"Arab propaganda strengthens claims against the legitimacy of the existence of a Jewish State," Ya'alon said, "and, very unfortunately, these claims are even seeping into Israeli society, and among the Israeli youth who find themselves in a crisis of identity and of ignorance of the history of the Jewish people."
Ya'alon made the comments as part of his address to a conference of Beit Morasha of Jerusalem at the capital's Inbal Hotel.
The former military leader said that the State of Israel is in an ongoing struggle for its very existence and, despite its strength as a regional superpower, it is struggling in the international arena for the legitimacy to exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East.
Ya'alon continued, "Beyond military and economic strength, the key to Israeli national well-being is education to values and to a Jewish Zionist identity. Therefore, I have decided to take action in this area in the context of Beit Morasha and in collaboration with [its founder] Professor Binyamin Ish-Shalom, with whom I have worked since the days of my service as the Chief of Staff.... The establishment of the Center for Jewish Culture at Beit Morasha will allow us to act together for the promotion of value-based education and to address matters of identity, of Jewish culture, and issues of society and the state."
Founded in 1990, Beit Morasha of Jerusalem is "dedicated to enhancing the Jewish and Zionist character of the State of Israel," its mission statement declares. Beit Morasha integrates intensive study of Talmud, Jewish Law and Jewish philosophy with formal academic studies aimed at all sectors of Israeli society.
In an address to the Zionist Organization of America in May of this year, General Ya'alon said: "In Israel, we must consolidate our Jewish Zionist narrative. Without believing in our case, there is no way to convince someone else."
Ya'alon made the comments as part of his address to a conference of Beit Morasha of Jerusalem at the capital's Inbal Hotel.
The former military leader said that the State of Israel is in an ongoing struggle for its very existence and, despite its strength as a regional superpower, it is struggling in the international arena for the legitimacy to exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East.
Ya'alon continued, "Beyond military and economic strength, the key to Israeli national well-being is education to values and to a Jewish Zionist identity. Therefore, I have decided to take action in this area in the context of Beit Morasha and in collaboration with [its founder] Professor Binyamin Ish-Shalom, with whom I have worked since the days of my service as the Chief of Staff.... The establishment of the Center for Jewish Culture at Beit Morasha will allow us to act together for the promotion of value-based education and to address matters of identity, of Jewish culture, and issues of society and the state."
Founded in 1990, Beit Morasha of Jerusalem is "dedicated to enhancing the Jewish and Zionist character of the State of Israel," its mission statement declares. Beit Morasha integrates intensive study of Talmud, Jewish Law and Jewish philosophy with formal academic studies aimed at all sectors of Israeli society.
In an address to the Zionist Organization of America in May of this year, General Ya'alon said: "In Israel, we must consolidate our Jewish Zionist narrative. Without believing in our case, there is no way to convince someone else."