The End of Hegemony

Israel’s hegemonic secular Zionist metaculture has declined and a counterculture

The decomposition of hegemony

The intertwining processes of occupation of the “holy sites” and mounting religiosity led to the

first stage of partial and incremental breakup of hegemonic culture and crystallization of new

countercultures.

“3” competing Jewish counterculture

Israel as a Jewish state, ruled by the Orthodox Jewish religious code (Halacha)

Israel as a liberal, secular, and civic state for all its present Jewish and Arab citizens

Traditionalist culture

Non-Jewish counterculture

Russian, Ethiopean

Secularism

• Definition: “An ideology, or system of beliefs, that sees individuals and collectives as responsible for their own fate and destiny without the intervention of any transcendental power,” (Kimmerling, 115).

Characteristics of Secularism• Belief in human reason

• Naturalization of the super natural

• Rationality

– Institutionalized by science

• Constructive and destructive forces are determined by human traits and ability to make rational decisions.

• Inclusive nature

– Secularism can integrate a plurality of cultures and religions

• Historically connected to upper class (Ashkenazi)

– Religion seen as “a necessity to discipline the masses and agnosticism…the privilege of the elite,” (Kimmerling, 116).

Religious Symbols in Zionist Movement

• Bible– National History

– Holy Text

• Hebrew– Promoted by secular groups

Secularism in Society

• Emphasis on individual values and rights– Under Zionism secularism put the state at the center,

but not after the decomposition of the Zionist hegemony.

• Perceived as a disintegration of Israeli society– Critics believe that secularism lacks any authentic

culture.

Orthodox

Religious

Traditional

Secular but maintain tradition

Secular

Anti-religious

Religious Zionism

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook 1920s taught that the

return of Jews to Israel would lead to the return of the Messiah.

Viewed secular Jews as “tools”

Gush Emunim

Formed between the wars in 1967 and 1973

Encouraged the settlement of Judea and Samaria

Established religious communities

Gush Emunim Impact

Attracted many religious Jews spurred on by religious rhetoric

Attracted secular Jews who sought to be “chalutzim”

Attracted Jews immigrating to Israel

Religionization

Increase in immigrants from Africa and Asia Lack of socialist background Religious youth entering the army Religious nature of national aspects

Hebrew Holidays Kashrut

Each counterculture possesses rules of behaviour that obligation certain groups of people in the state.

Has institutional and political infrastructures that sustain the behaviors related to their distinct belief systems, develop them, and redefine some of their manifestations, content, and social boundaries