Culture/Social development
Cultural Map
More Information
For more information the site http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html is wonderful because it provides not only a brief history of Israel, but how Israel's history has contributed to it's rich culture, along with information about every day life in Israel. Another great source for more information is http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/culture1.html which provides an overview of the different aspects of Israeli culture as well as how current social changes have affected the culture.
For more information the site http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html is wonderful because it provides not only a brief history of Israel, but how Israel's history has contributed to it's rich culture, along with information about every day life in Israel. Another great source for more information is http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/culture1.html which provides an overview of the different aspects of Israeli culture as well as how current social changes have affected the culture.
Statistics
- The life expectancy in Israel is 81.28 years, which is ranked 19th in the world
- The GDP real growth rate in Israel is 3.3%
- Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually Male: 62,304 Female: 59,418
- Israel gets 98.1% of its energy from fossil fuels.
- Population below the poverty line: 21% and Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day
- All statistics from (Israel, n.d.)
Change over time
The country of Israel has not been established for long, so any data on it as a country does not stretch back very far. However, the data that is available illustrates that Israel has changed from its establishment to now. One of these changes can be seen in Figure 1, which shows the change over time between GDP per capita and life expectancy. It can clearly be seen that over the years both of these have risen remarkably fast. This rapid change may be indicative of the wonderful new technology available today that has allowed this increase in life expectancy to happen. Another change from Israel's past to its present is its population growth. In Figure 2 the size of the circle indicates the crude birth rate. While it may be hard to tell, the bubble decreases but not by much. This indicates that Israel's population has been rising since its establishment and it will continue to do so. The significance of seeing a decline in birth rates is that the population pyramids will begin to have a smaller base which will change the population from rapid growth to slow growth, and hopefully in the future it will become stable growth. Yet another thing that has changed since Israel's establishment is its level of development. In Figure 3 the size of the circle represents the HDI or the Human Development Index. This number is a combination of the health level, education level, and living standard, that when combined give an idea of the development of a nation. While it may be hard to see, the HDI has gone up in Israel. The fact that it has not changed much and was never very small is a huge testament to the people living there. It shows that every since its birth Israel has been a developed country and even now is getting more and more developed. This is a positive trend for the future and indicates that Israel will continue its growth and prosper.
The role of religion
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Judaism, the religion of Israel dates back to the covenant made by God to Abraham. In this covenant God promised to make Abraham’s people a sacred people and give them a holy land. This is the basis of Judaism. People of the Jewish faith follow the Hebrew Bible, which is comprised of narratives about Abraham and his lineage. The trials they face make up the origins of Judaism. Jewish people trace their ancestors back to Abraham and one of his sons, Jacob, who went on to form the twelve tribes of Israel. These twelve tribes were in Canaan, which was the region of modern day Israel and Palestine. Canaan was the holy land given to Abraham for his people, and thus modern day Israel is the birthplace of Judaism. People who practice Judaism follow “the religious, ethical, and social laws articulated in the Torah,” (Religion Library: Judaism, n.d.) which is comprised of the first five books in the Hebrew Bible. These rules have given Israel a unique cultural society.
Those who reside in Israel are a part of the Israeli culture. Ever since the Zionist movement the “national identity for Israelis is to a large extent bound up with their identity as Jews” (Culture of Israel, n.d). This indicates that Judaism has strong influences on the society of Israel. One way in which this influence can be seen is in restaurants in Israel. Most restaurants, not all, observe the dietary laws called Kashrut, which many Jews are bound by. These include restrictions on pork, shellfish, and consuming meat and dairy at the same meal. This observance of religious laws in a social setting proves how ingrained Judaism is within the culture. Societally, Judaism also contributes to the visible stratification of a loose caste system. While there is really no caste system in Israel, there is a stratification between the strictness of interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. What makes this visible is the way it affects citizen’s dress. The strictest of Jews are Orthodox, and the men dress in all black and wear peyes while the women keep their heads covered. The conservative Jews wear black hats, while the secular Jews wear western-style clothes. This creates a visible divide in Israeli society while still fostering a unity under the Jewish faith. One reason for this societal integration of Judaism is the existence of multiple sacred places in Israel. People who practice Judaism worship in Synagogues, where a Rabbi leads them in prayers, readings from the Torah, and gives them guidance on matters of faith. Because 80% of Israel is Jewish, Synagogues are everywhere in Israel. However, there are other places of significance in Israel. One of these important holy places is the Western Wall, which is the site of the first Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans. This is such an important place that Jewish people come from all around the world to visit it. Upon visiting the wall, many people write prayers on pieces of paper and put them in between the cracks of the wall. Because the wall is such a sacred place to the Jewish faith everyone must cover their heads upon visiting it. Another stipulation is that women have a separate section of the wall that they visit, because in the Torah women and men were separated for many important ceremonies. These rules don’t make it any less visited, in fact, it is one of the sites that Jewish people visit when they go on pilgrimages back to Jerusalem. With religion being such an important aspect of the Israeli culture, it has also influenced Israel’s government. With Judaism being woven into the Israel’s national identity, it is not surprising that its influences extend into the government. Israel has a secular representative democracy, which includes a parliament, a prime minister, a system of courts, and a president. The government of Israel does not openly elect only Jewish people, but there are definitely biases I the laws. It is illegal to import non-kosher food into Israel, and although it honors civil marriages that have been performed outside the country, marriages inside Israel must be religious. These preferences for the Jewish faith in the government has become more of an issue in recent times due to changing ideals among the younger generations. Non-religious Israelis don’t think religion should have a place in government even though it isn’t publicly recognized as having a place, while practicing Jews believe that it is part of tradition and the national identity. Regardless of what people in Israel think about it, these laws are still in place, but there is nothing stopping somebody of any other religion from becoming a part of the Israeli government. Ever since Israel’s establishment it has been a Jewish state. In fact, it is the only Jewish state. Judaism has its roots in Israel and it will forever be considered a holy land. Because of this importance of religion, Judaism is so interwoven into society that it is almost impossible to distinguish what stems from religion and what is just tradition. With 80% of the population practicing Judaism it is no wonder that Israel caters to many of the rules laid out in the Torah. Even if these rules aren’t spelled out, many are just so familiar that they have become a way of life whether or not people recognize it. What is actually a religious practice is now a norm such as eating kosher food in a restaurant. Regardless of the prevalence and importance of Judaism, the government remains secular although still understandably partial to it. Israel’s past and present is so linked with Judaism that there is no doubt it will continue to thrive as the only Jewish state for many years to come. |
Changing Cultural diversity
Israel is a country with a very specific national identity. There is no question that it is a Jewish state and that makes it very difficult for the world to understand the diversity that exists in Israel. Although they are a minority there is a portion of the Israeli population that is of Arab descent and therefore Muslim. In addition to this there is a large number of immigrants who came from the former Soviet Union that have created a large population of Russian speaking Israelis. Although things don’t seem to be getting more or less diversified there have been changes in emotions and perceptions relating to cultural diversity.
Obviously people take national identities very seriously, so the fact that Israel is a Jewish state is an important aspect in understanding the status of cultural diversity in Israel. Cultural diversity is being threatened by increasing tensions toward cultural diversity. There are tensions between many groups that are present in Israel. Many Jewish people see Arabs as a threat to the Jewish state, while Arabs feel oppressed by the Jewish majority. Their logic is not unfounded. Israeli law bars Jews from marrying non-Jews which would obviously create tensions with not just Arab citizens but also other minorities. Laws like this make citizens feel as if they are unwanted and not fully a part of the State although many times they are expected to serve time in the military along with Jewish Israelis.
In addition to the oppression of Arabs in Israel, the group of Russian speaking Israelis also feel oppressed because immigration laws are so tight. Israel has a law of return that only those with at least one Jewish grandparent can immigrate, along with their spouse. The population of Russian speaking Israelis immigrated from the former Soviet Union, and many would like the rest of their family to join them in Israel, but because of the law they can’t. Groups such as these would obviously like to change this law, but many Jewish Israelis see this as a threat to the Jewish state.
It is not only between opposing religions that Israelis feel their identity is under attack, in fact, a lot of conflict has been relating to the increasing population of the Haredi Jews. “Within the Jewish population of Israel, the Israeli haredim (a highly traditional group of Orthodox Jews) make up about 10 percent of the overall Jewish population of Israel, and they are growing at a particularly rapid pace as a result of their high fertility rates: about 7 births per woman compared to 2.3 births for the secular and moderately religious Jewish women” (DellaPergola, 2014). Many feel that this will steer the country in an increasingly conservative direction which will change the trajectory of a liberal and ever-improving country.
These increasing tensions are extremely bad for Israel. “Multiculturalism without centralized culture could dissolve that glue that binds us together and creates the social solidarity that is crucial for the existence of a state” (Schwartz, n.d). In order for a State to exist there must be social solidarity. Social solidarity does not mean a homogeneous society, it merely means a society in which all groups get along and instead of attacking each other they recognize the importance of bettering Israel regardless of ethnic standpoints. Cultural diversity is being threatened because of decreasing acceptance of other groups, which destabilizes Israel as a whole. In order for Israel to move into the next level of growth they must have a united population that does not feel the need to fight against each other but rather with each other.
Although there are not currently any efforts to help with the loss of cultural diversity, there are many things that can easily be done. For example, funds could be allocated to the establishment of things that could provide a variety of expression by all cultures. There could also be increased state support for other religious institutions. If all cultures feel as if Israel is their home and they are welcome there, it will create a social solidarity that will help Israel stay in its position of strength.
Obviously people take national identities very seriously, so the fact that Israel is a Jewish state is an important aspect in understanding the status of cultural diversity in Israel. Cultural diversity is being threatened by increasing tensions toward cultural diversity. There are tensions between many groups that are present in Israel. Many Jewish people see Arabs as a threat to the Jewish state, while Arabs feel oppressed by the Jewish majority. Their logic is not unfounded. Israeli law bars Jews from marrying non-Jews which would obviously create tensions with not just Arab citizens but also other minorities. Laws like this make citizens feel as if they are unwanted and not fully a part of the State although many times they are expected to serve time in the military along with Jewish Israelis.
In addition to the oppression of Arabs in Israel, the group of Russian speaking Israelis also feel oppressed because immigration laws are so tight. Israel has a law of return that only those with at least one Jewish grandparent can immigrate, along with their spouse. The population of Russian speaking Israelis immigrated from the former Soviet Union, and many would like the rest of their family to join them in Israel, but because of the law they can’t. Groups such as these would obviously like to change this law, but many Jewish Israelis see this as a threat to the Jewish state.
It is not only between opposing religions that Israelis feel their identity is under attack, in fact, a lot of conflict has been relating to the increasing population of the Haredi Jews. “Within the Jewish population of Israel, the Israeli haredim (a highly traditional group of Orthodox Jews) make up about 10 percent of the overall Jewish population of Israel, and they are growing at a particularly rapid pace as a result of their high fertility rates: about 7 births per woman compared to 2.3 births for the secular and moderately religious Jewish women” (DellaPergola, 2014). Many feel that this will steer the country in an increasingly conservative direction which will change the trajectory of a liberal and ever-improving country.
These increasing tensions are extremely bad for Israel. “Multiculturalism without centralized culture could dissolve that glue that binds us together and creates the social solidarity that is crucial for the existence of a state” (Schwartz, n.d). In order for a State to exist there must be social solidarity. Social solidarity does not mean a homogeneous society, it merely means a society in which all groups get along and instead of attacking each other they recognize the importance of bettering Israel regardless of ethnic standpoints. Cultural diversity is being threatened because of decreasing acceptance of other groups, which destabilizes Israel as a whole. In order for Israel to move into the next level of growth they must have a united population that does not feel the need to fight against each other but rather with each other.
Although there are not currently any efforts to help with the loss of cultural diversity, there are many things that can easily be done. For example, funds could be allocated to the establishment of things that could provide a variety of expression by all cultures. There could also be increased state support for other religious institutions. If all cultures feel as if Israel is their home and they are welcome there, it will create a social solidarity that will help Israel stay in its position of strength.
The falafel
Ingredients
(Food in Israel, n.d.). |
Since its creation Israel has been a melting pot for different cultures, with the common tie typically being Judaism. Due to Diasporas and remigration the food of Israel is so intertwined with the rest of the Middle East that it is nearly impossible to discern where the original foods came from. One such food is the Falafel. No matter what part of Israel you are in, the Falafel will be the most popular food. A Falafel is made up of chickpeas that have been mashed and fried into balls. They are then placed in a pita and topped with salad. What makes the Falafel so popular is that even with the numerous dietary restrictions of Judaism Falafel is still completely fine to eat anytime. In addition the ingredients such as olive oil and chickpeas are grown in the region, and therefore it is a food that can be start to finish made in Israel. The Falafel is not just the National Food, but also the center of lots of debate. Israelis claim it as their own, while it is actually thought to originate in Egypt where it was made with Fava beans. The theory is that when many Israelis left Egypt they took the Falafel with them and adapted it to the ingredients on hand in the region, which is where the chickpea adaption comes into play. The amazing thing about the Falafel, is that it is customizable. Virtually anything can be put on a Falafel to make it culture specific. If you top it with Israeli salad (which is primarily chopped vegetables) it becomes a more traditional Israeli dish, whereas it can also be topped with “hummus, German sauerkraut, Iraqi fried eggplant and pickled mango sauce, Yemeni hot sauce and French fries” (Guttman, 2012). With this ability to customize combined with the ease of access of the ingredients as well as the adherence to religious dietary customs, it is no wonder that the Falafel is the most popular dish in Israel.
Citations
Image Citations:
Slideshow Citations:
Image Citations:
- Culture of Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html
- Falafel: The legend, the myth…the chickpeas. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://igoogledisrael.com/2009/07/falafel-the-legend-the-myththe-chickpeas/
- Holy Places of Israel. (2013, January 21). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://onlinemaps.blogspot.com/2013/01/holy-places-of-israel.html
- Ivanescu, D. (2012, September 6). Retrieved September 4, 2014, from http://worldcometomyhome.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html
- Meron, A. (2014, May 24). Minor earthquake felt in Israel. Retrieved August 29, 2014, from http://www.timesofisrael.com/minor-earthquake-reported-in-israel/
- Notes in wall. (2013, January 25). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/southern-and-jewish/2013/01/28/sending-prayers-to-the-western-wall/notes-in-wall/
- Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2014, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html
- Wealth and Health of Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2014, from www.gapminder.org/world
- Culture of Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html
- Government and politics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.justlanded.com/english/Israel/Israel-Guide/Culture/Government-and-politics
- Judaism. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Judaism.htm
- Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2014, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html
- Wealth and Health of Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2014, from www.gapminder.org/world
- Culture of Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html
- Government and politics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.justlanded.com/english/Israel/Israel-Guide/Culture/Government-and-politics
- Judaism. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Judaism.html
- DellaPergola, S., May, J., & Lynch, A. (2014, January 1). Israel's Demography Has a Unique History. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2014/israel-demography.aspx
- Kraft, D. (2009, September 17). Two decades later, FSU immigrants making their mark in Israel. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.jta.org/2009/09/17/life-religion/two-decades-later-fsu-immigrants-making-their-mark-in-israel
- Schwartz, E., & Pinchasi, C. (n.d.). The Value of Culture. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://zmani.shaharit.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Value-of-Culture.pdf
- Falafel: The legend, the myth…the chickpeas. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://igoogledisrael.com/2009/07/falafel-the-legend-the-myththe-chickpeas/
- Food in Israel. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Israel.html
- Guttman, V. (2012, April 24). No matter where it originated, falafel is still Israel's national food. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/modern-manna/no-matter-where-it-originated-falafel-is-still-israel-s-national-food-1.426265
- Israeli Food. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/inside/israeli_food
- Israeli Food. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Food/Ashkenazic_Cuisine/Israel.shtml
Slideshow Citations:
Culture Slideshow Pictures Citations.docx | |
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