Grand Slam History: Using the Start of Baseball to Teach About Jewish Americans
March 24 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EDT
Step up to the plate and discover the rich lineup of Jewish American identity and history through the lens of one of baseball’s most legendary figures: Sandy Koufax. As the 2026 baseball season kicks off, this session uses the “Left Arm of God” as a starting point to explore the pivot point in the 1965 World Series where Koufax chose to honor his faith over the game, forever changing how the public viewed the intersection of heritage, religion, and the All-American pastime.
Participants will go “beyond the scoreboard” to:
– Analyze Identity: Examine the complexities of Jewishness as both an ethnicity and a religion, and how these dual identities are navigated in public spaces.
– Explore Diversity: Learn about the global tapestry of the Jewish American community, from Ashkenazi and Sephardi roots to modern-day diverse backgrounds.
– Examine History through Sport: Trace the historical challenges and triumphs of Jewish Americans, including allies in the Civil Rights movement and pioneers in science and the arts.
– Equip Your Classroom: Receive a “roster” of ready-to-use materials, including primary source documents, mini-lessons, and digital resources perfectly timed for Jewish American Heritage Month in May.
This is an open workshop, led by one of our ICS educators, and is designed for current/future K-12 educators who teach/plan on teaching this content. Interested in setting up a PD? Contact us at [email protected].
