ABSTRACT
Most modern education systems account for and have been shaped by the interaction between religion and the state. In the field of education, the role of religion in state affairs and the state's establishment of religion find an expression in the religious tracks of the public education system. The privileged position of religion in public life in Israel in combination with the strong standing of the Jewish Orthodox community are sourced from the 'status quo agreement' between religious leaders and the secular Mapai party that formed a government after independence. One of the main targets of the Israeli education system has been the closing of the gap of achievement observed among various communities within the country. The basis for Israel's education system relies on a model of cultural pluralism, promoting the creation and preservation of religious/cultural pluralism, which is based on cultural enclaves.
