Tag: culture
Broken Wings (2002)
Israel is not all about war, army, immigration. Sometimes it's just about regular people trying to live regular lives. This film, about a single mother raising her teenage children alone, isn't at all critical of Israel. Indeed, it's not "about" Israel. But because it takes place in Israel, it offers a window into parts of Israeli life, even while dealing with a subject much more universal. Memorable and beautifully done.
Foreign Sister (2000)
Foreign workers are a major dimension of Israeli life, and not a necessarily pleasant one. Israel has allowed thousands of people to enter to work here, but their status is often grey, and their conditions sometimes deplorable. This movie actually addresses the case of foreign workers in reasonable conditions, and even so, points to the underbelly of Israel's underclass, an issues Israel is eventually going to have to confront. See this movie, and you'll understand the issue better than ever before.
Dancing Arabs / Sayed Kashua (2004)
Kashua is an Israeli Arab, who interestingly writes in Hebrew only. Funny and sad, he is far from an apologist for the "Zionist narrative." He tells a story of a community that belongs nowhere, and exposes the complexity of Israeli Arab life. Watch also for his second book, "And It Was Morning," not yet in English.
The Liberated Bride / A. B. Yehoshua (2003)
I read this book both in Hebrew and in English, and didn't love it. But I'm a minority. Most people loved it. And it clearly reveals slices of Israeli academic, judicial, Arab and romantic life. It's a good yarn, if a bit long, and gives a rich picture of dimensions of contemporary Israeli life.
Righteous Victims / Benny Morris (1999)
This is a controversial book, and not an easy read for lovers of Israel. But Benny Morris is part of a group of historians whose work must be encountered. He shows that the Palestinians people have causes more complex than Israeli narratives often admit, and that Israeli behavior has been varied. To my mind, a serious engagement with Israel means thinking about these issues as well.
Israel: A History / Martin Gilbert (1998)
Simply put, a classic history of Israel (very sympathetic) that covers the pre-State and post-Independence periods, from one of our period's great historians. Very readable.
The Book of Intimate Grammar / David Grossman (1994)
David Grossman is among Israel's greatest novelists. This book, in addition to his "See Under: Love", are wonderful introductions to his work. Intimate Grammar tracks the story of a poor adolescent in the period of the Six Day War, offering a glimpse into the two Israels of the period: the victor in the Six Day War, and the society still coming to terms with those on its fringes.
Chava Alberstein – Foreign Letters
Chava Alberstein is an international singing star whose recordings have gone Gold and Platinum. Her new album Foreign Letters is her first domestic release. Featuring Chava's warm vocals in English, Yiddish, and Hebrew, accompanied by intimate, acoustic instrumentation, this is her most accessible album yet. Understanding Hebrew helps, but the music is great.
A Caterpillar and An Anthem
Posted by Daniel Gordis in Israel on January 1, 2009 | Leave a comment
We didn’t mean to, but we lied to our kids.
Almost ten years ago, shortly after we made aliyah, we were sitting with our three young children having dinner. One of the boys, still getting used to the idea that his life was going to be very different in Israel, looked up from his food, and asked out of nowhere, “Is Israel still going to have an army when I’m eighteen?”
He was scared. But we knew that he had no reason to be. “Yes, there’ll be an army,” we told him. “But there’s going to be peace by then. By the time you’re eighteen, everything’s going to be different. You’ll see.” I still remember how certain we were, and how relieved he looked.
A couple of ...
Yes We Could, Yes We Did
Posted by Daniel Gordis in Zionism on December 1, 2008 | Leave a comment
This is a country prone to America-envy. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself romanticizing life in the States, constantly seeing reminders of the myriad ways in which this country doesn’t quite measure up to the standard set by its massive ally to the West. Whether it’s bank tellers who really do want to help you, or the ability to walk into restaurants in New York or Los Angeles without getting wanded, or even more substantial matters like America’s impressive democracy, the danger of jealousy lurks virtually everywhere.
Usually, I think I’m reasonably successful at avoiding that trap. (I’ll confess to taking some comfort from people like Governor Rod Blagojevich, who reminds me that we’re not the only country with scoundrels in high positions, ...
Dr. Daniel Gordis is Senior Vice President of the Shalem Center, where he is also a senior fellow. The author of numerous books on Jewish thought and currents in Israel...
The Jewish State must end, say its enemies, from intellectuals like Tony Judt to hate-filled demagogues like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even average Israelis are wondering if they wouldn't be better off somewhere else. 
