Opposing Peaces : Different understandings of ‘peace’ of Jewish social movements in Israel

Abstract: Israeli society is diverse and complex, with a great variety of religious worldviews, both with regard to the various religions that are present in the country, as well as within Judaism. This research is focused on the latter, the variety of Jewish worldviews, and the wealth of social movements that developed out of them. The spectrum is vast, and this has far reaching consequences for attitudes towards the political and social situation in Israel and the relationship with its neighbors. With this research, I aim to get insight into these widely diverging attitudes, especially when it comes to a vision of peace. We are often led to believe that peace is a singular thing, but the reality is that peace as a concept and an idea is as diverse as any idea, and can mean vastly different things to different people. In this research, I analyze what peace means to different groups of people, what it looks like, and how they think peace can and will be achieved in the world they are living in. I have a special interest in the role religious tradition plays in this and the ways in which religion has helped people to come to this perception. In a way, it is an exercise of creative thinking, because the goal is to overcome normative and theoretical ideas of peace, and to give meaning to peace beyond what is generally accepted. With this effort, I aim to open up a new avenue of thinking about peace, peacebuilding, and peace processes, and challenge academics and professionals to look beyond what they perceive as an acceptable peace.