Online Workshop: Innovative Pedagogy through Historical Role-Playing, Dilemmas, and Critical Thinking – RTTJP

 The Online Workshop: Innovative Pedagogy through Historical Role-Playing, Dilemmas, and Critical Thinking – RTTJP was held as part of the “Power of Belonging” webinar series by ConnectED – the Global Educators Network for Jewish Peoplehood and Belonging.

What if the fate of the State of Israel were in your hands?

May 14, 1948. The British are leaving. The People’s Council convenes in Tel Aviv. Every word in the Declaration of Independence could change the course of history—and the decision must be made before the Sabbath begins.

In our online workshop, participants were invited to step into one of the most fateful moments in Israel’s history—not as observers, but as decision-makers. Through the role-playing game “We Hereby Declare,” participants represent different figures and political movements within the Zionist movement. They debate the drafting of the Declaration, face political pressures and ethical dilemmas, and make critical decisions under conditions of total uncertainty. The game is based on historical sources and illustrates how ideological and political choices shaped the founding moment of the state.

The workshop presented the pedagogical approach behind the game: Reacting to the Jewish Past (RTTJP). This method is based on experiential learning through simulations and role-playing, where learners step into the shoes of historical figures, analyze primary sources, build arguments, and manage complex discussions. Through this process, they develop key skills such as:

• Critical Thinking

• Source-based and Ethical Discourse

• Teamwork

• Historical Empathy and Understanding Multiple Perspectives

The workshop took place as part of the Reacting to the Jewish Past project, led by Dr. Ahuva Liberles. During the session, participants experienced the game “We Hereby Declare” by Dr. John Gephred and Noam Baram, followed by a discussion on adapting this pedagogy to educational settings with Bentzi Feber.

The Uniqueness of the Pedagogical Method

For more information on the educational model and its principles, you can view the presentation shared during the webinar.

More About the Program

Further details about the Reacting to the Jewish Past project and the activities offered can be found on our program page.

Interested in bringing the program to your institution?

We invite schools, educational institutions, and community organizations to join the program and implement these games and workshops. Contact us and we will be happy to explore how to best adapt the program to your educational or community setting.