Status of Israel’s Judicial Overhaul, January 2026
Three years after the Israeli government began the process to overhaul the judiciary, and after two years of war delayed efforts, the drive to rein in judicial independence continues.
Lewin-Epstein and Cohen, “Ethnic Origin and Identity in the Jewish Population of Israel” CIE+ members only
Noah Lewin-Epstein and Yinon Cohen, “Ethnic Origin and Identity in the Jewish Population of Israel,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (June 2018). The multifaceted ethnicity in the Jewish population of Israel is addressed by…
Domestic Discord — Haredim in the Military and Proposed Judicial Overhaul CIE+ members only
Two major discordant issues that vexed Israel before October 7, 2023, continue to cleave Israeli society: a possible exemption from mandatory military service for the Haredim and the Netanyahu government’s persistent effort to wrench from…
Israel, the Christian World and Christians in Israel CIE+ members only
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse.” — Genesis 12:3 (verse commonly invoked by Evangelicals in support of Israel) In 1917, General Edmund Allenby was given…
Scott Abramson, “Islamophobia and Antisemitism: A False Equivalence” CIE+ members only
As originally published in the British journal Fathom, CIE’s Scott Abramson explains the fallacy of presenting Islamophobia and antisemitism as equivalent.
Explainer: The New Yishuv, an Introduction CIE+ members only
April 14, 2025 The period of the New Yishuv lasted from the last 40 years of Ottoman rule in Palestine through the British Mandate until the establishment of Israel in 1948. It saw the growth…
Explainer: What Is Zionism? CIE+ members only
From biblical times to the present, Jews and Judaism have had an unbroken connection to Zion, a reference to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, derived from the hill at the heart of Jerusalem. Zionism…
Amichai Magen, ‘Israel’s Summer of Discontent,’ Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs CIE+ members only
The summer of 2023 left Israeli society more divided than ever, with the direction of the Jewish state an unknown.
Dayenu — From Exodus to Contemporary Israel CIE+ members only
Sung or recited on Passover, the original Dayenu is reflective appreciation of 14 significant events specifically wrapped around the exodus from Egypt. The Dayenu presented here chronicles Jewish history from Exodus to the present day. This history can be read individually or responsively. Different moments and personalities in Jewish history could have been included. Hebrew and Spanish versions of Dayenu are available.
Shukri Friedman – “Speak Out Against the Haredim? Go to Jail,” Jewish People’s Policy Institute CIE+ members only
Jewish People’s Policy Institute Shuki Friedman, Jewish People’s Policy Institute (Opinion) By gladly posting a guest’s views, CIE does not take a position on the contents, nor verify the facts nor the assumptions presented. A…
Jewish Sovereignty Encased in Israel’s Declaration of Independence CIE+ members only
Explore the foundational text of the State of Israel.
Reiter and Seligman, Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem, Har ha-Bayit and Al-Haram al-Sharif, 1917-Present CIE+ members only
Since the 1920s the Sacred Esplanade of Jerusalem came to symbolise the bone of contention in the conflict over Palestine. The maintenance and even definition of the lines of division between the communities was a clear aim of the British authorities from 1920-1948. The communal/religious conflicts intensified after 1967 with the Israeli capture of East Jerusalem and other Arab-populated territory, which left neither side fully content.
Hannukah: Predictions, Politics, the Pandemic, and Accountability CIE+ members only
Do you think any of the Maccabees would have guessed that the one jar of oil would have kept the menorah burning in Mod’in for eight days rather than one? If one had predicted yes or no, there probably would not have been either good or bad consequences in the years after 165 BCE.
Proven Success in Israel Education: Context, Sources and Perspective CIE+ members only
Using original sources and employing perspective are keys to substantive Israel education. Failure to use either, handicaps and prejudices learning about Israel. When documents and texts or a broad overview of the literature in a field are not employed, there is a strong possibility that the educator either has a personal political agenda or, is covering up for their own lack of knowledge of what they are teaching. This premise is true for teaching any country’s history and through the lens of any discipline. I reside in the discipline of history.
Is Passover a Legacy Moment in Jewish History? CIE+ members only
Ken Stein, Emory University, Center for Israel Education, spring 2020 What are turning points or legacy moments in history? That was the focus of my Zoom class at Emory for 80 students in late March…
Shavuot in Israel CIE+ members only
Much like many other Jewish holidays, Shavuot was ascribed new meanings as Hebrew culture developed in the Yishuv (pre-state Zionist, Jewish community in Palestine). With strong agricultural emphasis, Shavuot became a cultural staple of the Kibbutz movement (communal, agricultural settlements).
Lag B’Omer’s Musical Traditions in Israel CIE+ members only
Lag B’omer is celebrated Wednesday evening, May 22-23. The Omer is the Hebrew term for the 49-day period between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot. This period commemorates the Spring harvest, and at the end, the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Passover in Israel CIE+ members only
From traffic jams and chocolate-spread matzah to the largest Seder night in the world, check out these fun facts about Passover Israel-style. It’s no different in Israel, of course, where the week-long holiday is going to be celebrated in full vigor. However, there are some unique aspects to the holiday in the Holy Land, some more bizarre than others.
Miracles and Memory — Hanukkah CIE+ members only
Perhaps more than any other Jewish holiday, Hanukkah has valuable significance and connection to both ancient Israel and the modern Jewish State. With its focus on Jewish self-determination in its own land, the holiday served as an inspiration to the founders of the state and its symbols still permeate Israeli society. Remembering the story, how we persevered, deepens the memory for the next generation.
Rising Streams: Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel CIE+ members only
Overall, Israeli public attitudes toward the Reform and Conservative Movements in particular and pluralistic expressions of Judaism in Israel in general are positive. Sympathy is highest among secular Israelis on the political left and center, turning to mixed feelings or neutrality among traditional Israelis on the center-right and hostility among the Orthodox and Haredi on the political right. A majority of Israeli Jews favor granting recognition and equal rights to progressive Jewish communities.
From Reckoning to Biking: Israelis Remake Yom Kippur? CIE+ members only
One can praise the Israeli habit of Yom Kippur bicycle riding, or one can denounce it. However, one thing one cannot do is ignore it. The streets of Israel have been flooded with bike riders on Yom Kippur for quite a few years, and it has become clear that bike riding on Yom Kippur has gone mainstream.
The Ramifications of the Nation-State Law: Is Israeli Democracy at Risk? CIE+ members only
The discussion surrounding the Nation-State Law has sparked a heated debate in Israeli society. One side claims that the law is a proper and necessary legislative anchor for the national character of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people, against those who seek to deny the Jewish people’s right to a national home in its homeland. The other side argues that this is discriminatory legislation, which undermines the democratic nature of the State of Israel.
Mass Haredi Protest in Brooklyn: A Symptom of a Greater Tension Between the Ultra-Orthodox and Israel CIE+ members only
On June 11, nearly 20,000 ultra-Orthodox Hassidic men and boys gathered at Barclay’s Stadium in Brooklyn.
Tell the Whole Story, Not as You Want It to Be CIE+ members only
For the last several years, I have heard and witnessed personal stories about Israel (dis)engagement. Everyone asks how to stem distancing from Israel.
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