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FAMILY
ADVERSITY TO ADVANTAGE
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THE ACTUALIZER
EPISODES
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CHUTZPAH
EDUCATION
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ISRAEL INSIDE
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OVERVIEW
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CONTENTS
TAKING ACTION
T I KK U N OL AM
Repairing the World
ISRAEL INSIDE U
Actualize your INNER ISRAELI
OVERVIEW
Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference is a movie that explores the Israeli people and
possible.
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The Israel Inside U informal curriculum provides your participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper
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ciety. The film examines six actualizers-character traits and values-that have made this achievement
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how they have transformed their country from a desert into a dynamic, innovative and humanitarian so-
lecturer Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, along with Israeli actor Effie Bibi. Each
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The curriculum includes a series of six movie clips, narrated by the star of Israel Inside, former Harvard
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understanding of the film’s principles, and to process the value and applicability of the actualizers.
signed to deepen your participants’ understanding of and personal
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connection to Israel and Israelis, while encouraging them to dis-
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film clip is accompanied by activities and a short discussion de-
version of the Israel Inside film, followed by a post-film discussion
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on page 2, which further clarifies the concept of actualizers.
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We have formatted the curriculum to begin with the 38-minute
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cover these actualizers within themselves.
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Please note that each episode acts as a standalone.
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Enjoy!
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ISRAEL INSIDE: ACTUALIZERS
GOALS
• Understand what actualizers are and how they help build connection with Israel and
Israelis.
• Identify personal actualizers.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
☐Two index cards
because of what he calls actualizers, characteristics that have formed Israeli culture and the Israeli spirit. Surrounded by enemies, Israelis have turned a desert with scarce natural resources into a
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flourishing, productive and caring society. .
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, Israelis have been able to accomplish great things, despite their challenges,
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Israel Inside is a film that explains how “a small nation makes a big difference.” According to
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INTRODUCTION
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☐Pen or pencil
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PLAY Israel Inside (38 m
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DISCUSSION
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ASK: What is an actualizer?
Dr. Tal coined the phrase “actualizers” specifically for the movie. He defines actualizers as positive patterns
of behavior or thought that characterize an individual or a group. They contribute to the success of the
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person, or, if practiced on a large scale, to the success of a nation.
INSTRUCTIONS
Ask participants to write the answers to the following questions on their index cards:
• Choose your favorite actualizer from the film. Explain why it is your favorite.
• In what way can you make it a more prominent part of your life? Be as specific
as possible.
• If you had to choose three of your own personal actualizers, that guide your
life and choices, what would they be?
• How might these actualizers make a difference in your life?
Ask the participants to share their answers and discuss them as a group.
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Possible answers may include: values, character traits, goals or a way of actualizing potential.
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ISRAEL INSIDE: ACTUALIZERS, CONT.
SUMMARY
ASK:
• What did you learn from the film?
• How did the film affect the way you think about Israel and Israelis?
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• How did today’s activity help you internalize your priorities in life?
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EPISODE ONE: FAMILY
GOALS
• Understand the importance of family.
• Describe how this actualizer relates to Israel.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
☐One index card
that have enabled Israelis to succeed against incredible odds. But between our cellphones and computers,
we are so distracted that we frequently forget to focus on the people and things that are truly important
to us. In this episode of Israel Inside U, Dr. Tal teaches us how to become more focused on the important
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people in our lives so we can strengthen our family relationships.
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Close family relationships are valued in Israeli society. They build the traits of self-esteem and resilience
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INTRODUCTION
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☐Pen or pencil
INSTRUCTIONS
Ask participants to list five things for which they are grateful on the index card. When they’re done, ask
DISCUSSION
Ask the participants to share what they wrote, and discuss their answers as a group. Continue the discus-
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sion about appreciation and family using some of the discussion questions below.
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them to list another five things.
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PLAY Israel Inside U: Fam
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ASK:
• Did you find this exercise difficult? If so, why?
• Do you ever take your family or friends for granted? If so, why?
• How can you show them more appreciation, and how can you make time to do it?
• Do you think Shabbat (a national day of rest in Israel) can help people appreciate
family? If so, why?
• In the film, Dr. Tal says, “When you appreciate the good, the good
appreciates you.” How can you better appreciate the good things in your life?
• What are some ways that you think Israel connects all Jewish people as a family?
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EPISODE TWO:
ADVERSITY TO ADVANTAGE
GOALS
• Understand “Adversity to Advantage” and how it has transformed the State of Israel.
• Understand how turning adversity to advantage would improve their lives.
INTRODUCTION
adversity is not unique to Israelis. We all experience difficulties that can cause us to want to give up on our
goals. In this episode of Israel Inside U, Dr. Tal shares some stories from his own life that teach us how to
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use our challenges to make us stronger and more resilient.
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form a desert, with scarce natural resources, into a flourishing, productive and caring society. But of course,
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Adversity is a by-word in Israel. The Israeli ability to turn adversity to advantage has enabled them to trans-
Advantage (8 minutes)
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PLAY Israe
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ACTIVITY: (10 minutes)
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cru·ci·ble
Definition: extremely harsh experiences
Please listen to this short biography of someone who faced difficult challenges. Pay attention and try e
to figure out who it is.
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As a child I was a homeless refugee. My family wandered from forest to village just trying to
survive. We lived like that until I reached school age.
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During my college years, I worked to pay my way and was regularly attacked and beaten. Soon
after graduation, I was thrown into prison. Eventually, I was released but tragedy struck a few
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years later when both of my parents were brutally murdered by the Nazis. Again, I was arrested, and sent to a forced labor camp where I endured brutal conditions.
After being released, I enlisted as a soldier. Later, I assumed a leadership role that forced me
to live as a fugitive for several years. I was pursued by enemies and labeled a traitor by my
own people.
When I finally came out of hiding I started my political career. I lost eight elections in a
row. The 9th I won.
Who am I?
Answer: Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel, 1977-1983
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READ ALOUD:
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EPISODE TWO: ADVERSITY TO ADVANTAGE, CONT.
DISCUSSION
ASK:
• What adversities did Menachem Begin face?
• How do you think these challenges transformed him? Be specific.
• Do you think his being bullied affected him?
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• How do you think he turned his experience of anti-Semitism into an advantage?
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• Have you ever faced a difficult challenge and used it to your advantage?
• What challenges did Israel face in its early days?
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• What challenges does Israel face today?
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Where or how do we see this?
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• Do Israelis turn adversity to advantage in a way that benefits the world?
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EPISODE THREE: CHUTZPAH
GOALS
• Understand “Chutzpah” and perceive it as a positive trait.
• Understand how this actualizer relates to Israel.
• Recognize how integrating chutzpah would benefit their lives.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
☐A set of “Priority Cards” for half or a third of the participants
thing negative. But when used positively, chutzpah translates into determination and will-power. According to Dr. Tal, this trait has allowed Israelis to overcome great obstacles and find solutions for some of
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the world’s greatest problems.
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Today’s episode of Israel Inside U features the actualizer of chutzpah. Most people view chutzpah as some-
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INTRODUCTION
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zpah (8 minutes)
PLAY Israel Inside U: Chut
pg. 8). As a group, they need to decide which card is their lowest priority in the deck and discard it.
Gather the students for a group discussion that should begin with the students laying their remaining cards
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in front of them.
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Repeat this process until the students are left holding only three cards. r
Divide participants into groups of two to three and give each group a set of “Priority Cards” (see
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INSTRUCTIONS
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DISCUSSION
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ASK:
• What were your priorities, and how did you select them?
• How do you think this activity related to chutzpah (standing up for what you believe,
being assertive, having self-confidence, etc.)?
• How do you think the actualizer of chutzpah helped the Jewish People throughout
history? Do you think it helps modern Israelis, too?
• The film talked about standing up for what you believe in. How do you think this
activity helped you do that?
• How does stepping up and supporting Israel require chutzpah?
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Loving Family
Long Life
Making a Difference
in the World
True Friends
Wealth
Beauty
True Love
Fame
Popularity
Physical Mobility
Eyesight
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Good Grades
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PRIORITY CARDS
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EPISODE FOUR: EDUCATION
GOALS
• Understand the concept of “Education” as an actualizer.
• Understand how the focus on education transformed Israel.
• Understand how questioning and challenging ideas helps people learn.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
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☐A set of activity cards for each group.
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INTRODUCTION
effective method for dynamic learning: the chavruta/study partner. He explores how learning with a part-
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ner compels us to remain active and questioning participants in the education process.
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leaders in innovation. In this episode of Israel Inside U, Dr. Tal shares a secret, ancient and extremely
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thousands of years. It leads to “out-of-the-box thinking” that has enabled Israelis to become global
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Israelis learn through challenging and questioning. This is part of Jewish tradition that dates back
INSTRUCTIONS
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as well as a set of activity cards with characteristics listed on each card. The characteristics should cor-
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respond with the famous characters. There are sample lists on the next page from which to create your
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Create one headband for each student, bearing the name of a famous person who lives or lived in Israel,
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di·a·lec·tic
Definition: a method of examining opposing ideas to find the truth
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EPISODE FOUR: EDUCATION, CONT.
King David
Bar Rafaeli
Natan Sharansky
Golda Meir
Gilad Shalit
Natalie Portman
Benjamin Netanyahu
Abraham (patriarch)
Menachem Begin
Omri Caspi
Rebecca (matriarch)
Theodore Herzl
Intelligence
Kindness
Self-Confidence
Justice
Bravery
Perseverance
Strength
Self-Esteem
Creativity
Place a “Famous Israeli” headband on each student. It’s important that the student does not see the name
Give the students a few minutes to figure out whose name is on their headband by walking around the
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room and asking other students “yes” or “no” questions.
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on his or her own headband.
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Equality
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Leadership
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SAMPLE CHARACTERISTIC CARDS
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SAMPLE NAMES
Provide each group with a set of “Characteristic Cards” and ask them to match one quality to each name
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worn by their group participants.
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Once everyone has identified their “Famous Israeli,” divide the participants into groups of five to ten.
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DISCUSSION
ASK:
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• How do these characteristics help people become leaders?
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• What was one of the toughest challenges in matching the names with the
characteristics?
• The film mentioned that one of the highest priorities of the early Israeli pioneers
was to establish schools. Why do you think this was so critical?
• In what way do you think our activity was about learning through questioning
and challenging?
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EPISODE FIVE: TAKING ACTION
GOALS
• Understand “Taking Action” and how it has transformed Israel.
• Learn that they can take action in their own lives.
• Understand how this actualizer relates to Israel.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
☐One index card The saying, “there is no time like the present” is a mantra for Israelis. This actualizer is important in
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our daily lives because it bridges the gap between thought and results. This is not always easy to do. In
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☐A pen or pencil
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this episode of Israel Inside U, Dr. Tal shares concrete ways to make our abstract goals come to life.
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: Taking Action (11 m
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au·da·cious
Definition: willing to take surprisingly bold risks
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Using their index cards, ask participants to:
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• List 3-5 “audacious ideas” that could change the world.
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• List 3-5 “audacious ideas” that could change Israeli society for the better.
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• List 3-5 “audacious ideas” that could change their lives for the better.
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DISCUSSION
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ASK:
• How can a person accomplish his or her goal even when the idea is “audacious?”
• Is this list intimidating? Why?
• How can a person overcome his or her fear of failure when approaching something “audacious?”
• What were some ways in the film that Israelis were taking action? Does this
inspire you? How?
• How has this actualizer transformed Israel?
• Do we have a responsibility to take action for Israel? Why or why not? How can
we do this?
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EPISODE SIX: TIKKUN OLAM
REPAIRING THE WORLD
GOALS
• Understand the concept of “Tikkun Olam” as an actualizer.
• Understand how this actualizer effects change and has transformed Israel.
• Recognize how integrating tikkun olam would improve their lives.
INTRODUCTION
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This episode of Israel Inside U explores the value of tikkun olam. This is an imperative that inspires
Israelis to reach out beyond their borders to help change the world. What exactly is tikkun olam? Is it
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just helping others or does it go deeper than this? Dr. Tal shares with us the true definition of this
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actualizer and the transformative power that tikkun olam can have on society.
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In the film, Dr. Tal makes a distinction between chessed and tikkun olam. Can you define the difference
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between these two values?
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Answer: Chessed is helping others, but tikkun olam is helping others while also inspiring others to action.
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• What does Yad Sarah do, and how do they accomplish this concept of tikkun olam?
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• How does Yad Sarah’s work inspire others?
• What values of tikkun olam would you like to learn from Yad Sarah?
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• What impact does tikkun olam have on Israeli society?
INSTRUCTIONS
Break into brainstorming groups of three to five participants.
Each group should invent a new organization that incorporates the principle of tikkun olam, and then
prepare a short commercial that promotes their new organization and clearly explains how it is “fixing
the world.” Examples of ways to accomplish tikkun olam incude encouraging volunteerism, empowering
others to take action and teaching Jewish values.
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