Educator and editor, Rachel Fish, visited Tidewater in early November, making stops at local high schools, universities, and other public forums along the way.
Fish, associate director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, began her trip at the Simon Family JCC as part of Yom Limmud, a day of Jewish learning. She spoke at that event about academic boycotts of Israel and teaching Israel, discussing the concept of bringing academic content and best practices to the teaching of Israel Studies for educators and parents.
The following day began at Norfolk Academy where Fish spoke to the International Relations Fellows on how she created change at the Harvard Divinity School when she was a graduate student. The next few stops included lunch with community members, an interview with news reporter Mark Martin at Christian Broadcasting Network, and a dinner discussion with students from Virginia Wesleyan University, whose textbook requirement is Fish’s Essential Israel: Essays for the 21st Century, a compilation of essays from authors describing the cultural, political, and historical landscape of Israel. The evening ended with a speaking event at Virginia Wesleyan University for students and faculty. It was based on the topic, What Does it Mean to be Literate about Israel in the 21st Century?
Fish’s third day in Tidewater included a visit to Tallwood High School’s Global Studies and World Languages Academy, a panel discussion at the Robert C. Nusbaum Honors College of Norfolk State University with panelists Rev. Dr. Melvin T. Blackwell of Little Zion Baptist Church and Dr. Craig Wansink, director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom Virginia Wesleyan College. Her visit concluded at the Simon Family JCC with an Israel Today event presented by the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
– Wendy Weisman