Israel: Generation gap and what the youth is facing.

The social gap and poverty is growing fast in Israel. The unemployment rate is near 10%, forcing Jews to join the army so that they will not only have a job, but also somewhere to go. Because Israel is a Jewish state many Muslims living there are not able to receive the right education, resources, and improvement in skills to help them succeed.  Euromedplatform stated on their website that "There is an unequal allocation of resources for Arab education compared to the Jewish population. In addition, there is a noticeable absence of formal and informal programmes designed to enhance cultural identity."


Reference: "Testimonies >> Israel", euromedplatform, Accessed on January 9, 2012. http://www.euromedp.org/testimonies/israel/

Recent News

On Sunday January 8, 2012 the Knesset approved a new law stating that education would now be free for children starting at the age of three. This law was passed by creating budget cuts in the government ministries. The law was originally not going to be passe due to people against the budget cuts, but an agreement was met with the Shas political party. This agreement boosted the votes to reach more then the majority passing the law. 

As Elad Benari reported in a Arutz Sheva 7 article on January 9, 2012 "Free education for children at an early age was an important part of the report of the Trajtenberg Committee for Social and Economic Change, which was established in response to the massive “social justice” rallies that dominated Israeli news over the summer." There will also be after school care, and programs kids can go to, no matter what their parents wages are. 

Reference: Elad Benari, "Knesset Approves Free Education From Age 3," Arutz Sheva 7, January 9, 2012. Acessed January 8, 2012, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/151527#.TwpPapjajao

Hava Nagila

Hava Nagila is a song that when translating it's name means"let us rejoice." This is song has become well known to be played at Jewish weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. The song melody was taken from a Ukrainian song called the "Bukovina." Dances to this traditional song are vibrant in moves, energetic and lots of people are involved in the dances.
"Hava Nagila," Wikipedia. Last modified Jan 4, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hava_Nagila

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ij5OQ1-RLI. accessed Jan 5, 2012

Literary Art

Amichai's poetry contains characteristics of emotions from being happy, to sad, and self mockery. He is known as one of the leading Hebrew poets. 

I Don't Know If History Repeats Itself by Yehuda Amichai

I don't Know if history repeats itself
But I do know that you don't.

I remember that city was didvided
Not only between Jews and Arabs,
But Between me and you,
When we were there together.

We made ourselves a womb of dangers
We built ourselves a house of deadening wars
Like men of far north
Who build themselves a safe warm house of deadening ice.

The city has been reunited
But we haven't been there together.
By now I know
That History doesn't repeat itself,
As I always knew that you wouldn't.

"Yehuda Amichai/ Poems," Famous Poets and Poems.com. Accessed on Jan 4, 2012. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/yehuda_amichai/poems/50

Architecture and Art

In Israel three famous architectural buildings are the Shrine of the Bab, the Bat Yam Town Hall, and Israeli Supreme Court building. 


The Shrine of Bab, is on Mount Carmel in Haifa Isreal. Here the remains of Bab are kept.  The shrine also has beautiful gardens that have attracted numerous amounts of tourists. The Bat Yam Town Hall is built in the form of an ancient ziggurat. The building incorporates colorful Islamic lattice-work. The supreme court building was donated to Israel by Dorthy de Rothschild. Paul Goldberg explains in an  New York Times article on August 3, 1995, "The structure, in fact, consists of three main sections: a square library wing within which is set a round courtyard containing a copper-clad pyramid, a rectangular administrative wing containing judges' chambers arrayed around a cloistered courtyard and a wing containing five courtrooms, all of which extend like fingers from a great main hall." 
Paul Goldberger,"ARCHITECTURE VIEW; A Public Work That Ennobles As It Serves," The New York Times, August 3, 1995

Photo by: Tomhab. Shrine of the Bab from North West. Wikipedia: April 25, 2005, Web, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shrine_Bab_North_West.jpg

Photo: Bat Yam Town Hall. Web. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Art/Israeli_Art/Architecture.shtml

Photo by: Almog. Supreme Court of Isreal, Jerusalem. Taken from Crown Plaza Hotel. Wikipedia: 2006, Web, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elyon.JPG


References: "Shrine of the Bab," Wikipedia. Last modified Dec 19, 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_the_Báb
"Architecture in Isreal," My Jewish Learning. Accessed Jan 3, 2012, http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Art/Israeli_Art/Architecture.shtml


Goldberg, P. 1995. ARCHITECTURE VIEW; A Public Work That Ennobles As It Serves. New York Times, August 13.

 

Role of women

Since the biblical age, women have played a role in Israeli society. They may not have played a big role but there presence was known throughout society. Today however women have more rights, most have equal opportunity,allowed to participate in political jobs and armed forces. 


In Poitics women now have the have the right to vote and be able to buy and sell land just as men are. They are now also allowed to sit on the Israeli Parliament called 'Knesset'. While serving on the Knesset they also hold leadership roles in politics. Today, three women in Israel hold senior political roles. Tzipi Livini is the vice premier and minister of foreign affairs. Dalia Itzik is a Knesset speaker, and Dorit Beinisch is the president of Isreal's supreme court. Women being able to obtain such high jobs like these shows that education for women is also a change. Israeli women can now go to school and receive an outstanding education.


Since 2000 women are now allowed to join the armed forces in Israel. A law passed by the Israeli Parliament opened up all military sections for women to join. Opening up all sections allows women to pursue any military job they want. 


References: "The Advancement of the Status of Women- Israel 2001," Israel Minister of Foreign Affairs. Accessed December 30, 2011. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The+Advancement+of+the+Status+of+Women+-+Israel+20.htm


"Women's Rights in Israel," The Israel Project. Accessed December 30, 2011. http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=3918015&ct=5134255


Daniela and Claudia's Blog, http://daniandclau.blogspot.com/

Traditions and Holiday

When growing up, you are taught certain customs, traditions and holidays to celebrate according to your religious affiliation or ethnical beliefs. 

When you think of an American thirteen year olds birthday party what might come to your mind? A themed party with a color scheme, at a house or some new hip place to go have fun, with lots of cake, greasy pizza and presents. It's a day where the birthday boy or girl gets all of the attention on them, celebrating the day they were born, but in Israel they treat a 13th birthday for boys and the 12th for girls in a different way. One these days the girl or boy are becoming of age, and will now be held responsible for their own actions. During the ceremonies they read a portion of the Torah. After the ceremony a celebration party is thrown for the boy or girl. 

As for the religious holidays, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. Hanukkah is also know to many other people as the Festival of Lights and is started on the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar. It is an eight day celebration remembering the rededication of the Holy Temple. Each night of the eight days a candle is lit on a menorah while reciting blessings while lighting the candles. Foods are typically made with oil, a doughnut like food filled with jam is eaten, children play with dreidels, and also now receive gifts from their parents during these eight days.

It is great to be able to see these rituals and holidays being celebrated here in the United States, it opens up your eyes to a whole new perspective on how others celebrate life and special holidays while you are still able to celebrate your own.

References: "Hanukkah," Wikipedia. Last  modified December 28, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

History.com, "Hanukkah." Accessed December 28, 2011, http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah