The Center for Israel Education (CIE) subscribes to the philosophy that the evolution and sustenance of Israel is an integral part of Jewish and Middle Eastern history. Grounded in scholarship and academic research, the CIE tells Israel’s story in innovative ways. Our Approach To understand Israel today, we must understand the context from which the state emerged. Zionism developed in the 19th century as one of several options chosen by Jews in response to the challenges of modernity. The creation of a national territory emerged from a biblical attachment to the land of Israel, a sense of peoplehood, and prolonged denial of liberty and freedom. The road to statehood in 1948 was not easy; Zionists ultimately overcame the challenges they faced while always focusing on achieving self-determination. The struggle for statehood, and the subsequent experiences of the young nation, is a story of dedication and perseverance, success and failure, suffering and sacrifice. It is a story that can be read through a variety of disciplinary lenses, including economics, history, literature, politics, sociology, and international relations. It is a story that has meaning for Jews and non-Jews alike.