Teaching Resources

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

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

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

Discover different maps of Jerusalem created in different times of history.

What factors come into play when building a Sukkah, and has the structure changed througout history?

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

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

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

Get inspired to create a record of your personal milestones and even design your own card.

Learn more about the drafting of the Balfour Declaration, in which the British government expresses its support for the Zionist enterprise.

What's a Purim plate and what would you put in it?

How was Shavuot celebrated in the time of the temple, and how does this tradition compare with its modern Zionist interpretation?

It is sometimes difficult to picture the places that we read about in the Tanakh. Luckily, there are drawings and photographs which help us to imagine what the places and events described in the Tanakh look like.

How does eating symbolic foods enhance our Rosh Hashanah experience? Explore a range of Jewish texts and primary sources.

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

How much did you notice about the village?

When cholera ran rampant, saving lives superseded all else.

Explore our responsibility to each other within the community and to then try to put what you learned into practice

On May 14th,1948, a big crowd of Jews gathered near the Arch of Titus in Rome to celebrate the foundation of the State of Israel. But why there? Let's figure it out in our new video!

Discuss letters written by children during times of war and try to understand the writers' thoughts and emotions

Discover some interesting items depicting different aspects of Israel through cartoons, posters, and even a recipe booklet for times of emergency

Learn about Sukkot in the past and connect it to how we celebrate Sukkot today.

Compare and contrast a wide variety of artistic depictions of Jews around the world observing Shabbat during the 1800s and early 1900s.

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

This quizz will help you to figure out what Jewish holiday you are!

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

Learn about iconic Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer, best known for her song "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"). Take the opportunity to reflect on the texts she wrote and add their creative piece to the chain.

Record a meaningful oral history of a family member and get a personal glimpse into historical events, as well as our own history and identity.

Take a look at a family sitting in their sukkah and celebrating sukkot and try to find as many things from the list as you can

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.

Match traditional garments with the Jewish community they are from

Master your visual recall!

Explore Sukkot primary sources from the NLI's collections, answer the questions and discuss different topics with your students!

Why is community so important and how can individuals connect and contribute to it?

How did the Maccabees inspire Jews throughout the ages? What made them role models for the founders of the State of Israel?

What would the Beatles think of the Hebrew version of “Let it be”? Find out why and when it was written!

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

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.

Record a meaningful oral history of a family member and create a video to reflect on how our family history influences your lives today.

In these printable pages, you can explore how Yom Kippur is marked in different times and places throughout Jewish history.

Take a trip around the world, solve the clues and discover synagogues throughout Jewish history.

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.

Dina talks about primary sources on sukkot

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

Explore ketubot from different times and places and learn how artistic design can reflect one's values and identity

​Teachers Talk about NLI Primary Sources - Letter from Sarah Aaronsohn

What does Judaism have to say about teaching the next generation?

A central mitzvah (commandment) of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar whose sounds are intended to induce teshuvah (repentance). Read the TANACH texts about shofar blowing, explore the primary sources, and discuss what you feel when you hear the shofar.

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

Discover how to use primary sources to enrich your teaching and prepare your learners for Sukkot and Simchat Torah

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

Explore texts and primary sources that highlight the idea of support and solidarity between Jewish people around the world in different times in history.

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.

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

Discuss letters written by children during times of war and try to understand the writers' thoughts and emotions

In this lesson, you will uncover the meaning of the slogan "Let My People Go" which was used by the Soviet Jewry movement to allow Jews to immigrate to Israel.

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

What makes Jewish newspapers special and important, and what would you include in yours?

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

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

What is special about Shabbat and how do you celebrate it?

Using the Chanukiah as a case study, discuss what values we are celebrating on Chanukah, and explore the rules regarding lighting Chanukah candles in times of danger

Teachers Talk About NLI Primary Sources - Netanel Burstin - Map of Erez Israel & Syria

Step back in time to the the Roman Jewish community in the 1400s to consider the effect illustrations can have on the prayer experience.

Ever wonder what community leaders do? Now you have the chance to find out!

Learn how a traditional Jewish prayer melody inspired everyone - from classical composers to filmmakers to psychedelic rock bands.

Photographs of the life and work of the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, as a politician and family man.

Explore Jerusalem through maps from different historical periods that were created by cartographers around the world

Founder of Hadassah. Learn about Henrietta Szold as a model for sparking change in the world

Just prior to his 27th birthday, the modest red-headed lieutenant colonel was abroad for the first time, reluctantly part of the Israeli negotiating team on the Greek isle of Rhodes. He had never worn a suit.

Read all about this influential figure and then arrange the significant milestones of his life in this digital activity.

Create a timeline that tells the story of your community and learn about the people behind these events

Explore traditional, modern and visual texts to reflect on the value of arguing and why it is so important to learn how to disagree.

Can you identify the places? Jerusalem, then and today. Click to flip the pictures!

Discover how to use primary sources to enrich your teaching and prepare your learners for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Play a game of bingo to discover the different objects you can find in a synagogue!

What are American basketball players doing in Israel?

Who inspired hundreds of young athletes and continues to be a role model to those who wish to combine a career with motherhood?

Jewish Soldier and Poet. Through this interactive experience, take a journey through the works and life of Chana Senesh

Design your own Shana Tova card inspired by illustrations and texts from historical cards!

Discover your roots! Research your family history and create a family tree!

Explore the unique photos from the National Library of Israel's collections and discuss questions with your students.

Reflect on what you have learned during the project and how this impacts on your Jewish identity

Learn how different historical circumstances come to life in the unique design of each Haggadah.

Compare historical and recent photographs to discuss the changes that have taken place in Israel over the last 150 years.

Which city was not part of the Jewish state? Click on the cities that were not part of the Jewish state according to the partition plan.

Can you guess which years these Shana Tova postcards came from?

Discover how photographers and artists of the past 100 years understood the significance of the Holy City.

Play our trivia game to find out about what Sigd celebrates and how it is marked today.

“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?!

Explore the various traditions around celebrating the completion of the annual Torah-reading cycle.

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

Print beautiful flags with the Yom Ha'atzmaut posters from the National Library of Israel's collections to decorate your classroom