Transforming the Present, Shaping the Future
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“This course made me question my own beliefs. I had never done this in my life before, so this was a really big challenge for me. But I'm glad that I did question my beliefs because now they are much stronger than before this course.” - Al-Iman student
“She didn't know what to think at first. She wasn't really open. Mom's not into the co-existence thing, but when she began to understand what we were doing, she began to come around. She really understood and respected what we were doing.” - Heschel student
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COURSE CURRICULUM
In this course we present three different lenses through which students learn to analyze Jewish-Muslim relations, Islam, and Judaism: through history, politics, and religion. Within each of these worldviews students learn about sources of social justice, "peacebuilding," and conflict transformation.
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The course runs for a full academic year, during which time students meet with AV educators at partnering educational institutions for three hours per week. AV coordinates the logistics of all inter-school fieldtrips and meetings with liaisons from each participating community. All classes and all inter-school meetings are taught/led by a team of Jewish and Muslim co-educators.
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During class sessions, students explore Muslim-Jewish relations. In addition we examine the foundational history, beliefs, and rituals of each religious tradition, as well as the historical and ideological connections between and within both Judaism and Islam. Our teachers utilize a unique curriculum, which was primarily co-developed and co-written by members of AV’s Muslim and Jewish staff. Our unique textbook is divided into ten chapters.
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Chapter One: Introduction to Jewish-Muslim Relations
Chapter Two: Islam, Judaism and Comparing Religious Traditions
Chapter Three: Introduction to Islam
Chapter Four: Introduction to Judaism
Chapter Five: Judaism, Islam, and Comparing Sacred Texts
Chapter Six: Islamic and Jewish History
Chapter Seven: Challenges to Jewish-Muslim Relations
Chapter Eight: Leadership and the Future of Jewish-Muslim Relations
Chapter Nine: Inter-group Encounters in Theory and Practice
Appendix: Additional Resources
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Click here for an in-depth description of the curriculum. We are currently writing the fifth edition of the Unity Program curriculum.
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During the program's Speakers Series, Muslim and Jewish guests give presentations to students on relevant course topics, connecting what students learn in the classroom to "real life" situations in Muslim and Jewish communities.
As for Inter-school fieldtrips, recently students have visited local mosques, synagogues, museums, and other important sites.
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| In inter-school meetings trained co-facilitators lead sessions in group dynamics, wherein students reflect and discuss the issues that they face as members of larger communities. The core of our facilitation model focuses on the individual and group identities of participants, a process that emerges organically from their encounters with the 'other.' |
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© Copyright Abraham`s Vision 2005-2010 |
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Curriculum 