Sunday Learning Group with Achvat Amim's Spring 2023 Cohort
Program Dates: March 12, 2023 - July 23, 2023 Application Deadline: February 1st, 2023 Inquiries? Reach out to elly@achvatamim.org
Participatory Learning Process
Achvat Amim’s learning process begins with the central belief in self-determination for all people in the place they call home. Importantly, Achvat Amim does not define “self-determination”, “people”, or “home”. We take the meaning of these concepts as a starting place for inquiry and exploration. Over the course of the learning process we go in depth into the topics of Home/Land, People/Hood, Self/Determinationthat together make up our learning arc. In the first weeks of the learning process, the cohort maps out their interests and questions related to these topics. This activity guides the speakers, workshops, and tours set up for various learning days. On these learning days, participants meet with activists, educators, lawyers, and community leaders who are experts on a given topic.
Through this critical educational process, we explore history, identity, politics, economics, spirituality and examine the interconnections between them. We build shared knowledge and understanding of the complex reality on the ground and envision our role in the struggle for a society rooted in justice and equality. Achvat Amim approaches learning from a place rooted in identity, and much of the learning is through a Jewish lens. We engage with Jewish history, thought, and culture from a multitude of perspectives as we build a diverse learning community and shared understandings.
A taste of some learning days:
Zionism and Diasporaism: Home in the Jewish Imagination
Narrative, Nationalism, and Nakba: Palestinian Identity formation
Environmental Racism, Food Systems, and Justice
Gaza Learning Day: Border Tour
Policing, Law Enforcement, and the Deadly Exchange
Hebron Tour with Breaking the Silence
Queerness, Gender, & Feminism
North and South Trips
Twice during the learning process we will have overnight trips (Thursday to Sunday). On our trip to the South, we will explore boundaries and borders in the Negev, sit with communities in the South Hebron Hills, and investigate the history of development towns. In the North, we will explore the concept of shared society in Haifa, discuss politics with members of the kibbutz movement, and discover how access to resources fall along racial and national lines. The overnights are also an opportunity to spend time as a group and enjoy one another’s company. The North and South Trips are shomer shabbat friendly.
Timing & Location
Learning days are every Sunday from 9:00-17:00. While we will sometimes travel around the region within the timeframe, we will often be based in and/or leave from Jerusalem.
In addition to Sunday Learning Days, there will be two weekend trips from Thursday to Sunday. Those who have Thursday commitments will coordinate with the staff to join the group at their earliest convenience. North Trip: TBD South Trip: TBD
The learning group will begin on Sunday, March 12, 2023 and end on Sunday, July 23, 2023. We recognize that many people are in other programs. If you are interested in joining the learning group but need to start early or leave before the end of the program, please speak to us!
