"The chain of Hebrew soldiers": reconsidering "religionization" within an IDF Bible seminar

Nehemia Stern, Uzi Ben-Shalom, Udi Lebel, Batia Ben Hador

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

This article presents an ethnographic analysis of the educational and religious tensions that emerged during a five-day biblical seminar run by the Israel Defense Forces’ Identity and Jewish Consciousness Unit. We argue that despite the official focus on professionalization as a pedagogical parameter, the seminar participants themselves reacted to biblical narratives in ways that indicate a distinct kind of personal and individualized discourse. By focusing on this disjuncture, we highlight the very real limitations larger (governmental or civilian) institutional entities face as they attempt to shape religious attitudes within the Israeli public arena. Examining how seminar participants interpret biblical narratives can enable scholars to portray a more nuanced account of how religion and “religionization” function within the Israel Defense Forces.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-158
Number of pages26
JournalIsrael Studies Review
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Association for Israel Studies

RAMBI Publications

  • RAMBI Publications
  • Bible -- Study and teaching -- Israel -- Evaluation
  • Israel -- Tseva haganah le-Yiśraʼel -- Religion
  • Military education -- Israel -- Case studies
  • Military education -- Israel -- History -- 20th century

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