I have spent much of my life living in, traveling to, and learning about Israel. Like many who care deeply about the Jewish state, I hold strong views on the political, social and geopolitical forces that shape its present and future. And yet, as a Jewish educator, I rarely voice those opinions publicly. Not because I lack conviction, but because conviction alone is not my lane.

My contribution — where I can add value in an already crowded and polarized discourse — is education.

That is why I write now, knowing full well that what follows may unsettle some who read it. The pedagogical implications of the war against Iran — particularly for educators who pose questions and facilitate discussion about preemptive strikes — may be labeled by some as unwarranted or even disloyal to the Jewish establishment (an establishment of which I am proudly a part). But education has never been about comfort. It has always been about courage.

Let me be unequivocally clear at the outset: My heart is with the people of Israel. Like many of you, I have friends, colleagues, and family members who are living under direct threat — running to shelters, enduring fear, exhaustion, and trauma. I am also deeply concerned for the lives of innocent Iranians and others across the Middle East whose lives have been brutalized by dictators for decades and who now find themselves at grave risk once again. And I hold profound respect and gratitude for the Israeli and American air forces, and for the military and intelligence........

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