Journey to the Mizrah Curriculum
The Journey to the Mizrah curriculum includes twelve carefully crafted lesson plans developed by JIMENA for both formal and informal Jewish and non-Jewish educational institutions. This curriculum employs traditional Sephardic pedagogy, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, identity, or experience, is included and valued. In response to the tremendous feedback we received from the Journey to the Mizrah program, JIMENA launched a groundbreaking Sephardi and Mizrahi Education Toolkit in 2024. This toolkit is a comprehensive compendium of recommendations, strategies, and resources designed to help educators learn about Sephardi and Mizrahi heritage and create inclusive school environments. All these materials and resources are complemented by our expanding collection of Sephardic and Mizrahi educational materials for public schools, which we encourage Jewish educators to utilize as well.
“Such is the Torah, each and every person makes sense of it in keeping with his or her understanding, and sees its image in it. Each soul will interpret Torah in keeping with the interpretation it received, and will find that particular interpretation in Torah, just like a mirror that reflects the shapes of all people, despite that they each have different shapes.”
Hacham Avraham Azulai, Fez, Morocco, 1550
About
Trainings
Lessons Plans
Author's Note
Dear Readers,
It is such an honor to help in the creation of the JIMENA’s Journey to the Mizrah curriculum for Jewish Day and High Schools. With this curriculum, students will be able to discover and celebrate the roots of Sephardic and Mizrahi students in their schools and classrooms. Through an exploration of music, food, cultural celebrations, and symbols, the curriculum seeks to give ideas and tools to Jewish educators who wish to create an inclusive environment in their Jewish Studies classroom.
Testimonials
Read More“I’m very much looking forward to working with JIMENA to plan Mizrahi heritage programs at Kehillah this upcoming year. The resources they’ve shared so far are great and provide us a wonderful starting point to more intentionally integrate Mizrahi heritage into our school programming.”
Sarah Canfield Dalllou, Student and Jewish Life Coordinator, Kehillah Jewish High School
“JIMENA’s speakers gave so much to us – her story, her wisdom, her teaching, and her modeling of how the world could be. JIMENA’s visit made it possible to present the voice of Jews from Arab lands, which is rarely heard in our area; it also gave a boost to our Israel activist students. I really appreciate what you and the David Project are doing for our students. Thank you so much.”
Rabbi Saul Perlmutter, Director of Hillel at University of Massachusetts
“The feedback that I have received from students regarding JIMENA’s presentation has been tremendous. Many students shared feelings of incredulity about not having been taught about the terrible plight of Jews in Arab countries. Others noted that the situation in the region was far more complex than they ever realized.”
Professor, Harvard School of Government
Credits
With gratitude…
Tamar Zaken, Primary Writer
Galia Avidar, Writer & Content Editor
Adam B. Schecter, Graphic Designer
Benjamin Krames, Web Developer & Designer
Sarah Levin, Project Director
There were so many wonderful rabbis, educators, scholars, and visionary community leaders who helped in the creation of our Journey to the Mizrah education initiative and we are grateful to each of them. We extend a special thank you to JIMENA’s former Education Coordinator, Nicole Hakimi; JIMENA Advisory Board Member, Adam Eliav; Jewish educator, Miriam Kanani; language media and technology expert, Souzana Parham; Director of Sephardic Education Center, Rabbi Daniel Bouskila; History and Jewish Studies scholar, Dr. Sophie Roberts; and Jewish Community High School of the Bay for their continued partnership and support of JIMENA’s education initiatives.
This initiative would not exist were it not for the thousands of unknown Sephardic and Mizrahi rabbis, thinkers, and community leaders who, through the ages, helped shape Jewish heritage and culture. We are blessed to share some of their teachings with you.
This program was generously supported by the Koret Foundation and Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
