Secular Zionism
Secularism and Its DiscontentsThursday, May 30, 2013 by Yehudah Mirsky | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In an essay first published December 17, 2010, Yehudah Mirsky examines a defense of Jewish secularism and finds it—and Jewish secularism itself—wanting.
Yair Lapid’s ReligionTuesday, February 19, 2013 by Elli Fischer | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In a speech to haredi students last year, Yair Lapid advocated a shared public sphere in Israel that is neutral on questions of religion. Does he now have the chance to implement his vision?
Is Judah Halevi’s Kuzari Racist?Wednesday, February 13, 2013 by Ari Ackerman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
A recent attempt to redeem the Kuzari from the charge of ethnocentrism raises the question as to whether Jewish texts should be reinterpreted to accord with modern sensibilities.
Crisis in the CurriculumMonday, October 22, 2012 by Yoel Finkelman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In 1953, in a bold move, Israel passed a State Education Law. Before then, Israeli education was run by political movements and parties which used their schools not just to teach the three R's but to indoctrinate as many unsuspecting youngsters as possible.
Editors' Picks
Israel's Talmudic Turn Sid Slivko, Jewish Week. Educators reaching out to young secular Israelis in the hope of introducing them to the Talmud have discovered a willing audience.
Torah in the Knesset Dov Lipman, Jewish Press. "Yesh Atid is trying to bring about an environment where mentioning God or our classic sources doesn’t mean that the next step is we’re forcing religion on you." (Interview by Elliot Resnick)
Israel vs. Haredim Moshe Averick, Algemeiner. Haredim are criticized today for not serving in the IDF or contributing to the workforce. But secular Zionists must acknowledge their historical role in deliberately marginalizing the Old Jew.
The New Haredim Daniel Goldman, Jerusalem Post. A year after the violence between haredim and non-haredim in Beit Shemesh, tensions persist. But more haredim are entering the workforce and joining the army, and their voice is growing.
Israel's Other Election Yehuda Schlesinger, Israel Hayom. The campaign is on for the election of Israel's next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. Religious Zionist candidate, David Stav, warns that a haredi victory would see Israel "torn to shreds."
Secular Jerusalem Fights Back , Associated Press. After years of setbacks, Jerusalem's secular residents have begun to push back against attempts by the city's growing Haredi community to impose religious mores on the general population.