Nurit Novis-Deutsch, PhD

I'm a scholar, researcher and educator who lives in the pluralistic kibbutz Hanaton in the Lower Galilee, in Israel. I am married to Avi and the mother of Maayan, Noga and Yarden.

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At the University of Haifa, I am part of the MA program for Pedagogical Development at the Department of the Learning and Instructional  Sciences . We have an exciting program focusing on critically exploring pedagogy, educational innovations and pedagogical entrepreneurship. I love teaching and engaging with our students.

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I also run several research projects, some with larger teams of researchers and others with smaller ones., I mentor PhD and MA thesis students, participate in conference, write books and papers, and initiate activities at the university. Overall, things are busy!

 

Living in Israel has made me deeply aware of the challenges of practicing multiculturalism in a geographically dense and deeply divided area. I have come to realize that one of the things most lacking in our society is pluralism. It's hard to believe, but pluralism is hardly ever taught at schools in Israel! The topic is just considered too explosive; teachers shy away from it. 

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For the past few years I've been researching, promoting and teaching about what I call the "Pluralism Mindset". You can read more about what I mean by this concept in my paper "The one and the many" (2018).

 

I have also long been fascinated by the power of religion in human life and society. One of the main conundrums I wrestle with is the inclusive-exclusive nature of religious communities, and one of its most concerning outcomes - religious prejudice. This, too, has become one of my research foci. I am currently running a research group that focuses on how to teach about Israeli students about the religions of others.

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On Kibbutz Hanaton, where I live, I am also involved in putting these insights into practice by running educational programs and helping with community-building efforts.  My religiously mixed community (which includes religious, traditional and secular members) and my religiously mixed family (some of us are religious, others are not) are the chief source of inspiration for my studies.