This course deals with the Israeli politics, economy, society and culture, since its creation in 1948 till today. It analyzes the construction of the Israeli historical narrative as an identity-building narrative, intending to inculcate a collective memory to a diverse society. We will focus on key events and essential components that shaped the Israeli society from the fifties till the present. We will also discuss the changes that the Israeli society experiences in its almost seventy years of existence and how it affects its politics and culture. Among the topics we will discuss issues such as immigration, economic transformation, political upheaval, religious Zionism and post-Zionism, privatization and Americanization, Holocaust increasing role in shaping Israel's identity, diversity and multiculturalism, as well as the enduring conflict with the Palestinians and the Arab world.
This course is a direct extension of the first part "The History of Modern Israel: From an Idea to a State", so if you have not yet taken it, we highly recommend you start your learning from there (https://www.coursera.org/learn/history-israel/).
In order to receive academic credit for this course you must successfully pass the academic exam on campus. For information on how to register for the academic exam – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration
Additionally, you can apply to certain degrees using the grades you received on the courses. Read more on this here –
https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance
Teachers interested in teaching this course in their class rooms are invited to explore our Academic High school program here – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool
* This course is a joint effort of Tel Aviv University & Israel Institute (www.israelinstitute.org)
* This course uses media material from various archives, courtesy to Yad Vashem Archive for their help.
* This course is self-paced. Once you register, you can participate in the course anytime, as often as you wish and over any stretch of time
The History of Modern Israel - Part II: Challenges of Israel as a sovereign state
Offered By
Tel Aviv University
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Israeli Society: The First Years 1948-1967
In the first two decades of its existence the new state of Israel faced many challenges. Israelis at this period faced economic difficulties, insecure boarders, political challenges and social upheavals. Led by the Labor party, the new state absorbed huge numbers of Jewish immigrants who came primarily from Arab countries, as well as a significant number of Holocaust survivors. These projects and others required a collective effort and a spirit of commitment at the expense of individual needs and aspirations. Thus we can define Israeli society in those years as a mobilized society.
13 videos (Total 51 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
13 videos
Introduction45s
The Israeli Political System2m
The First Years - A Political review4m
Security Threats and Military Operations7m
Economic Difficulties and Economic Growth6m
Facing mass Immigration and the Challenge of Absorption - Part 14m
Facing mass Immigration and the Challenge of Absorption - Part 23m
The Eichmann Trial1m
International Relations and Domestic Policy1m
A Man & A Symbol: Ben Gurion's Leadership – An interview with Prof. Zeev Tsachor (In Hebrew - Please use subtitles)9m
Popular Culture and Common Life in the fifties and Sixties - An interview with Prof. Orit Rozin6m
Summary1m
2 readings
The Armistice - Moshe Sharett10m
The Kfar Qasim massacre court trial10m
1 practice exercise
Evaluate your knowledge16m
Week
22 hours to complete
Israel, Between War and Peace 1967-1979
From the late Sixties until the late Seventies Israeli society experienced two major wars that had a huge impact on life in the country, as well as one peace agreement that altered the status of Israel in the area and reinvigorated hope for a better future.
9 videos (Total 87 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Opening1m
The Six-Day War14m
The Impact of the War on Israeli society: Geography, demography, economy, politics, defense, culture, the issue of the territories14m
The Yom Kippur war10m
The Impact of the war on the Israeli society: political impact, economic, shattering of Israeli identity6m
Non-Parliamentary political organization - Settlement movement4m
Non-Parliamentary political organization - Peace Now2m
Peace with Egypt16m
The relations with Egypt - Interview with Shimon Shamir18m
2 readings
The path towards the Six-Day War - Political view10m
The path towards the Six-Day War - Civilian view10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz20m
Week
32 hours to complete
Israel - A Society in transition 1977-1995
In this lesson we will discuss the essential developments that transformed Israeli society at the end of the twentieth century.
10 videos (Total 65 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
10 videos
Opening53s
The political turnover and the rise of the "National traditional block"6m
Economic transformation8m
The 1st Lebanon war2m
The Palestinian uprising (1st Intifada)5m
Immigration9m
Towards negotiations with the Palestinians13m
The Oslo accords6m
Peace with Jordan4m
Rabin's Assassination7m
1 reading
Sephardi discrimination feelings10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz20m
Week
42 hours to complete
Changing Identity
This segment of the course attempts to explore the very elusive topic of Israel’s changing identity.
7 videos (Total 55 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
Opening50s
Americanization and Globalization: Politics and Culture9m
The Jewish context: Israel-Diaspora relationship10m
Towards a Multi-Cultural Society10m
Zionism, Post-Zionism & Religious Zionism8m
The Memory of the Holocaust as a Basis for Collective Identity7m
The Memory of the Holocaust and the IDF (Israeli army) - An interview with Dr. Tammy Hoffman7m
3 readings
President Reuven Rivlin address regarding the fragmentation of the Israeli society10m
Author Amos Oz arguing for cultural diversity10m
Author Aharon Appelfeld, a Holocaust survivor, testifies:10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz20m
4.8
40 ReviewsTop Reviews
An excellent course! Great teachers and very interesting interviews. I loved it and learnt a lot. Many thanks and many greetings from Madrid / Antonia
A fascinating course, well delivered. I was especially interested in the issues related to the dynamics and development of Israeli society.
Instructors
Professor Eyal Naveh
General HistoryGeneral History professor at Tel Aviv University and at the Kibbutzim College of Education
Professor Asher Susser
Senior Research FellowMoshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies
About Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University (TAU) is Israel's largest institution of higher learning – with over 30,000 students and more than 125 schools and departments in nine faculties. Global in outlook and impact, it is consistently ranked among the world's top 100 universities, as well as the top 20 institutions in terms of scientific citations. A spirit of openness and innovation is evident in all of TAU's teaching and research activities, breaking down barriers between disciplines, and boldly striving to address the twenty-first century's most pressing challenges.
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