Who Are the Jewish People?

PART 1
“The Story”
Video (0:00-07:54)

PART 2
Antisemitism and Today
Video (07:55-13:23)

This resource builds on our first exploration of Jewish identity by asking: Where did the Jewish people come from, and how did they remain so connected across time and place? Students will see how Jewish life evolved in response to exile, migration, and resilience, while maintaining a powerful thread of continuity. The story highlights both the diversity of Jewish communities worldwide and the enduring connection to the Land of Israel that has shaped Jewish practice, memory, and hope for millennia. Students will gain a clear framework for understanding the Jewish people as both an ancient and modern community, and insight into how history, memory, and tradition continue to shape Jewish life today.

How to use this guide
This guide is designed to enhance your students’ engagement with the video. You can pause at the suggested “Stop/Do/Discuss” points to explore key concepts through discussion and reflection questions provided for each section. Alternatively, you may prefer to show the entire video without breaks and use the discussion questions and activities at the end of this guide (“Summative Activities & Reflection”) for a comprehensive post-viewing discussion. Choose the approach that best fits your students and classroom setting, whether it’s real-time engagement or a deeper dive after the video. You can also utilize a flipped classroom approach, assigning the video (in full or in segments) for students to watch at home, then using class time to unpack ideas together through reflection, discussion, or hands-on activities. Choose the approach that best fits your students and classroom setting, whether it’s real-time engagement or a deeper dive after the video.

Discussion Questions

1. Identity & Belonging: What type of group is the Jewish people? In what ways do the terms “race,” “religion,” “family,” “nationality” apply? In what ways do they fall short?
2. An Enduring Story: The final line in the video says, “Judaism isn’t just about where the story began. It’s about where it goes next.” What do you think this means for how people — Jewish or not — choose to live their stories today?

Learning Activities

1. “Map the Journey” Interactive Timeline: Visualize the Jewish historical journey from ancient Judea to the modern Diaspora and back. Give students a blank world map or digital mapping tool (e.g. Google Earth, Canva). Have them plot key locations mentioned (Judea, Babylon, Spain, Poland, Morocco, Brooklyn, etc.). Include a brief note or image for each stop describing what happened to Jewish communities there.
2. Researching Rituals: Research a Jewish ritual that interests you. Some examples might include: breaking a glass at a wedding, eating matzah on Passover, playing with dreidels (four-sided spinning on Hanukkah). Create a short presentation (or video) with visuals that answers the following questions:
   • What is the ritual called? What does it mean?
   • How is the ritual performed? By whom? When? How often?
   • What are some reasons given for performing this ritual?
   • Do different Jewish communities have alternative ways of doing this ritual?

1. ConnectED Resources:
   • “What is Judaism?”
   • “Jewish-American Contributions”
2. Database: Jewish Language Project, “Jewish Languages”
3. Video: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, “Why I am a Jew”
4. Timeline: Oxford Reference, “Timeline: Judaism”
5. Article: Holocaust Encyclopedia, “Antisemitism: An Introduction”