After October 7, individual communities in Israel must reach shared ethos, experts say

How has October 7 affected the education system in Israel?

The question was tackled in the latest episode of 'Conversation Corner,' the webinar series powered by Ono Academic College and The Jerusalem Post, focusing on the challenges before Israeli society in the aftermath of October 7. 

The host, Tamar Uriel-Be'eri, Deputy-Editor-in-Chief at The Jerusalem Post, was joined by Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, Senior Lecturer and Director of the International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry at Ono Academic College; Dr. Tammy Hoffman, head of the Education Policy Program and Research Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute; and Martin Herskovitz, a poet and Holocaust educator. Their discussion provided a multifaceted view of the challenges and potential solutions in the Israeli education system following the traumatic events of the recent conflict.

Shalom opened the discussion by sharing his personal experience from October 7. "Immediately after the Shabbat Simcha Torah," he recalled, "on Saturday evening, I received a call from my commander, asking me to come and serve. My reserve duty is to inform the family of the fallen that their loved ones have been killed." This task, he said, was more traumatic than his experiences in Sudan, where 4,000 Ethiopian Jews were killed on their way to Israel. 

When confronted with the question of whether Israeli pluralism has successfully included the Israeli Ethiopian community, Shalom stressed, "The achievement of the State of Israel in all fields, including immigration, economics, medicine, and security are amazing – a miracle. And with this, there were also many mistakes." He went on to note that "a person who does not make mistakes does not do anything, and the Ethiopian community is a good example of the process that Israeli society is going through." Despite historical challenges and feelings of exclusion, the recent conflict has seen a unification across different societal groups, including Ethiopian Jews. 

"Something changed in this world," he said, "during the war. And the sacrifice of Ethiopian Israeli soldiers, together with soldiers from other groups, has unified society." He poignantly noted that over 26 Ethiopian Israeli soldiers and police officers were killed in the conflict, a significant percentage relative to the size of the community. Shalom's reflections showcased the need for greater inclusion and recognition of Ethiopian Jews within the broader narrative of Israeli society.

Hoffman discussed the broader challenges within the Israeli education system exacerbated by the conflict. She pointed out that the system entered the post-October 7 period and was already facing significant issues, particularly regarding educational equity and achievement gaps between different societal sectors. 

"Once the war erupted after the horrible events of October 7, the first thing to consider is all the evacuated students in schools and the need to maintain or restore some normal way of going back to school, as much as possible," she said, adding that the whole education system needed to be brought back to fully function.

Hoffman highlighted the importance of a shared civic identity that brings together all sectors of Israeli society. She argued that this unity is crucial for the education system to be part of the solution rather than the problem. 

"Israel has different communities, but they don't have a shared ethos in order to come together into the healing process," she said. "We don't have to agree about everything, but something needs to be there to allow separate groups to become a state and society."

Herskovitz brought his unique perspective to the discussion when asked about drawing parallels between the trauma of the Holocaust and recent events. "My family lived under German occupation for five years before they were sent to Auschwitz," he said. "And during that time, they were wonderfully resilient, yet no one talks about those five years. They talk about the one hour that they were in Auschwitz instead of talking about five years of resilience, community, and strength." Further emphasizing his point, Herskovitz noted: "We should remember the people who died on October 7; I think it's important we pay attention to how they lived."

In the past, Herskovitz and Shalom collaborated on a project that uses Holocaust education tools to address the traumatic experiences of Ethiopian Jews. They aim to help the second generation of Ethiopian Jews process their inherited trauma through creative expression. This approach honors their past and strengthens their cultural roots and resilience.

One critical point Hoffman raised was the need to integrate the history and heritage of Ethiopian Jews more thoroughly into the Israeli education curriculum. Currently, while the Holocaust and other significant historical events are well-covered, the story of Ethiopian Jewry is often overlooked. Hoffman argued that a more inclusive curriculum that acknowledges the diverse histories within Israeli society is essential for fostering tolerance and pluralism.

This article was written in cooperation with Ono Academic College.