Naomi Shemer Time Capsule

Finding Your Voice in Hatikva

Music is a powerful language that shapes emotion and meaning. In Hatikva, it expresses hope, identity, and resilience.

Listening to Jewish Songs and Prayers

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Get a chance to hear recordings from Jewish holiday and life cycle events across time and place.

Women Power in Times of War

Music

Explore the role of women during the Yom Kippur War.

What’s Your Exodus Story?

Yom Kippur

Take a look at three groups of people who saw the Exodus story as inspiration and hope during their own quest for freedom, and share how it resonates with you.

Pesach

Caring for Plants to Care for the Future

Take a close look at a photograph and a text from the Talmud to see what we can learn about trees, the environment, and the future.

Analyze the prayer written in 1809 by Rabbi Moses Sofer as a response to the Austro-Polish War.

Tu Bishvat

Prayer During Wartime

Community

Tu Bishvat Printable Activity

Have fun while you expand your knowledge, notice new things and celebrate the beauty of the natural environment that surrounds us. Happy hunting!

Tu Bishvat

The Historic Aliyah of Ethiopian Jews

The unbelievable story of how a record number of people flew aboard a single airplane as part of 1991's Operation Solomon.

Community

Women's Role in the 40s

Match the clue to the image on this 1949 WIZO election poster and reflect on how the early Zionist vision of equal work compares to today.

Women's Month

Pesach: The Four Sons

See how the passage about the Four Sons has been a source of inspiration for illustrators of Haggadot over the centuries.

Eliezer Ben Yehuda Time Capsule

Pesach

Step into Ben Yehuda’s mission to bring Hebrew back to life as you invent new words, enjoy interactive word games, and grow your Hebrew vocabulary.

Chanukah Advertising in Israel

Leaders

Since when does Simon the Macabbee promote citrus fruits?! Explore some funny and interesting advertisements connected to Chanukah.

Analyzing Memorial Day Poster 2008

Chanukah

Analyze this Yom Hazikaron Poster for Fallen Soldiers. The main image in this poster is a painting by Michael Elkayam.

Yom Hazikaron

Teachers Talk - A Letter

Teachers Talk about NLI Primary Sources - Letter from Sarah Aaronsohn

Women's Month

Tu Bishvat Protected Trees Puzzle

This puzzle features a poster of protected trees and shrubs in Israel. Can you identify any of the plants shown on the poster?

Exploring Israeli Culture

Tu Bishvat

Practice the skill of zooming in and out and take a closer look at Israel’s cultural life.

Life of Yitzhak Rabin - Analyzing a Poster

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Yitzhak Rabin served as IDF chief of staff and two terms as prime minister of Israel. On November 4, 1995, Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an extreme right-wing activist who opposed Rabin’s political ideology.

Yom Rabin

Rosh Hashanah Worksheet - Exploring Primary Sources

Explore Rosh Hashanah postcards that tell the story of Israel and discuss the messages they convey.

What Does Your Simchat Torah Flag Say About You?

Rosh Hashanah

Join us on a fascinating journey through the history of Simchat Torah flags: From the Middle Ages, through the early Zionist movement and to this very day

Simchat Torah

A Year to October 7 | Remembering in Real Time

Explore ways to anchor this difficult time using primary sources that touch upon different aspects of memory and illustrate how Jewish culture has dealt with crises in the past

October 7th

Focus on an advertisement as a means to discuss the development of Israeli society and the status of women in Israel since the twentieth century

Women's Month

Renee Molho: A Bookstore in Six Chapters (Centropa)

This is the story of two Jews - from Salonika, or Thessaloniki, in today's Greece - who managed to survive, thanks to a Spanish diplomat and some very brave Greek families.

Exploring Scripture and Torah Study

Yom Hashoah

Explore inspiring sayings, teachings, and blessings drawn from Jewish tradition and history. Through discussion and creative interpretation, reflect on how timeless words of wisdom can guide their own Bar or Bat Mitzvah journey and shape their personal values today.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Shir LaShalom - Song of Peace

Shir LaShalom (Song of Peace) was written in 1969. It is very popular in Israel and serves as the unofficial anthem of the Israeli peace movement, particularly since becoming associated with the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Yom Rabin

Naomi Shemer Time Capsule

Learn about Naomi Shemer’s life, get to know some of her iconic songs and reflect on the texts

Maccabees: From Ancient Heroes to Modern Identity

Middle and High school

Women's Month

Examine how the depiction of the Maccabees’ image evolved from ancient warriors to modern symbols of Jewish strength, identity, and peoplehood.

Letters Written by Israeli Kids to Soldiers During the Yom Kippur War

Chanukah

Letters written by Israeli children during the 1973 war reveal how they experienced one of the nation's most challenging periods.

Yom Kippur

Crafting Our Story: Pesach as a Case Study

Learn about several modern Haggadot that expand on the traditional versions with various levels of interpretation and innovation, including references to current events

Pesach

Sally Priesand: The First American Female Rabbi

In 1972, one woman - Sally Priesand - made American and Jewish history. Find out who she was and what she did to change history!

Women's Month

Chana Senesh Time Capsule

Take a journey through the works and life of Chana Senesh, Jewish soldier and poet

The Passover Seder as Live Action Role Playing

Women's Month

Passover Seder is essentially the world's oldest Jewish role-playing game, predating "Dungeons & Dragons" by millennia! How did the Sages of yore get us to joyfully participate in Jewish rituals, and what does all this have to do with mutual scallion whippings?

Pesach

A Decade in Review: Yom Ha’atzmaut Posters

Explore the evolution of Israeli society and national identity through a Yom Ha’atzmaut poster from each decade.

Experimental artificial intelligence (AI)-based search in the National Library's image database

Yom Ha'atzmaut

The National Library of Israel Resources

Commemorating Yom Hazikaron

Discover how Yom Hazikaron is commemorated by analyzing a poster created by Tzipi Berak Biyonsky.

Yom Hazikaron

Jewish Songs and Prayers. Traditions That Ring a Bell

Listen carefully to tunes and prayers and guess what communities they are from and what rituals they are part of

Chana Senesh - Learn More About this Heroine

Traditions

Learn about this Hungarian Jewish poet and paratrooper who risked her life to save Jews under Nazi rule. (Turn on closed captioning for English subtitles.)

El Al Poster of Israel Puzzle

Yom Hashoah

This puzzle features an El-Al poster with a map of Israel. Do you recognize any of the places on the map?

Yom Ha'atzmaut

The People Behind the History of Israel

Take a closer look at some of the individuals who were involved in the grand historical events that shaped the State of Israel.

Community

The Importance of Taking Care of Our Trees

In this unit we will discuss the importance of trees, the need to take care of the environment and learn about the festival of Tu B’Shvat.

October 7 memorial wall, created by the NLI, displays the faces and names of the murdered civilians and fallen IDF soldiers on and since October 7. Both digital and printable version of this wall are now available to download and use at your schools and community centers.

Tu Bishvat

October 7 Memorial Wall

October 7th

The First Israeli Woman to Travel the Globe

Schlomit Flaum left behind no family, no one to preserve her memory. Yet she did leave something extraordinary—a groundbreaking book, the first Hebrew-language travelogue written by a woman from the Land of Israel

Women's Month

Planting a Tree in Israel

Design our own tree certificate while learning about the custom of planting trees in Israel.

Celebrating in Times of Crisis

Tu Bishvat

Explore texts and primary sources that address the issue of celebrating in times of crisis (using Chanukah as a case study).

Chanukah

Golda Meir - Israeli First Female Prime Minister

Get a glimpse into Golda Meir’s life and her role as the prime minister of Israel in turbulent times

NLI Exhibit | A Treasury of Words

Women's Month

Discover rare items from the permanent exhibition at the National Library of Israel

Community

Chanukah Candle Lighting in the IDF

When might lighting Chanukah candles be challenging? Learn about how IDF soldiers deal with that question.

Chanukah

Preparing for an Interview

In this activity, learners practice writing and asking thoughtful questions and learn how to conduct themselves during an interview.

Explore different Jewish texts and reflect on your connection to prayer and spirituality.

Story Telling

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Historical Jewish Press

Explore a collection of Jewish newspapers published in various countries, languages, and time periods.

The National Library of Israel Resources

Welcome to Israel - Let's Learn Some Hebrew!

Learn how Israel has absorbed immigrants from around the world and helped them adjust to their new country by teaching them Hebrew.

Praying for the Welfare of Our Government

Community

Explore sources about Jewish communities reciting a prayer for the welfare of the government under which they live, its origins, purposes, and evolving views.

Values

Ilan Ramon Time Capsule

Discover the story of the first Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon and reflect his deep sense of responsibility to his family, Judaism, the Jewish people, and the State of Israel.

Tu Bishvat Photos and Posters

Israel

Decorate your classroom with the Tu Bishvat posters and photos from the NLI collections! Every item has a QR code so that you can scan and read more about it.

A Look at the Jewish Year: Pesach

Tu Bishvat

Explore three rare Haggadot from the NLI's collection with the help of three unusual Seder meal guests!

Pesach

The National Library of Israel Resources

Using Persuasive Materials

Election posters use advertising methods to convey messages. How can we recognize tools used by designers that influence the viewers?

Culture

Tu Bishvat Stamp Poster Puzzle

This puzzle features stamps made for Tu Bishvat. Can you identify all the ways to celebrate Tu Bishvat featured on the stamps?

Henrietta Szold Time Capsule

Tu Bishvat

Learn about Henrietta Szold, a founder of Hadassah, as a model for sparking change in the world

Women's Month

What does it mean for Jews to live under the laws of the societies in which they reside? This source sheet explores the Talmudic principle of dina d'malchuta dina—"the law of the land is the law"—through a collection of Jewish texts.

Women Who Sparked Change: Then and Now

Values

How might we draw inspiration from great Jewish women's actions to spark change in our communities today and do our part to bring the hostages home?

Leaders

Remembering in Real Time

Explore primary sources and Jewish texts dedicated to the idea of preserving collective memories by integrating them into everyday life

October 7th

In this activity, learners discover how family trees can reveal personal histories and help preserve the stories of past and present generations, and create their own family tree

Israel National Emblem: How was It Chosen?

Middle and High school

Family

It was a close competition between artists to see who would receive the honor of designing the National Emblem

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Explore the significance of Hebrew for Jewish culture and peoplehood and reflect on its potential for connecting Jews all over the world.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

The Women's Campaign for Soviet Jewry

How a women's protest group made a difference by raising the cause of Soviet Jewish political prisoners during the Cold War

Women's Month

First Woman to Sign Israel’s Declaration of Independence

Rachel Cohen-Kagan was one of the most prominent activists for the advancement of women's rights in the young State of Israel. Her efforts led to her being among the signatories of the Declaration of Independence

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Chanukah Across the Globe

Light up your Chanukah with 8 different treasures in 8 different languages!

Alfred Dreyfus New Year postcard, 1901

Chanukah

Find out what social and ideological messages were conveyed in Rosh Hashanah cards!

Values

Leonard Cohen is Singing for the Soldiers During the Yom Kippur War

The story of how the Jewish-Canadian singer-songwriter ended up singing for soldiers and crossing the Suez Canal with the IDF during one of Israel's most desperate hours.

Music

Reading from the Torah and putting on tallit and tefillin

Explore traditional rituals that are associated with the Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony, including reading from the Torah and putting on tallit and tefillin.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Explore the importance of family in our lives and learn about your roots.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

The Cantor Who Lost His Voice

Years after chazan (cantor) Zalman Pollack was a star of the Jewish world, his life's work was rediscovered...

Yom Kippur

Jewish Cuisine - A Taste of Community

Through food ads, “get a taste” of the foods that are customary in different Jewish communities

Match Hebrew words with their correct English translations, paying attention to tricky aspects of the language — such as homophones and homographs.

Community

Women’s Prayer Book - Over 500 years old

Culture

“Blessed are You…who has made me a woman, not a man.” Who knew that this text is actually found in a siddur from 500 years ago?!

When Israel Comes Together

Women's Month

In this new photographic article you will discover the acts of kindness, solidarity and goodness in the face of evil between Israeli people throughout history

October 7th

Create a map of your community Jewish institutions that provide services and resources for its members

Community

Bearing Witness | Documenting October 7

Help us documenting October 7, 2023 and its aftermath

October 7th

Food Advertising in Israel

Analyze Israeli advertisements from the 1970s for food and cooking products and gain insight into the social situation at that time.

Learn about Ruth Dayan, Israeli social activist, as an example of how creativity and passion can bring different people together

Culture

Rut Dayan Time Capsule

Learning from Primary Sources

Middle and High school

Women's Month

In this lesson, learners are introduced to primary sources and the insights they can provide.

Learn Hebrew - Exploring Posters from the Library's Collections

Story Telling

Explore the posters about learning Hebrew from the Library's collection and share their comparisons and the effectiveness.

Living Jewish. Thinking Universal

Culture

In this lesson, learners explore the relationship between Jewish and universal values through discussion and analysis of primary sources

Hatikva: Learn More about Israel’s National Anthem

Values

Discover the secrets of the history and evolution of Hatikva. Turn on the closed captioning for English translation.

European Days of Jewish Culture

Yom Ha'atzmaut

The National Library of Israel annually participates in the European Days of Jewish Culture. Check out exhibitions and educational materials that were developed espesially for this event.

The National Library of Israel Resources

Video

Jerusalem as a Microcosm of Israeli Society

This webinar discusses how learning personal stories can help contextualize and forge connections to grand historical events.

Jerusalem Day

Keeping the Community Together

Who is responsible for maintaining harmonious relations within the community?

Community

How a Little Red Flower Became the Symbol of Israel’s Memorial Day

Why do Israelis wear the famous Dam HaMaccabim (Blood of the Maccabees) sticker on Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day)?

Yom Hazikaron

The story of Purim has earned recognition for its perceived feminist message. Get a glimpse into the lives of other Jewish women in the past.

Submitting to the Collective

Women's Month

Share the story of your family object with the National Library of Israel to ensure your story lives on for future generations.

Women's Liberation Movement Ad

Family

Explore an advertisement of the Women's Liberation Movement in Jerusalem campaigning against the 1972 Israeli Beauty Pageant

Women's Month

Land of Milk and Honey

Explore Israel’s agriculture and advertising campaigns that encouraged Israelis to buy certain foods in different time periods.