Reminders and Best Practices for TBA Parents
- Children should not hold or unpack our (adult) emotions
- We should not tell children how to feel
- We should let children lead the conversation
- Share that Israel is at war with Hamas (and not say Muslims or Palestinians)
- For older teens: with the note that they need to understand what Hamas is
- It’s going to be hard, but we cannot put our own adult fears on them.
- We can talk about it, but we cannot leave them with all negativity
- We can’t overshare or make it about us when we’re talking with kids
- We can’t pretend everything is alright but we can’t overshare
- Do not use lines like everything will be okay but we are in this together, am yisrael chai!
- Lead with Jewish values
We want older children/teens to:
- Advocate for their own emotional needs
- Learn how to respond/How to react to those who are not seeing things how you may be
- Feel supported and safe
- Feel educated and able to participate in discourse
What can we do?
- Be connected
- Relationship with israel is important/we are in dialogue
- Social Media
- Letter writing (via email)
- Literacy/Advocacy
- Example : https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/snPuQufx
Desire to do
- What does action look like in a meaningful way?
- Reach out to people in Israel
- Reaching out to Israelis in the community
- Care packages to Israelis in our community
- Reach out to one another
- Check in with your friends
- Sending supplies/financial support
- Fundraisers you can organize and send funds to Israel
- Leaning into moments of Jewish unity
Webinars:
How to Talk to Children about Israel Today
Talking to Teens about Operation Desert Sword
For Parents: Advocating for Effective Responses to the Israel-Hamas War
The Israel-Hamas War — and What It Means for the World (Ted Talk)
Resources:
Talking with Children
How Jewish parents can help kids deal with a flood of pain on social media — beyond just looking away - JTA
Guidance for talking to our kids – eJewish Philanthropy
About Israel and Antisemitism
General information about Israel
Understanding the map of Israel
For Parents: In the face of the current situation in Israel
How to talk to children about antisemitism
How to talk to children about Gaza
Poems for reflecting with teens
About scary situations
Helping children process acts of terrorism
How to talk to kids about scary situations
Jewish Resources for Coping with Acts of Terror and Violence
Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
Videos to Help Parents and Kids Talk About Scary Situations
Talking about what happened
We Stand with Israel
Hamas Attack on Israel Kills Hundreds of People
Hamas Backgrounder
Hamas Attack Draws Cheers from Extremists, Spurs Antisemitism and Conspiracies Online
Questions, Complexities and Context: Insights into Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
General Resources for Talking with Young People About Injustice
Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (English & Spanish)
Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories about Bias and Injustice
Tips for Engaging and Disengaging on Social Media
Resources About Anti Semitism & Anti-Zionism:
ADL K-12 Toolkit
10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Antisemitism Uncovered / Anti-Zionism
Antisemitism Today (English & Spanish)
Think.Plan.Act. Tools for Dealing with Antisemitic and anti-Israeli Incidents on college campuses
Antisemitic Incidents: Being an Ally, Advocate and Activist (Lesson Plan for Middle and High School)
More Resources
Teaching about Israel in a time of crisis (JEP)
Educator Hub (JEP)
Israel at War (The Lookstein Center for Israel)
Dealing With Crisis – David Hamelekh as a Model (Herzog College)
Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (ADL)
Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories about Bias and Injustice (ADL)
Poems for Reflecting on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict (Moving Traditions)
Israel in Times of Crisis (JECC)
How to Talk to Kids About What’s Happening in Israel Right Now (Kveller)
Helping Children to Process Acts of Terrorism (ReformJudaism.org)
Israel at War (unpacked education)
TAKE ACTION
Cards for Kids
Show your support for the children and people of Israel by making a card. show you care through words and pictures of hope, support, and love. This effort is being organized by 11 year old, Benjamin. Completed cards can be dropped off at the box located in the Jewish Learning Lab office.
Letters to Lone Soldiers
Send a personal message of gratitude to an IDF Lone Soldier currently serving in the IDF. A “lone soldier” is a soldier in the IDF with no family in Israel to provide them with support.
ADL
The ADL is asking people to sign a petition urging the Senate to immediately confirm a U.S. Ambassador to Israel. View the petition.
AJC
The American Jewish Committee is asking people to contact their elected leaders and ask that those leaders stand with Israel against Hamas. Read more
AIPAC
Take 45 seconds to urge America’s leaders to continue speaking out in support of our ally
AIPAC is urging you to text “Israel” to 24722 to contact members of Congress and the administration and encourage them to provide Israel with the security, diplomatic and material support that only America can provide.
For more on how you can support congressional action, visit www.aipac.org/act.
SHOW SUPPORT
