While well versed in Western culture, most Israeli children (and adults) are sorely lacking basic knowledge of their Jewish heritage. Even some of the most basic concepts in Judaism -- concepts for which their ancestors sacrificed their lives -- are foreign to today's average Israeli. Most of the soldiers now being inducted into the Israeli army were never in Jerusalem. Most of the students in Israel are not even familiar with the Shema Yisrael prayer.
 
Judaism does not belong only to religious Jews! Most of the Jews in Israel define themselves first as Jews and only after that as Israelis. Nevertheless, their children are steadily disengaging from their Jewish roots.
 
Jewish history, tradition, Jewish heritage and Jewish identity studies are no longer a luxury. They are a vital to our future. Educating Israeli youth about their own heritage in a non-coercive manner will connect them and their parents to their legacy and to Jewish values.
 
As an important step in this direction, Manhigut Yehudit -- The Jewish Leadership Movement -- proposes to include a daily hour of Jewish heritage studies for every student in Israel's educational curriculum.