Israeli Culture and identity Judaism and Zionism

Israeli Culture and identity Judaism and Zionism

The idea of the "New Jew" as opposed to Exile Jew § § § § The New Jew Strong and brave Farmer or worker Socialist Village dweller Sports or hiking Rooted in the land Normalized § Adaptation of “Non-Jewish” image § § § § The Exile Jew Nervous and afraid Merchant or agent Capitalist Urban Talmud learning Easily wandering Different not-normal § Adaptation of anti-Semite image

Reviving Hebrew culture in its ancient cradle § § § § Hebrew language as spoken secular Hebrew secular culture The bible replaces the Talmud Jewish festivals as nature agricultural New meaning to religion Opposing Yiddish and other languages Hebrew Education and high learning Integrating universal culture into Hebrew

Israel as a spiritual center • The School of Ahad-Ha-am: – Zionism as a Revival of Judaism – Revival in the land of Israel – Israel as focus of Jewish culture – Israel as Light upon the Nations Integration and contradiction: Normalization versus uniqueness

Hebrew Culture in the Yishuv Ø Ø Ø The politics of culture Hebrew education system Agricultural and socialist ethos l l The Kibbutz Youth movements Ø Ø Ø Norms and model images The Arab Bedouin symbolizing authenticity The Halutz (pioneer) The guard-soldier The Sabra Voluntarism Ø Ø Tel Aviv – the first Hebrew city - symbol and reality

Cultural transformation Following State establishment q Facing Mass immigration q Facing decline of pioneering q The politics of melting-pot q Battle against Yiddish and oriental legacies Ben-Gurion and “Mamlachtiut”(statism) Propaganda against “careerism” The negative image of “yordim” (emigrants)

Growing counter culture since the 1970 s v v v v Penetrating oriental culture to mainstream popular culture (hits) Openness toward Yiddish Privatization - individualization Americanization – consumer culture Changing attitudes toward Diaspora and emigration Decline of Kibbutz movement Growing nostalgia to “Jewish book case”

Israeli Culture - Conclusion v Normalization and Judaization of Israeli culture v Flourishing Hebrew culture: v v v Literature, theater, journalism Hebrew authors as world-known stars Hebrew as a Jewish lingua franca