Teaching about Popes in Israeli schools

The material on the two Popes was prepared by a small group of academics who are specialists on the Shoah and they underline how both these Popes (before their election as Pope) stood alongside the Jewish people in their dire moment of need.

The initiative comes after the Knesset discussion consecrated to Pope John XXIII, which honored him for his contribution to Jewish-Catholic relations. Present at that discussion was the person responsible for the history syllabus in the Ministry of Education, Prof. Orna Katz-Atar who underlined the problem of the negative perception of Christians that is created in Israeli schools by the focus on the negative aspects of Jewish-Christian relations in history.

Read here the nrg agency article on the new proposals for Israeli schools

However, in reaction to these proposals, certain figures in the religious establishment have sharply condemned these Ministry of Education proposals. Those involved in the religious education system pointed out that they will not teach about Christianity as it remains hostile to Jews and Judaism.

Read here the nrg agency article on the religious reaction