Comments on: Israel at 60: זה מה יש

By: mic

mic — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:22:33 +0000

For those who may be interested in French Media coverage of Yo Haatsma’ut , Le Monde, a major daily in the country, finally published an editorial which is pretty sympathetic towards Israel.
(in French, I can provide a translation if someone would like)
http://www.lemonde.fr/opinions/article/2008/05/13/israel-60-ans-et-apres_1044231_3232.html

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:15:20 +0000

I just returned from a recent visit to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem and will be posting my photos soon. I got a feeling from Tel Aviv much like you describe. No longer adherent to Judaism, having abandoned Zionism, the loyalties of Tel Avivi’s lie with their city. It’s more of a city pride than a national, religious, or ideological pride, which could not exist without the rest of Israel shielding the Tel Aviv bubble. I’m not necesarrily saying that this is a bad thing. Well, alright, I’ll admit that as an observant Jew, I feel the abandonment of Judaism by Israel’s ruling elite was a disastrous mistake, but one for which we share much of the blame. But that’s just me.

It is an interesting post of yours. Happy Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

Hi Evan – Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I do not agree that Tel Aviv has abandoned Judaism or Zionism, though. And I certainly do not think that the rest of Israel shields the Tel Aviv bubble.

Tel Aviv has a rich Jewish culture. There is a big Belz community living in the Sheinkin area, for example, alongside the most liberal population in Israel. Where else in this country would you see a gay couple with an adopted baby living harmoniously in the same apartment building with a Hasidic family? Tel Aviv also has one of the oldest and most active Reform synagogue in Israel – Beit Daniel – as well as one of the most beautiful and historically interesting Sephardic synagogues, on Shadal Street.

As for Zionism – there is plenty of that. Don’t forget that the modern Zionist movement was established by secular Jews. Religious Zionism came late – only in the early 1930s – and national religious Zionism came more than 30 years after that. The modern cities of Tel Aviv were built by secular Zionists – not religious Zionists. The political elite was never religious – neither Mapam, nor Mapai, nor the Revisionists (later Likud).

Tel Aviv is a bubble in the sense that it is detached from the social and political tensions that plague Jerusalem. Tel Aviv is the heart of Israeli liberalism. But don’t buy into the claim that the city’s residents don’t care about the country and don’t contribute their fair share. That’s a silly, reactionary falsehood that I’ve been meaning to disprove for a very long time.

Every country has a capital of culture, nightlife and commerce – whether it be New York, London, Paris, or Tel Aviv. Israel would be utterly impoverished – financially and culturally – without this city. I can understand that it might not be for everyone; but surely one need not disparage something just because it is not one’s cup of tea. Lisa

By: mic

mic — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:30:10 +0000

Hi Laura,
well – I’ve read some irritating articles in anglo-saxon media (thanks for the refs, Lisa), but nothing really offensive in the French mainstream. French media seems to have been taking it easy with the middle-east conflict in the past years. In Le Monde, for example, although I didn’t search too hard, but haven’t seen any major article regarding Israel’s independence day. A bit strange, though, when I think of it.

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:11:58 +0000

Lisa,
It sounds wonderful despite it’s problems. I can’t wait to go. Thanks again for your down-to-earth perspectives. What happened to the air-conditioning?

Mic,
In the U.S. there’s been a significant amount of media presenting the doom-theory, and we’re supposed to be Israel’s best friend! Just imagine what they’re publishing in France.

By: godlessjew

godlessjew — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:26:28 +0000

Lisa,

Really nice piece. I made sure to link it. Makes me happy that I am coming back home.

By: mic

mic — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:37:17 +0000

Dear Lisa,
Could you give some references of foreign Media claiming Israel is doomed ?
Many thanks, and Chag Haatsmaut Sameach,
Mic

Hi Mic – I better not start listing articles here. Some readers are liable to turn this thread into an argument over the relative merits of each, and I might end up offending some colleagues as well. I can send you an email, if you like. Lisa

By: 60 « El Nuevo Pantano

60 « El Nuevo Pantano — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:15:54 +0000

[...] Congratulations to Israel and fuck the begrudgers. Above, Ben Gurion declaring independence and a great post from Lisa here. [...]

By: Mohamed

Mohamed — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:14:55 +0000

I was engaged in a conversation with an Israeli and we tackled questions of ‘morality’ (of the occupation, the army, etc etc..) and reading you reminds me that, rather than existential questions, it’s people who define a community. It’s a strange ethnic mix at the bus station, it’s an unspoken tension about a national flag, it’s the cohabitation – or lack thereof – of people of different walks of life, races, and ethnicities; it’s the people sitting on a bench enjoying the sun, the guy who goes home from a party at dawn and wears his suit to go straight to work, and the kid selling him the newspaper on his way to work. It’s the sounds, the smells, the bookshops, the food stalls, the buildings (from the architectural hidden gems to the new ugly ones by the beach;), I could go on.
And from the few times I’ve seen your city, I find it and its people fascinating, bound an unwritten agreement to make this a great place to live for all… Bravo!

Besides, if we were to judge communities by how distant their current members are from the values of their founders, I’d probably be plowing a cotton plantation in Louisiana as we speak.

Enjoy the holiday!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:54:35 +0000

And I would add:

“Aval Yeheye Beseder…”

I hope.

By: Avi

Avi — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:52:28 +0000

A touching post.
A minor corrrection though: as a former student of Haviv school in Rishon Le’Tzion, I must insist that the first modern Hebrew school was not in Tel Aviv.
http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%91%D7%99%D7%AA_%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8_%D7%97%D7%91%D7%99%D7%91

@Avi: And all these years I have been convinced that the first modern Hebrew school was the Gymnasia Herzliya..! I must find out who has been lying to me, and why. Hmph.
Thank you so much for the link – it’s fascinating. Lisa