Judaism, Education and Social Justice: Towards a Jewish Critical Pedagogy

Description

This book sets out new theoretical foundations for Jewish social justice education by surveying and discussing Freirean critical pedagogy, Catholic models of social justice education, Jewish social justice literature and interviews with educators and activists. Jewish social justice education is an active and growing field, encompassing a diverse range of issues including the treatment of refugees, environmental justice, human rights, peace and justice in Israel/Palestine, gender equality, and LGBT+ inclusion. Yet Jewish social justice education remains an under-researched and under-theorized phenomenon. This lacuna has practical implications for the thousands of educators and activists across the world who are attempting to achieve social justice ends through the medium of Jewish education. In discussing the key philosophical, political and educational issues that emerge when discussing these topics, the author draws on thinkers including Hannah Arendt, Martin Buber, Alasdair MacIntyre and Jonathan Sacks. Matt Plen proposes three possible directions for a normative theory of Jewish social justice education: ‘Jewish politics in a renewed public sphere’, ‘Jewish education for relational community building’ and ‘Jewish critical pedagogy for cultural emancipation’. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Glossary of Hebrew and Jewish Terms Introduction Part 1 Faith, Justice and Education 1 Paulo Freire’s Critical Pedagogy – a Theory of Social Justice Education 2 Catholic Social Teaching and Liberation Theology – Theories of Religious Social Justice Education 3 Judaism and Social Justice – Religion, Culture and Progressive Politics Part 2 Jewish Social Justice Education – Interviews with Practitioners 4 Critique – the World as It Is 5 Vision – the World as It Should Be 6 Strategy – Education, Activism and Community Organising 7 People – Agents and Beneficiaries of Social Change Part 3 Towards a Jewish Critical Pedagogy 8 Philosophical, Theological and Political Themes 9 The Jewishness of Social Justice Pedagogies 10 Normative Theories of Jewish Social Justice Education Conclusion Notes Introduction 1 Paulo Freire’s Critical Pedagogy – a Theory of Social Justice Education 2 Catholic Social Teaching and Liberation Theology – Theories of Religious Social Justice Education 3 Judaism and Social Justice – Religion, Culture and Progressive Politics 4 Critique – the World as It Is 5 Vision – the World as It Should Be 6 Strategy – Education, Activism and Community Organising 7 People – Agents and Beneficiaries of Social Change 8 Philosophical, Theological and Political Themes 9 The Jewishness of Social Justice Pedagogies 10 Normative Theories of Jewish Social Justice Education Bibliography Index