David Borabeck

David Borabeck is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Israel Studies at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford. His research explores intersections of nationalism, colonialism, religion, and ethnicity, with a focus on Israel/Palestine. He previously held research fellowships at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies.

• PhD in Jewish History from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• Research areas: Nationalism, Religious Identity, Sovereignty, Sacred Spaces

His work interrogates how religion shapes national collectives, exemplified by his analysis of the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs in Zionist nation-building. He currently investigates the recontextualization of sacredness and sovereignty in Israel/Palestine through spatial analysis of Jewish and Muslim holy sites.

Borabeck's 2024 article examines the Bnei-Akiva Youth Movement's role in constructing religious-nationalist identity through practices like "Observant Orientalism."

• Scientific Awards:
• Rottenstreich Fellowship for Outstanding Doctoral Students
• Stipend from the Study of Modern Jewish Culture I-Core research group
• Faculty scholarship from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Borabeck's research has been supported by institutions including the Center for the Study of Conversion and Inter-Religious Encounters at Ben-Gurion University. He contributes to Israel Studies through critical analyses of religious bureaucracy and ethnic-religious spatial dynamics.

He is affiliated with the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies and has previously worked at the University of Haifa.