There is a major debate in Israel today about core education.

Most people know this debate from one direction: religious communities — especially those who study Torah full time — not learning core subjects such as mathematics, English, and science.

This debate is real. It matters. And it has serious consequences for Israel’s economy, workforce, and future.

But there is another side of this conversation that is rarely discussed.

What about Judaism as a core subject for secular Israelis?

A One-Sided Conversation

In Israel, when we talk about “core studies,” we usually mean practical skills needed for modern life.

At the same time, many secular Israelis finish school with almost no meaningful exposure to Judaism — not as religion, but as culture, history, identity, and tradition.

They may graduate with strong technical skills. They may speak excellent English.

But they often lack a real connection to Jewish texts, symbols, holidays, and shared memory.

And that should concern us.

A Personal Background

I was born into a secular home.

The only time I ever went near a synagogue was on Yom Kippur. Even then, we usually didn’t go inside. We stood outside, waited for the shofar, and then went home.

Judaism was never part of my daily life.

In secular school, we studied the Bible mostly as a history book. There was no deeper engagement — no real discussion about meaning, values, or why any of this mattered.

As a result, Judaism never interested me.

Not because I rejected it — but because no one ever showed me why it should matter.

I didn’t see relevance. I didn’t see value. And I didn’t feel any real connection.

Looking back, I don’t blame my parents or my teachers. This was simply the system I grew up in.

But this explains why many secular Israelis feel disconnected from Jewish tradition today — not out of opposition, but out of indifference.

And indifference is far more dangerous than disagreement.

Judaism Is More Than Religion

For many secular Israelis, the word “Judaism” immediately feels religious, political, or coercive.

But Judaism is not only religion.

Judaism is history. Language. Tradition. Values. Collective memory.

Israel did not come into existence by accident.

It exists because Jewish identity survived thousands of years — largely through tradition, belief, and shared stories.

When this is ignored, the foundation of the state becomes weaker.

The Link Between the State and Jewish Tradition

Religion and Jewish tradition create a deep and inseparable connection between the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

For many Jews, Israel is not just another country. It is not only a political project or a historical outcome.

It is a state that, according to Jewish belief, was given to the Jewish people by God.

That belief — whether understood religiously, traditionally, or culturally — is a central part of Jewish identity. It connects Jews in Israel with Jews around the world.

This does not mean religious rule. It does not mean coercion.

It means recognizing that Israel’s legitimacy and emotional meaning are rooted in the Jewish story — a story shaped by faith, tradition, and shared memory.

A Proposal to Reframe Core Studies

Recently, Israeli Knesset member Avi Maoz, from the Noam party, proposed a different approach to the core education debate.

Instead of focusing only on what religious communities should learn, he argues that secular Jewish schools should include Judaism as a core subject.

Not symbolically — but practically.

The proposal includes teaching the basics of Jewish tradition and practice: how to put on tefillin, how many daily prayers exist in Judaism, and the foundations behind them.

Students would also learn Jewish values, holidays, and the traditions that shaped Jewish life over generations.

The goal is not to make students religious. It is to make them familiar.

You cannot feel connected to something you do not understand.

This Is Not Religious Coercion

Many people immediately react to ideas like this by saying, “This is religious coercion.”

No one is suggesting that secular schools force students to wear tzitzit, keep religious laws, or participate in daily prayers.

There would be no morning rituals, no enforcement, no obligation to believe.

Judaism would be taught as a subject — just like math or English. With structured lessons. Clear material. And basic exams.

Teaching history does not force ideology. Teaching civics does not force politics.

Teaching Judaism as culture, tradition, and national heritage does not force belief.

It provides knowledge.

And knowledge creates understanding — not coercion.

Core Education Must Work Both Ways

Just as it is reasonable to expect religious communities to learn core subjects that allow them to participate fully in modern society, it is also reasonable to expect secular Israelis to learn the cultural and historical foundations of the Jewish state.

This should not be a one-sided demand.

A shared society requires shared responsibility.

Core education must work in both directions.

A Personal Reflection from the Diaspora

As a secular Israeli living in the diaspora — and as a father — my perspective has changed.

Many of the traditions I practice today with my children are things I did not grow up with myself.

But living outside of Israel made something very clear.

If you want your children to feel belonging, identity does not happen automatically.

So, I made a conscious choice to pass on basic Jewish tradition at home. We celebrate the holidays properly. We make Kiddush on Friday night.

Not out of religious obligation — but out of responsibility.

I also made sure my children learn Hebrew. Because language is not just communication — it is identity.

They are Jewish-American children. But there is also Israel in their hearts.

And that connection did not happen by accident.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)