History Education in State-Religious Schools during the Past Decade
Keywords:
Faith-based History, History Education, History Wars, Religious Zionism, State-Religious EducationAbstract
History education is a cultural phenomenon that reflects complex knowledge-power relations and embodies a wide range of ideological, political, educational and ethical issues. This article explores the teaching of history in State-Religious Education (SRE) and examines its unique characteristics, as compared to inter alia State Education. Focusing on the past decade and against the backdrop of the ‘history wars’ of the 2000s, the changes that have occurred in the Religious Zionist sector and its increasing influence in Israeli society are described. Drawing on diverse sources, the article discusses the various factors that have shaped the development of history education in SRE.
Apart from elements common to both SRE and State Education, the article examines three categories in which faith-based principles have shaped history education in SRE: redemptionism; attitudes towards religion and observant Jews; and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The study reveals major disagreements within SRE on how to teach key historical episodes. A broad consensus, however, can be discerned regarding the status of territories gained in the Six-Day War, as an integral part of the Greater Land of Israel. The study concludes that, as Israel enters its eighth decade, history education in SRE presents a unique and proud historical narrative, and perhaps even multiple narratives.
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