Israeli Culture and identityIsraeli Culture and identity

Judaism and ZionismJudaism and Zionism

The idea of the "New Jew" as The idea of the "New Jew" as opposed to Exile Jewopposed to Exile Jew

The New JewThe New Jew Strong and braveStrong and brave Farmer or workerFarmer or worker SocialistSocialist Village dwellerVillage dweller Sports or hikingSports or hiking Rooted in the landRooted in the land NormalizedNormalized

Adaptation of “Non-Adaptation of “Non-Jewish” imageJewish” image

The Exile JewThe Exile Jew Nervous and afraidNervous and afraid Merchant or agent Merchant or agent CapitalistCapitalist Urban Urban Talmud learningTalmud learning Easily wanderingEasily wandering Different not-normal Different not-normal

Adaptation of anti-Semite Adaptation of anti-Semite imageimage

Reviving Hebrew cultureReviving Hebrew culture in its ancient cradle in its ancient cradle

Hebrew language as spoken secularHebrew language as spoken secular Hebrew secular cultureHebrew secular culture The bible replaces the TalmudThe bible replaces the Talmud Jewish festivals as nature agriculturalJewish festivals as nature agricultural New meaning to religionNew meaning to religion Opposing Yiddish and other languagesOpposing Yiddish and other languages Hebrew Education and high learningHebrew Education and high learning Integrating universal culture into HebrewIntegrating universal culture into Hebrew

Israel as a spiritual centerIsrael as a spiritual center

• The School of Ahad-Ha-am:The School of Ahad-Ha-am:– Zionism as a Revival of JudaismZionism as a Revival of Judaism– Revival in the land of IsraelRevival in the land of Israel– Israel as focus of Jewish cultureIsrael as focus of Jewish culture– Israel as Light upon the NationsIsrael as Light upon the Nations

Integration and contradiction:Integration and contradiction:Normalization versus uniquenessNormalization versus uniqueness

Hebrew Culture in the YishuvHebrew Culture in the Yishuv The politics of cultureThe politics of culture Hebrew education systemHebrew education system Agricultural and socialist ethosAgricultural and socialist ethos

The Kibbutz The Kibbutz Youth movementsYouth movements

Norms and model imagesNorms and model images The Arab Bedouin symbolizing authenticityThe Arab Bedouin symbolizing authenticity The Halutz (pioneer)The Halutz (pioneer) The guard-soldierThe guard-soldier The Sabra The Sabra VoluntarismVoluntarism

Tel Aviv – the first Hebrew cityTel Aviv – the first Hebrew city - symbol and reality- symbol and reality

Cultural transformationCultural transformation Following State Following State establishmentestablishment

Facing Mass immigrationFacing Mass immigration Facing decline of pioneering Facing decline of pioneering

The politics of melting-potThe politics of melting-pot Battle against Yiddish and oriental legaciesBattle against Yiddish and oriental legacies

Ben-Gurion and Ben-Gurion and ““MamlachtiutMamlachtiut””(statism)(statism)

Propaganda against Propaganda against ““careerismcareerism””

The negative image of The negative image of ““yordimyordim”” (emigrants)(emigrants)

Growing counter Growing counter culture culture since the 1970ssince the 1970s

Penetrating oriental culture to mainstream Penetrating oriental culture to mainstream popular culture (hits)popular culture (hits)

Openness toward Yiddish Openness toward Yiddish Privatization - individualization Privatization - individualization Americanization Americanization –– consumer culture consumer culture Changing attitudes toward Diaspora and Changing attitudes toward Diaspora and

emigrationemigration Decline of Kibbutz movement Decline of Kibbutz movement Growing nostalgia to Growing nostalgia to ““Jewish book caseJewish book case””

Israeli Culture - ConclusionIsraeli Culture - Conclusion

Normalization and Judaization of Israeli Normalization and Judaization of Israeli cultureculture

Flourishing Hebrew culture: Flourishing Hebrew culture: Literature, theater, journalismLiterature, theater, journalism Hebrew authors as world-known starsHebrew authors as world-known stars Hebrew as a Jewish lingua francaHebrew as a Jewish lingua franca