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This year will be Israel's sixtieth anniversary - sixty years of a
unique attempt to revive an ancient people in an ancient land. How
successful has this attempt been? Where are we today and what will
happen in the next sixty years? This ERETZ special issue will focus
on all the aspects of Israeli life: history and politics; war and
dreams of peace; the changing face of settlement; who are the
Israelis; and is there an Israeli culture. |
ISRAEL 60
A special issue of ERETZ Magazine
in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary |
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Aliyah,
Austerity and an Overriding Dream
In the first 44 months of Israel's existence 687,000
Jews arrived in the country – more than doubling its population.
The new immigrants came from over fifty countries, speaking
dozens of languages, with different cultures, and different
expectations. The story of their absorption, of the years of
austerity that followed, of the hardships that they were ready
to endure, together the old timers and newcomers
overriding dream to create the Jewish State is one of the
cornerstones of modern Israel. |
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The
Five-Battle War
The Israel Defense Forces were created two weeks after the
Declaration of Independence, while the War of Independence was
already raging. Once the war was over Moshe Dayan was appointed
as Chief of Staff. His basic assumption was that a “second
round” with the Arab armies was inevitable.
Dayan lead the Israeli defense establishment for two decades -
and his assumption of another round turned into a
war in every decade. This is the story of that ever-changing and
ever-evolving war. |
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The
Rebirth of a Language
Hebrew is the language of Israel. It is spoken, printed, sung,
dreamt-in, and evolving every day. A century ago it was as dead
as Latin. It's revival was not easy. The religious establishment
condemned its daily use, the academic world in Israel preferred
German, the Jewish gentry - French. But the visionaries, the
poets, and the fore-runners of the State of Israel brought it to
life. "Ivri daber Ivrit" (Hebrew speak Hebrew), was their motto
- and they persevered. |
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High-Tech Wizardry
From the 1970s Israel has become a power horse of high-tech
activity. Fueled by the tech-whizzes of the Israel Defense
Forces, the laboratories of the universities, and the influx of
academics from Russia the Israeli high-tech industry flourished.
Since the 1980s and more so in 1990s the Israeli economy has
grown largely due to this industry. But, for the last five years
clouds have been gathering over the economy. 25,000 thousand
Israeli high-tech worker have already immigrated to the United
States and government short sightedness is hampering continued
growth.
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Other Articles |
Interviews |
Features |
Pictorials |
Agriculture and Settlement |
12 Israelis all born |
Maps, insights, events, |
The Years of Austerity |
Statistics |
in Israel in 1948 |
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Aliyah |
The Russian Aliyah |
tell their story |
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Agriculture |
The First Census |
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The Partition Plan |
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The Road to Peace |
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The War of Independance |
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Copyright ERETZ Magazine 2011 |
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