Segregated and Integrated Oriental Intellectuals in Israel

Authors

Keywords:

Intellectuals, Mizrahi Jews, Assimilation, Radical Separatism, Ethnocentric Separatism, Integrationism, Pluralism, Erez Biton, Jewish Nationalism, The Hakak Brothers, Religious Ethnocentrism, Yosef Dahoach-Halevi

Abstract

This paper discusses the variety of ideas and strategies that have taken shape in an era of cultural shock (1950-1970) and adopted by Jewish oriental intellectuals.

The research delineates four main attitudes prevalent among these intellectuals: assimilationists, radical-separatists, ethnocentric-separatists and integrationists.

The discussion is focused on describing and analyzing the main concerns and strategies of the integrationists. These intellectuals are characterized by a critical attitude toward the old Israeli establishment (which identifies with the Ashkenazi elites). At the same time, those intellectuals deeply oppose the separatists (who reject the Zionist idea and reject the concept of a nation state). In addition, the research identifies three sub-categories of integrationists – each emphasizing one particular value as a source of political legitimacy: pluralism represented by the poet Erez Biton, Jewish Nationalism represented by the Hakak brothers and Religious Ethnocentrism represented by Yosef Dahoach-Halevi.

Published

2007-07-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Segregated and Integrated Oriental Intellectuals in Israel. (2007). IYUNIM: Multidisciplinary Studies in Israeli and Modern Jewish Society, 17, 239-265. https://iyunim.bgu.ac.il/index.php/iyunim/article/view/476