniyot (anemones), Israel’s national flower.
We were honored to hear Din Tesler share his experience of surviving the terrorist attack on the Nova music festival and his dedication to raising awareness about his friend, Bar Kupershtein, who remains a hostage in Gaza.
