Jewishness as Nationality/Secular Israeli Identity

- Historically, as we’ve studied in this class, diasporic Jewish identity centered in Western
Europe, Spain in particular, until the Jewish expulsion in 1492 instigated by King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. From there, Jews went to the Netherlands and the
Ottoman Empire, eventually moving further east into areas like Poland and Russia.
- Today, half of all Jews live in Israel. This is, partially, a result of the Holocaust
and the establishment of Palestine combined with the driving force of Zionism.
- Thus, the diversity of Jewish life is siphoned from the diaspora into Israel as part
of a “negation of the diaspora” that A. B. Yehoshua writes about, meaning the
disregard of the diaspora as an effective way of Jewish life (a sense that it must be
eliminated in order to maintain Jewish survival).
- In Israel, there is a Jewish majority, thus the law naturally serves this majority. Most
speak Hebrew, and some laws are similar to Halakhahic/Talmudic religious laws, but the
law itself is not completely religious. The public Rabbinate is supported by taxes and is
part of a state-funded synagogue. Public symbols are Jewish. The Sabbath is observed
systematically for both Muslims and Jews (Friday and Saturday and weekend days).
- The government recognizes only orthodox conversions and publicly supports
orthodoxy. Jews are automatically given citizenship. An important landmark for
the conception of Jewish identity and citizenship is the Brother Daniel case,
which examined whether a man, born Jewish who still felt Jewish, could gain
citizenship after converting to become a Catholic friar.
- Brother Daniel was denied citizenship, for the judges ruled that he lacked
an actual Jewish conviction. The case brought up questions of what a
“Jew” means in law.
- Neither the conservative nor liberal side of Israeli politics liked the ruling.
- To conservatives, it was a transgression of tradition values (an
average orthodox rabbi would label Brother Daniel as still Jewish,
as a conversion does not erase someone’s “Jewishness”)
- To liberals, this seemed to be just another reiteration of Jewishness
as a religious identity, something you had to believe in. This was
too exclusive and categorical of a definition/construction of Jewish
identity.
- Israel was founded by secular-thinking leaders who wanted to form a non-sacred
state. In a way, this hasn’t necessarily been achieved. While Amoz Oz suggests
there be a dialogue between all the representative voices in Israel, his list of
examples include solely religious identities. Israel has still, structurally, been
unable to reach true secularity.
- In the context of Israeli statehood, “Jewhoo-ing” and identification of minorities
holds a different significance from the humor in North America and the ominous
horror of Europe post-Holocaust. It is a means of determining citizenship, it is an
incredibly important identifying factor.