This volume combines a translation of substantial portions of one of the most important documents in the early history of Israel--the government commission of inquiry concerning education in the immigrant camps, appointed in 1950--with analysis of the ensuing public debates and repercussions, and their meaning for Israeli society today. Using extensive historical research, Zameret traces the development of political and social processes in the early years of Israel's existence and points to their far-reaching and decisive implications for contemporary Israeli society, including the rise of Shas, the political party created by ultra-Orthodox Oriental Jews.

Zvi Zameret is Director of Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi in Jerusalem. In addition to the Hebrew version of this book, he has published, in Hebrew, Across a Narrow Bridge: Shaping the Education System During the Great Aliya.