Here are three central issues for Netanyahu’s incoming government.
First, strengthening Jewish identity and affinity with Jewish history and tradition was not only a campaign slogan for some of the parties but was covered thoroughly in the coalition agreements.
For some, calling to strengthen Jewish identity in Israel can be understood as potentially leading to religious coercion on non-religious and non-Jewish populations such as banning the possession of Chametz (food containing leaven that is forbidden during Passover). However, one clause in the agreement between the Religious Zionist Party is less spoken of in public discourse, highlighting public education as its primary target. Setting the identity of the political parties aside, this issue should actually garner a broad Zionist consensus among Israelis from all over the political spectrum.
After years of slowly decreasing the study of issues of Jewish history and the Tanach in public education in Israel, the coalition parties agreed to revamp the curriculum on these subjects. Included in the list of subjects to be integrated in public school curriculum is the Bible, the history of Zionism and the history of all of the Jewish communities from Yemen and Iraq to Ethiopia and Eastern Europe.
Whether you identify with the Zionist left or the Zionist right, teaching these subjects is necessary for raising future generations of Israelis who believe in the importance of Jewish peoplehood, recognize the historical role of the Jewish homeland and have a keen understanding and deep connection with Jewish tradition on their own terms. It is crucial for ensuring a secure future for Israel as a Jewish state.
Moreover, historically in Israel, studying the stories and traditions of Jewish communities from Arab and Muslim countries has been given far less attention. This could be a way of increasing the awareness and equal standing of Mizrahi Jewish heritage with that of Ashkenazi (European) heritage.
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