Confronting Identity in Israel

Confronting Identities

As I pondered over the idea of what my blog would be about I considered many different things. So far, this trip has been amazing and every day I have learned something new about Israel and its history. However, there has been one reoccurring theme that has continued to plague my mind throughout our many visits: identity. This is a fascinating concept that continues to transform as more people gain the right to define their identity without government intervention. In Jerusalem, identity has appeared in various forms. As far as on a religious level, we have explored several different churches and spaces that host a range of beliefs including Judaism and Christianity.

                                             

Noting the differences in architecture, eating practices, and even sales techniques here leave a notable impression on the way religion shapes people’s daily lives. Furthermore, museums have played an interesting part in maintaining national identities. For instance, our visits to the Israeli and Holocaust museums have produced fruitful conversations about how displays may evoke emotions that range from awe of the beautiful artwork to sorrow as a result of the touching survival stories of Jews. These depictions and our reactions, whether we know it or not, are ultimately shaping the way we view Israel as a whole.

                                                  

Nevertheless, I think it’s important that we recognize two very important things. First, there are two sides to every story and somewhere in the middle there is the truth. Second, telling both sides of the story encourages a healthy relationship in which both participants are able to express and shape their own identity. Our fantastic tour guide, George, on June 15^th started his lecture with “we have so many different identities.” He then goes on to explain that it was rough for him, and many other people in this area, to choose a particular identity according to their location. On one side, it is clear from the 50^th Anniversary of Jerusalem’s Annexation celebration we attended in the Old City that Zionist movement in Israel has been a blessing to many Jews celebrating that night. However, Palestinian resistance provides a nuance to this story. In different locations around the state we’ve spotted signs of Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation such as red or green fists, posters noting prisoner hunger strikes, and even signs demanding peace amidst the violence. On further investigation, I discovered that the movement is currently fractured because many people have utilized different methods to reach the ultimate end goal of Palestinian Liberation. Some tactics are religious while others are political, but it has been recently difficult to recruit supporters’ due to the growing strength of the Israeli government and the lack of cohesiveness within the movement.

             

As a result, I think we should consider that although Zionism has provided a safe haven for many displaced Jews in their biblical homeland; it has also marginalized groups such as the Palestinian Arabs in a land that they had occupied historically for centuries. So when we eventually go home to our cozy houses, in our familiar neighborhoods, with our celebrated local culture and churches, consider how close your own local space shapes your personal identity. And then consider what type of everyday resistance you would invent if that comfort was ever taken from YOU.

- Skyler