In Israel's Higher Law, Steven V. Mazie draws on the voices of Israeli citizens to shed new light on the relationship between liberal democracy and religion. By analyzing Israelis' perspectives on a number of divisive issues-including Jewish state symbols, marriage law, public Sabbath observance and funding for religious education-Mazie identifies a rift between Israeli and American understandings of 'separation of religion and state' and a gulf between Jewish and Arab citizens' visions for Israel's religion-state arrangement. Mazie's compelling study offers more valuable insight into these dilemmas than any publication to date and proposes new guidelines for resolving them. Israel's Higher Law is the definitive work on the tensions between religion and democracy in Israel. It is a must-read for anyone interested in politics and Jewish studies.

Auteur
Steven V. Mazie is Assistant Professor of Politics at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan and has taught previously at Bard College, New York University, and the University of Michigan.

Contenu

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Foundations
Chapter 3 Beyond Separation
Chapter 4 The Jewish State
Chapter 5 Thirty-One Israelis
Chapter 6 Controversies Among Israeli Jews
Chapter 7 Kashrut, Shabbat & Religious Education
Chapter 8 Marriage Law
Chapter 9 Military Service
Chapter 10 Controversies Between Israeli Arabs and Jews
Chapter 11 Symbols
Chapter 12 Land
Chapter 13 Conclusions
Chapter 14 Lessons from Israel