VOTING FOR INBAR

In honor of election day, Inbar students focused on the subject of elections from multiple viewpoints, studying in depth and making suggestions for better politics.

Inbar students study the elections, from various viewpoints:

During the past month, 8th-and 9th-graders participated in a project of awarding medals to women in Israeli politics, from the establishment of the State until the present.

Together, the students established criteria for constructive political activity, and then researched and chose female politicians who they felt met the criteria and were worthy of a medal. At the end of the process, they presented and explained their reasoning in front of their cohort

It was fascinating to witness their logic and their persuasive responses to the question, "Which public or political action can be considered worthy?"

10th graders undertook an elections project within their citizenship classes, in which students were divided into different parties, researched the party and held a "summit" day in which they presented the parties they'd been asked to represent, and their propaganda. At the end of the project, mock elections took place.

Some of the writings of Ariela Puny Kronish, 10th-grade homeroom teacher, to her class the night before the elections:

"During the past week, you actively participated in an elections project. You researched the parties, presented them creatively in front of the class, asked one another excellent questions that demonstrated critical thinking, and even placed a ballot in our classroom polling station.

It was truly exciting to watch you working with curiosity and enthusiasm, asking and arguing about the various topics.

When we, or our parents, go to vote tomorrow, let's try to remember that the great diversity within our tiny country can, and must be, an advantage. Let's not let the fanatics turn it into a disadvantage. Let's make sure that the multitude of different voices are heard, let's celebrate the holiday of Israeli democracy.

Let's not surrender to those encouraging us to reject voices different from ours. Let's not surrender to aggressive and divisive language.

Many people are concerned about tomorrow's elections. I am, too. But yesterday, a friend reminded me that we have a good country, special, blossoming, prospering.

Let's not take it for granted. Let's remember that this is a holiday, a day we waited for for 2000 years. A day in which we have a role, to influence Israeli democracy, to guard and strengthen it. To prove that there is no contradiction between a democratic and a Jewish country.

Look at the excitement with which people arrived at polling stations during the country's first elections:

'At 5:35 am, first thing in the morning, my wife and I, and my brother… and my brother-in-law… and my son… dressed in our Shabbat clothes in honor of this great and holy day.

For "This is the day that G-d created, we will rejoice and be glad in it." After 2000 or more years of exile… we finally merited such a day, when we can go to vote for a Jewish state…

All the way to the polling station, I walked as if it were Simchat Torah and I was holding the Torah during hakafot, because I held my Israeli identity card… at 5:50 we arrived, and we were the first… shaking with awe and sanctity, I gave my identity card to the chairman… and the holiest moment of my life arrived…' (from the diary of Moshe Yekutiel Alpert)
Tomorrow, may we all merit to feel a little bit of this awe and holiness."