Overview
Your personal identity is like an iceberg. The parts that are visible—like what you look like—are just the tip. Beneath the surface, there’s so much more: your beliefs, your background, and your experiences. All these unseen aspects come together to make up the fuller picture of who you are.
By examining the experiences of some Jewish Americans, students will learn to recognize the interplay between visible identity markers (such as skin color) and invisible aspects (like religious practices, cultural traditions, and personal values). They will analyze how these factors contribute to both an individual’s self-understanding and how they are perceived by society. Furthermore, this analysis will highlight the pitfalls of a ‘single story’ narrative, demonstrating the necessity of acknowledging the rich and varied identities within the Jewish American community.
Essential Questions
- How are Jewish Americans an ethnic group?
- What visible and invisible components make up each person’s unique identity?
- How do the multiple components that make up identity help us understand the diversity of Jewish Americans?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Understand what makes Jewish Americans an ethnic group
- Identify the ways in which Jewish Americans are diverse
- Grasp the concept of Jewish peoplehood and how it unites Jewish Americans across diversity
- Recognize the various ways Jewish identity is expressed
- Learn about the geographic origins of Jewish communities
- Develop empathy and perspective-taking skills
Materials:
- Pre-Instruction Student Self-Assessment (you will be instructed to make a copy)
- Identity Iceberg Activity
- Videos:
- Videos Analysis Document
- Post-Instruction Student Self-Assessment (you will be instructed to make a copy)
