Politics – October 2018
May people have the wisdom to discern the issues that are not within their control and make the most of the possibilities they have within reach.
~Raphael Cohen-Almagor
Reflections on Last Newsletter
Nobel Peace Prize
More Israelis Identify with Conservative, Reform Judaism
Israel Demography
Benny Gantz
1948
Fighting BDS
Brexit
US Jews Dislike Trump and Critical of Israeli Policies
TEACHING OVER TIME AND SPACE
My New Article - "When A Ritual Murder Occurred at Purim. The Harm in Hate Speech", El Profesional de la Información, Vol. 27, No. 3 (2018), https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/EPI/issue/view/3351/showToc
Gem of the Month - RPO and Esther Yoo Play Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
Monthly Poems
Reflections on Last Newsletter
Dr John Lantos wrote from Kansas:
Hi, Rafi,
Thanks for remembering Paul Gruninger. There is a nice account of his life, and the lives of other “ordinary heroes,” in Eyal Presses book “Beautiful Souls.” (The title is based on the snide label given to supposedly naïve liberals in Israel…)
as always, thanks for the newletters.
And Shana Tova.
John
And Shana Tova.
John
Dear Rafi
Art Hobson makes the same mistake that Obama and the 5 plus one made. They believed that there were only two options to the problem. Make a deal even if it is a bad deal or go to war. There is a third option that Netanyahu kept insisting was the right option and the US has now accepted. Strong and meaningful and biting sanctions. I believe that this will ultimately lead to Iran changing its behavior and hopefully one day joining the world of peace seeking nations. The Obama deal was a deal of appeasement, Netanyahu's deal is one of strength and resolve against a dangerous regime for Israel and the world. Remember Chamberlain and Churchill?
Abraham Silverman
Edmonton
Nobel Peace Prize
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to two campaigners against wartime sexual violence: Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecological surgeon who has treated thousands of women, and Nadia Murad, who became the bold voice and dignified face of the women forced into sexual slavery by the Islamic State terrorists.
More Israelis Identify with Conservative, Reform Judaism
For many years, I have been thinking that many Israelis would join the Reform movement, if only they knew about it, understand its core values, and if a Reform synagogue was in their vicinity. The Orthodox monopoly has done great work in pushing the Reform down, delegitimizing the movement as “non-Jewish”, and denying the movement vital resources. But during the past few years, there is a slow change in awareness.
A new survey has shown a significant rise in support for Conservative and Reform Judaism in Israel, as well as a growing number of people who identify as Conservative and Reform Jews. The study by the Jewish People Policy Institute showed that 12-13 percent of Jewish Israelis (around 800,000 people) identify as being members of the more liberal streams of Judaism, a number that stood at around 7% only five years ago. The Reform and Conservative streams have traditionally been seen as niche movements in Israel, with many members coming from English-speaking backgrounds. However, the study showed that while only about 12,000 are registered members of the liberal streams, hundreds of thousands more identify with them, reflecting growing frustration with Israel’s Orthodox hegemony.
The growing awareness should translate into resources. I said time and again: Because politics in Israel penetrates in each and every sphere of life, the key for the Reform movement growth is politics. Its members should get themselves involved in politics on all levels, municipal and national, compete for power positions and fight for resources. They need to be reckoned with to be counted. The Reform people should not rely on others to do the dirty work for them. If they continue doing so, the Orthodox will enjoy having the upper hand, and the Reform will continue to struggle in the margins for many years to come.
Israel Demography
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics published updated demographic numbers: it counted 8.9 million Israeli residents, including 6.6 million (74%) Jews and 1.9 million (21%) Arabs — of them some 300,000 East Jerusalem Palestinians who are permanent residents of Israel. The remaining 400,000 (5%) comprise non-Arab Christians; members of faiths other than Judaism, Islam and Christianity; and people with no religion listed in Interior Ministry records.
There are also 166,000 foreigners living in Israel, who are not included in the total.
Benny Gantz
Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz is considering a run for the next Knesset under the banner of a new party that was recently formed by Yeruham Mayor Michael Biton and Haredi Women’s College founder Adina Bar-Shalom, daughter of late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The party will be called Achi Israeli (my Israeli brother). Other founders of the party include former Labor MK Orna Angel, former Israel Broadcasting Authority director-general Moti Shklar and former IDF senior officers Gideon Shefer, Ruth Yaron and Asaf Lapidot.
1948
Many people who wish to understand the 1948 War, including yours truly, have been anxiously waiting for the opening of the Israeli archives to shed light on momentous events that took place between 1947 and 1949 including the birth of the refugee problem. Some have claimed that Israeli leaders are directly responsible for the problem as they directed and instructed the expulsion of some 700,000 Arabs from Israel. Others stubbornly argue that there was not such a plan. There were sporadic episodes in which local commanders took the initiative to expel Arabs, but there was no grand design, an overarching plan of expulsion.
It seems that research will remain in the fog for the time being. According to Haaretz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to sign regulations extending the period of confidentiality for information in the defense archives from 70 years to 90 years. The Defense Ministry requested the extension to prevent the release this year of some materials relating to the period of the 1948 War. The draft regulations state that exposure of some of the archival materials could harm national security. The new rules contradict the recommendations of the supreme advisory council overseeing the Israel State Archives, which recommended extending the confidentiality of only some of the documents for five years.
Fighting BDS
Difficult times in England. Brexit and BDS. The BDS gathers momentum and I feel its grave impact. My budget for running the Middle East Studies had shrunk from £50,000 per annum to peanuts. Many people wish to cooperate with us, and I receive many invitations to speak about Israel, the Arab-Israeli conflict, racism and antisemitism, but without budget things are increasingly difficult.
Still, the Middle East Study Group (MESG) continues with its activities and plans. In November we will be holding two events. I welcome and appreciate your advice regarding potential funding.
Further information: http://mesg.wordpress.hull.ac.uk/
Brexit
US Jews Dislike Trump and Critical of Israeli Policies
A recent poll shows Jewish voters favoring Democrats over Republicans 74-26 ahead of midterm elections, with 75 percent disapproving of President Donald Trump. The poll published by the Jewish Electoral Institute, a new group founded by Jewish Democrats, shows overwhelming support for Israel (92 percent), although this breaks down among those who are critical of the current Israeli government’s policies (59 percent) and those who are supportive (32 percent.) Respondents are evenly divided on Trump’s Israel policies, with 51 percent approving and 49 percent not approving.
TEACHING OVER TIME AND SPACE
04 OCT 2018
Raphael Cohen-AlmagorChevening Alumnus
After three decades of teaching in around a dozen universities, spanning three continents, and multiple disciplines, Chevening Alumnus Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor reflects on the privileges and challenges of moulding young minds, and explores how teaching differs over time and space.
Learning curves
My journey as a teacher began at Tel Aviv University in 1985 when, as an MA Political Science student, I was offered my first teaching assistant role. Many of my students were significantly older than me, and they sometimes tested my knowledge and authority, but this taught me to always remain focused and professional. This first experience was, overall, a positive one which instilled in me the importance of preparation, a key lesson for any young teacher.
Upon completing my MA, I moved to the University of Oxford to pursue PhD studies. When my college tutor, the wonderful Wilfrid Knapp, asked me to lead some tutorials for his graduate students who were writing dissertations about the Middle East, I enthusiastically agreed. This was the least I could do for the man who was my mentor, stood by me throughout my studies, and was like a second father to me in England. Teaching in Oxford was very different to my experience in Israel. The one-on-one format resulted in more intense sessions with an advanced level of conversation and debate. I felt fortunate to be in the position to engage with such gifted students, and I felt enriched by their knowledge and our exchanges of ideas.
Breaking down disciplinary barriers
After completing my DPhil, I returned to Israel and began teaching at the Hebrew University Law Faculty. I recall walking down the corridor and being awed by the name tags on the doors. Each professor was a legend who had contributed a great deal to the history of jurisprudence in Israel, among them justices of the Supreme Court, attorney generals, and government ministers.
Teaching in Jerusalem was a privilege, as my courses in the fields of freedom of expression and medical ethics attracted excellent students who were interested in interdisciplinary learning, cutting across politics, law, philosophy, communications, and medicine. At the University of Haifa, I had a similarly enlightening experience, teaching in various departments and engaging with students from the social sciences, humanities and law, each of whom had a very distinct academic perspective and way of thinking. This experience strengthened my belief in the value of interdisciplinary teaching.
Cultural differences
My most challenging, but ultimately rewarding, year of teaching was at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as the Visiting Yitzhak-Rabin Fulbright Professor. At the School of Law, I taught a graduate seminar titled, ‘The right to live in dignity and the right to die in dignity’, which dealt with beginning of life issues, such as abortion, as well as end of life issues (euthanasia). Having previously taught similar courses in Israel, I was aware of the sensitivity of these issues, and the possibility that students in the class might have personal experiences that would influence their reasoning. I found that at UCLA, the arguments on abortion, in particular, were more one-sided than in Israel, demonstrating a significant cultural difference. This posed a challenge for me in creating a balanced debate whilst remaining sensitive to the personal nature of this discussion.
A few years later, I returned to teach in the United States, this time at the Advanced Studies Program, The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, in Washington DC. I taught courses on freedom of expression and terrorism and felt privileged to teach such a talented group of students. Most of them had day jobs and were taking evening classes at Hopkins. They were mature, articulated and professional, knew what was required of them, and wished to excel. Teaching such a group of people was a very rewarding experience.
The differences in higher education in Israel and the USA speak to the wider cultural norms of the regions. In Israel, informality is celebrated and students call their lecturers by their first name, something I encourage; at UCLA and Hopkins students referred to me as ‘Professor’. In Israel, professorship is a rank, not only a profession, so in Los Angeles I suddenly found myself elevated to professorship (my rank was Doctor at that time)—at least in name. On the other hand, American students crossed certain barriers that would have been firm in Israel. For instance, I enjoyed being invited to a very pleasant dinner with a group of students in LA, while in Israel this kind of casual interaction would not have been possible.
Overall, I was very impressed with the American students. Of course, I also had very talented students in Israel, and the fact that most had completed compulsory army service before enrolling at university meant that they tended to be slightly more mature, and with greater life experience. However, I found that the UCLA and Hopkins students were better equipped to conduct research, and their written expression was, in one word, superb.
Challenges of teaching in the digital age
Over time, it is clear that the quality of students’ writing has suffered. In an age when many young people rely on social media for news and entertainment, academia has faced challenges. In 2008, I began teaching at the University of Hull and came to realise that many students today struggle to master grammar, articulate ideas, and apply careful analysis. To counter this, universities worldwide should devise creative solutions for examining students’ knowledge and abilities. For hundreds of years, students have been asked to write exams and submit essays. However, these forms of assessment seem to be ill-suited for the digital age. Universities should be open to new modes of assessment, including work submitted in the form of video clips, video games, webpage design, and other activities in which students could manifest their immense creativity and imagination.
Luckily, in each and every class I have many motivated students who wish to learn and my best students today are as strong as any I have taught in my previous posts. These engaged students, who are eager to learn, provide the fuel to continue my life’s mission as an educator.
My New Article - "When A Ritual Murder Occurred at Purim. The Harm in Hate Speech", El Profesional de la Información, Vol. 27, No. 3 (2018), https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/EPI/issue/view/3351/showToc
This paper aims to address the problem of hate on the Internet. It is opened with a definition of hate speech. Then it discusses hate speech prior to the Internet, during the Internet’s early days and at present time. The paper explains some of the ways that hate groups utilise the Internet and their purposes in doing so, examining the content and the functions of hate sites as well as the agenda of hate mongers. Under examination are the issues of propaganda, targeting children and youth, incitement and blood libels. The article is based in the main on a close study of dozens of hate websites.
Keywords: bigotry, hate crime, hate site, hate speech, racism, violence
Gem of the Month - RPO and Esther Yoo Play Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Barry Wordsworth (Conductor) and Esther Yoo (Violin) played Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, one of my favourite violin concerto. It is moving and powerful. The movements move from sadness to joy.
RPO and Yoo performance was perfect. First time for me to see Yoo and I was deeply impressed. She played Bruch with sensitivity and precision. The coordination with Wordsworth and the orchestra was seamless. It was one of the very best performances I have ever heard of Bruch. The concert could have easily been recorded and put out for sale as is. Simply wonderful.
Yoo is the first ever artist in residence with the RPO. https://www.harrisonparrott.com/news/2018-04-26/esther-yoo-is-first-ever-artist-in-residence-with-royal
That evening, the RPO announced the launching of collaboration with the University of Hull. This is excellent news to our music students.
Speaking of Bruch, he is also the composer of Kol Nidre,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar2hyRFAGgw
Monthly Poems
Unlock
4 July 2012
Tel Aviv
Your safe is locked
My key is free
Your fears sealed
My burning soul.
Raphael Almagor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vwKMmqSzsg
Peace and Love. Yours as ever,
Rafi
My last communications are available on http://almagor.blogspot.com/
People wishing to subscribe to this Monthly Newsletter are welcome to e-mail me at r.cohen-almagor@hull.ac.uk
People wishing to subscribe to this Monthly Newsletter are welcome to e-mail me at r.cohen-almagor@hull.ac.uk
Follow me on Twitter at @almagor35
