Course information
This three-session course explores how Jewish thought and tradition inspire action — from ancient sources to contemporary movements. Beginning with classical Jewish texts, we will study how political and ethical interpretations of these sources have shaped understandings of responsibility, justice, community, political action and revolution. In the second session, we will map the diverse expressions of modern Jewish activism across Europe and the world — from supporting refugees and advancing environmental justice to rebuilding Jewish life and promoting human rights. In the final session, students will work in small groups to select and present a Jewish organization or initiative that reflects their own values. Through this process, participants will discover how Jewish ideas can be transformed into meaningful civic engagement, and reflect on their own potential to act and lead change.
About the Teacher
Uriel Aiskovich is a Jewish educator, community organizer, and social innovator based in Berlin. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Potsdam, researching the use of video games for Jewish education and critical thinking. Uriel holds an MA in Jewish Theology and a BA in Political Science, and is completing his rabbinical training at Abraham Geiger College. He taught Political Science and Philosophy of Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires and directed the Centro Hebreo Iona for 15 years. He currently coordinates Jewish Learning at the Fraenkelufer Synagogue and serves as Project Manager of JASS – the Jewish Activism Summer School. Uriel also founded several initiatives on education, identity, and democracy, including ID: Identity and Diversity Talks, and is the co-author of Puño y Letra: Caligrafía y Poder (2021)**.