Press Release

The Future of Religious Zionism: Integration, Separation, or Leadership?

Leading Religious Zionist Personalities to Debate Choices Confronting Modern Orthodox Community

Leading Religious Zionist Personalities to Debate Choices Confronting Modern Orthodox Community

Thursday, 13 June 2013, Israel Democracy Institute, 4 Pinsker St., Jerusalem - Religious Zionists play an outsized role in Israeli society.  Their impact on fundamental questions of state and society is far greater than the relative size of their community.  As a result, the course of religious Zionism will profoundly influence the future of Israeli democracy.

In which direction is religious Zionism heading?  Do religious Zionists seek to integrate into Israeli society or perhaps even to lead it?  Or, does their criticism of Israeli government and society lead them inexorably towards separatism and isolation?

On Sunday, June 16 from 10:15 to 18:00 and Monday, June 17 from 9:30 to 19:00, IDI will convene a conference that will explore the key trends in contemporary religious Zionism and discuss their practical implications for Israel's future.  Topics of discussion will include:

  • The Rabbinate and the Military
  • Gender and Education
  • Settling the Land or in the Hearts?

Participants will include:

  • Rabbi Yaakov Medan, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion
  • Pinhas Wallerstein, former Secretary-General of the Yesha Council
  • Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute
  • Rabbanit Shulamit Melamed, Founder of Arutz Sheva
  • Rabbi Benny Lau, Head of IDI's Human Rights & Judaism in Action project; Rabbi of the Ramban Synagogue in Jerusalem
  • Prof. Asher Cohen, Rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Prof. Anita Shapira, Israel Prize laureate; Senior Fellow at IDI
  • Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, former Minister and MK from the NRP and National Union parties

The conference will be held in Hebrew; English interviews may be scheduled upon request.  The event will be broadcast live on the IDI website and will be available later on the IDI YouTube channel.  The full schedule and additional information about the event may be found on the event page.

To RSVP or for more information, contact:
Yehoshua Oz
Director of International Communications
press@idi.org.il
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