The ?Mythological Sabra? and Jewish Past: Trauma, Memory, and Contested Identities

Abstract

THE JEWS' INTENSE PREOCCUPATION WITH the examination of their collective identity was highly pronounced in the early years of Zionist settlement in Palestine. For a society of immigrants in the process of defining its distinct collective identity and national foundations this preoccupation is hardly surprising. Although Israel has since achieved national independence and experienced major demographic, ideological, social, cultural, economic and political transformations, Israelis' passionate interest in re-examining their collective identity has not diminished. As a new series of popular publications on "The Israelis" demonstrates, this topic continues to attract public attention and to be prominently featured in Israeli popular and scholarly forums. 1 Various segments of Israeli society continue to debate the opposing orientations of continuity and change between their pre-Israeli past and their Israeli present. This article sets out to explore one particular aspect of this broad and complex topic.