Curriculum Overview

YEAR 1: Introduction to Shared Space explores the different ethnic and religious groups that live in Israel and the challenges of sharing space.

Big Ideas

The State of Israel is the shared space of the Jewish people and simultaneously shares space with multiple other peoples.
We are part of the Jewish People, so Israel is also our shared space.

It was a breath of fresh air to teach the ARZA Canada curriculum with my Confirmation
students. The materials provided for important conversations on multiple truths and
honouring diversity. In these difficult days, the conversations were ideal to give us
foundational tools for navigating questions of the heart…

After completing these sessions we felt confident and proud of being Progressive Zionists.

Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg, Temple Israel Ottawa

YEAR 2: Multiple Narratives Through Maps explores how maps tell a story and encourages questions about how to interpret maps.

Big Ideas

Maps are subjective, interpretive documents through which individuals express their perspectives and beliefs in the context of the time and place in which they live.
The map of Israel can be simultaneously historical, political, religious and geographic in showing how space is shared.

Year 3: My Zionism explores the history, complexities, and contemporary meanings of Zionism as Jewish self-determination, culminating in defining their own personal connection to it.

Big Ideas

Jewish connections to Zion and Zionism, the quest for Jewish self-determination, have multiple evolving permutations reflective of the times in which one lives and the realities of living into the dream of Jewish self-determination.