Sarah Kovan - blog post 2

Identity.

The word identity, unlike many words in the English language, is explained in dictionaries with a consistently similar definition. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.” Other dictionaries similarly refer to it as the condition or characteristics of who a person or what a thing is. Yet, beneath this seemingly simple definition, many people struggle to ascertain their own identity.

In Israel, the issue of identifying oneself plagues the minds of many that struggle to find their place within Israeli society. One can claim that the necessity for identification began with the Zionist movement, preceding the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. In class, we delved into the history of the Zionist movement and the creation of the state of Israel. Zionism, coined in the late 19^th century, perceived the situation of the Jews in the diaspora as critically defective. The Zionist goal was to unite the exiles in a Jewish nation. Within these plans, the Zionists placed a heavy emphasis on the creation of the “new Jew,” a Jewish person who was strong, secular and felt a connection to the land. I would claim that the ingathering of the exiles under this new characterization is one explanation for the identity struggle within Israel. Upon the independence of the state, many citizens did not fit under the title of a “new Jew.” Arab-Israelis observed a different religion and strikingly different history. Ultra-Orthodox Israelis struggled with the secular Zionistic approach, devoted to their own traditions. The Bedouin, who reside in the Negev, are religiously Muslim but similarly maintain a distinct culture. Many Bedouins, as explained by Donna Rosenthal, refer to themselves as the “People of the Desert,” the “original Arabs.”

With so many distinct cultures and differing religions, people struggle to classify a typical Israeli citizen. The issue of identity arose in our discussion with Wafa at her house in Rahat, the biggest Bedouin city in the world. Wafa explained the struggles she faced when traveling abroad. People, when questioning her background, usually begin by asking her nationality. She replies, simply, Israeli. They then automatically assume she is Jewish. Wafa stops them in an effort to explain that she is not Jewish, and instead identifies as Muslim. Confused, they timidly assume she then must be Palestinian. Since very few people know of the Bedouins, she vaguely classifies herself as an Arab-Israeli. Wafa explained the difficulty and frustrations she faces when trying to identify herself to foreigners. The Bedouin identity itself has also been forced to undergoes changes, responding to the pressures of a modernizing Israeli society.

Israeli citizens face identity challenges domestically as well in both the political and social realms. One example has come up in our in-class discussion of the Ultra-Orthodox citizens’ previous exemption from the IDF. As Israeli citizens, should their religious identity exempt them from national responsibilities? A similar question arises with the Palestinian-Israelis. Is it acceptable for them to identify themselves as Israeli citizens without volunteering in the army? These multi-dimensional identities make it difficult to balance conflicting religious, political and cultural lifestyles within Israel.