"They Copied From Us?" Jewish and Muslim Students' Reactions to History of Interrelation of Religions

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Student Identity and Learning About Marginalized Histories

Abstract

The paper presents two studies exploring the effects of learning the history of the interrelations between Judaism and Islam, on Jewish and Muslim Israeli adolescents’ attitudes towards the other religion and its adherents. Both studies stemmed from a collaboration between the researcher, governmental curriculum policy makers, civil rights organization and a group of history teachers. Study 1 which included 85 Jewish seventh grade students, showed that the intervention aroused identity confusion but also decreased stereotypes and increased willingness for encounter. Study two, whose participants were 204 Muslim seventh grade students revealed an increase in stereotypes following the use of some of the same learning materials. Results are discussed within the framework of history teaching and social identity theories.

Author

• Tsafrir Goldberg, University of Haifa