Jewish educators should stop relying on archaeology to prove Israel’s history - opinion

A Zionist educator argues that Jewish educators should stop relying on archaeology to prove Israel's history, as it is not a pure science and interpretations vary. He suggests that the Torah claim is more enduring and that relying on material proofs can backfire when students encounter scholarly debates. He emphasizes the covenant and continuous memory as the true foundation.

In an opinion piece, Zionist educator Uri Pilichowski argues that Jewish educators should stop relying on archaeology to prove Israel's history. He recounts holding an ancient coin from the Hashmonaim era, which connected him to the land, but he cautions that archaeology is not a pure science. He quotes archaeologists William G. Dever and Mortimer Wheeler, who said archaeology is 'an art' and 'a vendetta,' respectively. Pilichowski warns that when students later discover scholarly debates, they may feel misled and lose trust in their educators. He suggests that the Torah claim, based on the covenant and continuous memory, is more enduring and does not depend on the latest excavation report. He concludes that educators should build conviction on this deeper foundation rather than on material proofs.