This is quite a fitting story via the Joe Settler blog on the eve of the festival of Shavuot.
One of Gidon Sar’s goals during his term as Minister of Education is to return to the education system parts of it that were uprooted by former holders of this important position for example Yuli Tamir. Specifically those parts related to basic Judaism.
In February he announced that he was introducing 1-day trips for high school students to Hebron and Ma’arat Hamachpela (Tomb of the Patriarchs).
The Left went crazy. Every explanation was given as to why this idea should be killed before it got off the ground, the head of Meretz even called it brainwashing!
The idea that Jewish children would visit the city and tomb of our ancestors, what was once King David’s royal city (hence the connection to Shavuot - the day on which he was born and died), frightens the life out of the Left – after all, what might the students learn there? Jewish history?
Attempts were made to block this idea. Attempts were made to limit it to State-Religious schools. Attempts were apparently made to frighten the parents with scare stories.
But Gidon was determined that all the students of Israel learn the basics of their heritage, not just the religious ones.
This past week, the pilot program kicked off with students of a state (not religious) school from Beit Shemesh. Participation was optional, and despite that, there was over 95% attendance from 11th and 12th graders (and not a few parents too who tagged along).
The students visited the Ma’arah and read some psukim from the Torah related to Avraham’s purchase of the cave. Afterwards they visited Beit Hadassah.
Jews are only permitted in around 7% of the city. The other 93% is Judenrein,(something a number of bloggers on this site seem to think is a good idea too) so there is a limit to how many places Jews can visit in Hebron, though we do have access to most of the important grave-sites of our ancestors.
Meanwhile, the students’ responses were amazing.
The kids asked basic questions such as, “Why haven’t we heard about this place before? How is this place so close, yet we never came here before? How come this history isn’t taught in school?”
And the discussions were open. Students asked about the Arab-Jewish relationships and other relevant issues of the day.
Ignorance was not part of this curriculum.
In short, while Meretz (and not a few bloggers on this site) want to keep Jewish children ignorant of their history and their ties to their country, Gidon Saar opened their eyes to what Meretz and the Left are desperate to hide; the truth.