In his book, Sowell examines the extent to which a minority group's economic state depends upon the group's culture, and how much it depends upon the larger society's treatment of the group. His book is replete with historical and sociological distortions and oversimplifications; the level of Sowell's scholarship is deplorable. (BJV)

A study of possible test bias in the Arabic and Hebrew versions of a standardized scholastic aptitude test used in Israel found a slight overprediction of performance for Arabs, but the findings appear to be more consistent with psychometric than cultural bias. (Author/MSE)

Reviews history and growth of ORT (Organization of Rehabilitation through Training). ORT, which began in 1880 to assist in economic rehabilitation of Russian Jewry, is now a world organization. It conducts activities such as the creation of technical schools and support of Jewish refugee students. Discusses ORT activities in Arab countries, the…

Describes an encounter session at a School for Peace Workshop designed to teach peace and conflict resolution to Jewish and Palestinian adolescents in Israel. The workshop illustrates the importance of listening sensitively to the voices in conflict in order to develop valued modes of peace education and conflict resolution. (SM)

Examines Israel's 1953 State Education Law, the product of a religious and political compromise, that was responsible for unifying schools into a national system. Gives the historical perspective of this system that is comprised of five types of schools: four Jewish, one Arabian. Examines how the schools reflect Israel's religious and political…

Presents a course in Jewish history and culture for non-Jewish students. Stresses the importance of understanding and respecting all cultures, eliminating cultural stereotypes, and preventing polarization and xenophobia. Includes a weekly course syllabus and bibliography. Discusses the importance of countering stereotypes before presenting some…

In this article, we present an educational approach uniquely linked to humanitarian and peace-building goals in conflicted regions of the world. We examine the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program and its lead program, the Middle East Association for Managing Hearing Loss, as a case study. Under a Canadian umbrella, continuing medical…

This qualitative study examines mentors' interpretations of their practice as revealed through writing and discussing their cases in a university postgraduate course in Israel. The data were examined for emergent features of the practice of in-service mentoring in the Jewish and Arab sectors within the Israeli school system. Content analysis of…

More than half a century has passed since the horrific events of the Holocaust took place, but images of the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany are no less shocking than they were 60 years ago. Any discussion of the Holocaust inevitably leads to questions not only of how and why this event…

This pamphlet provides teachers with guidelines, historical information, and background information. One section included provides a teaching rationale, and "Methodological Considerations" provides thoughtful guides for a teacher to employ as curriculum is developed. Sample rationale statements and methodological approaches are given for…

Due to changes in society, young children and senior citizens have little opportunity for interaction. This practicum report formulated a plan for intergenerational interaction opportunities between 3- and 4-year-olds and senior citizens at a Jewish community center where separate programs for preschool children and senior citizens typified the…

This book examines the evolution of Jewish studies as an academic discipline within the history and sociology of higher education in the United States from the late 19th century to the present. Chapter 1 discusses the effects of European and American academic history on the late 19th-century appearance of Jewish learning in American universities.…

A guide for teaching about the Holocaust, this document is divided into three main parts: overviews, lesson plans, and student handouts. Seven overviews provide short summaries of a topic related to the Holocaust. Intended to supplement the information in textbooks and provide a background for teaching the lessons that follow, the topics include a…

This paper uses the case of Jewish schools in Chicago to explore the role of religious schools in the development of cultural capital among youth. The authors focus on three sectors of Jewish schools (Orthodox day schools, non-Orthodox day schools, and non-Orthodox supplementary schools) as contexts for learning and expressing Jewish practices,…

This paper describes an interdisciplinary high school course, "Cultural Diversity in American Life," taught by an English teacher, a social studies teacher, and an art teacher. Designed to help students understand and accept differences in culture, the course consists of units on the black American, the American Indian, the Jewish American, and…