‘New Judaism’ Reshapes Debate Over Israel’s Religious Identity

A radical religious shift taking shape around Al-Aqsa Mosque and the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount is being framed as a force reshaping Israel’s identity.

The emerging trend extends beyond religious rituals. At its core is a political vision of Israel as a religious Jewish state, placing faith at the centre of how the country’s character is understood.

In this reading, the holy site is more than a place of worship. It is a focal point for a broader conception of the relationship between Judaism and state power.

The description of this shift as a “new Judaism” highlights the political ambitions attached to it, rather than simply a change in religious observance.

The central question raised by the analysis is how far this vision could redefine Israel, moving the debate over its Jewish identity towards an explicitly religious model of statehood.