By: Ahuva Liberles, Assistant Professor of Jewish History and Education, Tel Aviv University
It was the last week of December 2023, dark and cold. I was asked to deliver a lecture at the monthly English-speaking group in a senior living community in Jerusalem. The group consisted of about 20 men and women aged 75-92. Some were Holocaust survivors or army veterans, and all had rebuilt their lives in a new country. This event was made possible with support from the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization.
In December 2023, the atmosphere in the Middle East was heavy with grief and fear; the organizer of the English forum mentioned that the senior residents were reluctant to leave their rooms and often just watched the news. I needed to find a way to give them a pathway to share, open up, and feel empowered, even if just for an hour and a half.
Despite initial skepticism – "How can we play at a time like this?" – I decided to proceed. I used the micro-game version of the debate from the beginning of a longer game, Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C.E. Players debate the “reconciliation agreement,” a law that muzzled freedom of expression in the hope that eliminating divisive language would unite the Athenian people.
Given the past two years of strife over the judicial reform in Israel, I initially thought this game was appropriate, and now, after October 7th, it felt all the more relevant. Excitement grew as the game day approached, with participants emailing and asking questions about how to prepare for the game.
When I arrived with the role sheets, the group was ready. The room was perfect for our needs, allowing space for setup, group discussions, and speeches. I introduced the game and its concept, gave some historical background, and the role-playing began.
The transformation was remarkable. Initially hesitant, the participants allowed themselves to be immersed in a historical event in 403 BCE and quickly became deeply engaged. They embodied their roles – merchants, veterans, sailors, philosophers – and grappled with complex dilemmas. During the setup, I walked from group to group, answering questions and assisting them in envisioning the next phase. Soon enough, they understood their unique historical stands.
The speeches were passionate and insightful, using their role sheets and drawing on their life experiences. The Athenian "Agora" came to life in a way I had not seen before. I was struck by how profoundly they connected to the historical event. Anyone joining the room would have mistaken this moment to be about a contemporary issue.
They debated the deep dilemma of not receiving closure and accepting former injustices to rebuild and look forward to a brighter future. They felt the hard feelings of betrayal towards the oligarchs who supported the Thirty Tyrants and now sought forgiveness. They questioned their current democracy and the potential imbalance the change might bring. They discussed fear, hate, and mistrust and aimed to build something stronger than walls.
In the debriefing, many expressed their astonishment at how immersed they became. One participant noted she was discussing Athens, but thinking of Israel's 1952 reparation agreement with Germany. Another remarked on the importance of integrating role play, especially for senior citizens, emphasizing that active learning is much more stimulating than passively listening to the many lectures they hear.
A third commented later in an email that she and her friends attend many classes, some over Zoom and some in person, but they remain receivers of knowledge and don't use their minds and feelings in the same way as in the Reacting to the Past demo she just experienced. The game provided a unique, immersive learning opportunity, allowing participants to connect deeply with historical events while setting aside their current worries.
"I realized how the historical discussions connected to the present," the organizer of the English forum summed up. "I found gaming an opportunity to encourage real conversation and debate in my community. It gave all participants a chance to voice their opinions publicly and make use of their life experiences. Playing Reacting to the Past gave me the feeling that we can still contribute to society and look forward to a better future."
Driving home, I felt privileged to have facilitated such an enriching experience. I hope this could be a broader avenue for Reacting to the Past to explore, offering senior citizen groups a dynamic and engaging way to learn and connect.
Blog Author Questionnaire:
One word to describe faculty: Innovative
Two words to describe (your) school: Knowledgeable and Supportive
Three words to describe students: Driven, Resilient, Dynamic
Four words to describe favorite games: Empathetic, Collaborative, Thought-provoking, Fun
Five words to describe Reacting: Transformative, Courageous, Crucial, Mind-blowing, Reflective
Dr. Ahuva Liberles is a faculty member at Tel Aviv University in the Jewish History department, Head of the History track in Tel Aviv University's Teacher Training program, and currently a guest professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. A historian and educator, Ahuva specializes in the social and intellectual history of Jews in pre-modern Europe (1100-1600) and in developing innovative pedagogical approaches in the humanities, a research path she began as a Blaustein postdoctoral fellow at Yale University (2021-2023). In 2024, Ahuva won the Dana Gorlin RTTP fellowship. Her research centers on family life, identity, marginality, and inter-religious encounters, with a strong commitment to fostering meaningful collaboration and guiding the transformation from student to teacher.
