Israel's Declaration of Independence: A History

A two-part class: May 7 and 14, from 1-2 p.m. ET

Both classes will be recorded and sent to all registrants.

Ahead of Israel’s Independence Day this year, get an in-depth lesson about the country’s founding document and the many debates that shaped it.

Join Yeshiva University Professor Neil Rogachevsky — co-author of “Israel's Declaration of Independence: The History and Political Theory of the Nation's Founding Moment” — for a two-part deep dive on how a single document helped Israel become the sovereign and free state it is today.

Class 1 will explore the significant pre-drafts of the declaration, covering especially the first draft (a copy of America's Declaration of Independence) and the swirling diplomatic and political controversies that faced Israel's executive committee as it made choices about the document. Class 2 will cover David Ben-Gurion's dramatic efforts to reshape Israel's declaration in the 72 hours preceding independence.