Between Holocaust and National Tragedy – The Case of Israel

Authors

  • Amir Mashiach Education Studies, Ariel University POB 3, Kiryat Hamada, Ariel, Israel 40700, Israel
  • Nitza Davidovitch Education Studies, Ariel University POB 3, Kiryat Hamada, Ariel, Israel 40700, Israel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.135.150

Keywords:

Holocaust, Israel, October 7, Hamas, Nazism, narrative, memory

Abstract

Thesis. The thesis of the article is to examine the discourse in Israel, which compares the events of the Holocaust in Europe in the twentieth century and the events of October 7, in which the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel, murdering, raping and kidnapping hundreds of people.

Concept. Regardless of the testimonies, terminology, and discourse in the public, leadership, and academic sphere linking the events of the Holocaust to those of the Swords of Iron war, there is room to inquire whether Holocaust-related concepts and displays can be used in reference to the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel, and to what degree. Do the comparison or similarity between the events result in disparagement or in reducing the enormity of the Holocaust, and to what degree, or do they on the contrary serve to illustrate these events? The study examines journalistic articles, both printed and digital, in several categories: ideology, symbols, and satire. All these were examined in three spheres: in the public-journalistic discourse, in the leadership-political discourse, and in the academic discourse.

Results. The study shows that the discourse comparing the events of October 7 and the Holocaust exists both within the Israeli discourse and within the global discourse.

Conclusion. In light of the comparison between the grave events, the research findings may have pedagogic and public implications for the narrative of the October 2023 events in Israel. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Amir Mashiach, Education Studies, Ariel University POB 3, Kiryat Hamada, Ariel, Israel 40700, Israel

    Senior Lecturer. Department of Israel Heritage and the School of Education, Ariel University, Israel.

    Research Fields: Jewish Philosophy, Rabbinic Literature, Religious-Zionism

  • Nitza Davidovitch, Education Studies, Ariel University POB 3, Kiryat Hamada, Ariel, Israel 40700, Israel

    Head of education department & Head of quality assessment and academic instruction, Ariel university. Israel.

    Head of the Israeli Forum of Centers for the Promotion of Teaching in Israel

    Research Fields: Higher education | academic curriculum development | development of academic instruction | moral education

References

Alster, G. (2023, December 13). Nesi’ot ha’universitaot sirvu lomar shehakria leretzakh yehudim hi antishemiut: taluy bahaksher [The presidents of the universities in the USA refused to say that calling for the murder of Jews is anti-Semitism: It depends on the context]. Walla. https://news.walla.co.il/item/3627020

Atzili, A. (1995). A journey to hone Zionist, Jewish, and party values. Bishvil Hazikaron, 7, 7–8.

Baratz-Rix, R. (2023). Hatzad hasheni vehamatrid bamishvaa – giluyey ha’antishemiut berakhavey ha’olam [The other and disturbing side of the equation: The manifestations of antisemitism around the world]. Maariv. https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-1044407

Berski, A. (2023, October 9). Herzog lakehila habein leumit: Meaz hashoa lo nirtsekhu kol kakh harbe yehudim [Herzog to the international community: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been murdered in one day]. Maariv. https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/Article-1043773

Chekhanover, Y. (2024, January 14). Agam sheshukhrera mehashevi tiara tekifa minit shel khatufa [Agam, who was released from captivity, described a sexual assault by an abductor]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/b1s2xsekt

Dana, N. (2013). The struggle for Jerusalem and the Holy Land: A new inquiry into the Qur’an and classic Islamic sources on the people of Israel, their Torah, and their links to the Holy Land. Academic Studies Press.

Davidovitch, N., & Dana, N. (2016). Hackhashat hasooa baolam haaravi [Holocaust denial in the Arab world]. Ha’umma, 201, 15–30.

Davidovitch, N., & Dorot, R. (2021). Pillar of fire – from Auschwitz to Casablanca. Journal of Education, Culture and Society, 12(1), 390–412.

Davidovitch, N. & Soen, D. (2011). Masaot beney hnoar lepolin – be’ad veneged [Teenagers’ journeys to Poland: Pros and cons]. In N. Davidovitch & D. Soen (Eds.), Holocaust remembrance: Issues and challenges (pp. 76–99). Ariel Publishing.

Dorot, R., & Davidovich, N. (2022a). Guides as mediators of memory: On the Holocaust and antisemitism –75 years later. International Journal of Higher Education, 11(2), 52–66.

Dorot, R., & Davidovich. N. (2022b). Monuments, memorial sites, and commemoration sites, recount history. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 5(1), 363–375.

Domarus, M. (Ed.) (1962). Hitler. reden und proklamationen 1932-1945, Band 1: Triumph [Speeches and proclamations, vol. 1: Triumph]. Verlagsdruckerei Schmidt.

Eichner, I. (2023a, October 18). Kol haperatim al bikur biden beyisrael [All the details about Biden's visit to Israel]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/sjys7ln11t

Eichner, I. (2023b, October 17). Nasi tsarfat yagia leyisrael [French President Macron will arrive in Israel]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bk11fprj11a

Eichner, I. (2023c, October 17). Kantzler germania nakhat beyisrael [German Chancellor landed in Israel]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyhyjz2116

Eichner, I. (2023d, October 19). Rosh memshelet beritania beyisrael [British Prime Minister in Israel]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/s1yhziaw6

Eichner, I. (2023e, October 25). Haparamedik shenikhnas labayit venekhsaf lana’arot shene’ensu benirtsekhu [The paramedic who entered the house and was exposed to the raped and murdered girls]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bjnxpwufp

Eichner, I. (2023f, October 24). Mazkal ha’um: hatkafot hamas lo hitrakhashu bevakum [UN Secretary General: Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/symllubgt

Eichner, I. (2023g, November 12). Herzog khasaf: Sifro shel hitler nimtsa bekhadar yeladim [Herzog revealed: Hitler's book was found in a children's bedroom]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bj0kvfaq6

Eichner, I. (2023h, October 31). Erdan anad telay tsahov vetakaf et ha’um [Erdan wore a yellow star of david - and attacked the UN]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hy2sehpz6

Friedman, S. (2023, November 1). Lo shoa shniya [Not a second Holocaust]. Arutz Sheva. https://www.inn.co.il/news/618670

Gil-Ad, H. (2023, October 27). Nashim ne’ensu be’alimut vehutsu lahoreg – vehashtika shel hamosadot habeinleumiyim [Women were violently raped - and executed - and the silence of the international institutions]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/b171qnwst

Golan, A. (2023). Madig: Aliya d'ramatit shel 500% be’antishemiut ba’olam mitekhilat milkhemet kharvot barzel [Alarming: A dramatic 500 percent increase in antisemitism in the world since the start of the Iron Swords War]. Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.co.il/judaism/judaism-news/article/14767393

Hamas (2006, February 14). The Covenant Of The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas (Memri, Trans.). Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). https://www.memri.org/reports/covenant-islamic-resistance-movement-%E2%80%93-hamas#_edn1

Herzl, T. (2023, October 20). Al tishtamshu bamila shoa bahekhsher shel hatevakh [Do not use the word "Holocaust" in connection with the massacre]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/b1h48wc11t

Hitler, A. (1939). Mein Kampf, (J. Murphy, Trans). Abbots Langley. (Original work published 1925). https://greatwar.nl/books/meinkampf/meinkampf.pdf

Lax, O. (2023, December 20). Al tagidu shoa [Don't say shoa]. Besheva. https://www.inn.co.il/news/623768

Lewin, E., Zurek, S., & Davidovitch, N. (2023). Bridging the gaps between Holocaust accounts: Fieldwork evidence for compromising forms of narrative. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2269707

Marcus, S. (1993). Sinat Hayehudim Baislam [Jew hatred in Islam]. Mahanayim, 76. https://www.daat.ac.il/he-il/kitveyet/mahanayim/markus-sinat.htm

Mashiach, A. (2020). Religious Zionism – Theology and social integration. Israel Affairs, 26(6), 819–832. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537121.2020.1832321

Matza, D. (2023, October 25). Shoa shelanu [Our holocaust]. Makor Rishon. https://www.makorrishon.co.il/opinion/686955/

Navon, H. (2023). Bein hashoa vetevakh simkhat torah [Between the Holocaust and the Simchat Torah massacre]. Makor Rishon. https://www.makorrishon.co.il/opinion/712119/

n.d. (2023a). Alafim korim lehashmadat israel [Thousands call for the destruction of Israel]. Maariv. https://www.maariv.co.il/news/viral/Article-1046658

n.d. (2023b). Avarti shoa, kulam sham mekhablim [I went through a Holocaust, everyone there is a terrorist]. Maariv. https://www.maariv.co.il/culture/tv/Article-1063391

n.d. (2023c). 'Am yisrael chai': Elu hafganot hatmikha shehitkaymu ba’olam ["Am Yisrael Chai": these are the support demonstrations that took place in the world]. Mako Khofesh.https://www.mako.co.il/travel-news/international/Article-9f0b00823f22b81026.htm

Porsher, E. (2024, January 24). Horgim yehudim vehaolam sotem oznayim [Jews are killed and the world closes its ears]. Israel Hayom. https://digital-edition.israelhayom.co.il/israel-hayom/20240124

Rahav Meir, S. (2024, January 8). Israel Meir Lau: Ein dimyon bein hatevakh be’aza lashoa [There is no comparison between the massacre in Gaza and the Holocaust]. Arutz Sheva. https://www.inn.co.il/news/625592

Rubin, U. (2016). The Qur’an: Hebrew translation from the Arabic with annotations. New edition, updated and extended. Tel Aviv University Press.

Salih Muslim (n.d.) Sunnah. https://sunnah.com/muslim:2922

Schuster, R. (2023). We are creating a Yad Vashem 2.0: The race against time to document the horrors of the October 7 massacre. Ha’aretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/the-race-against-time-to-document-the-horrors-of-the-october-7-massacre-in-southern-israel/0000018c-77be-d250-a1af-ffbf61640000

Segev, S. (2023, October 13). Efshar lehashvot lashoa? [Can it be compared to the Holocaust?]. Tel Aviv Online. https://tlvonline.co.il/%D7%90%D7%A4%D7%A9%D7%A8-%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%90%D7%94/

Shlezinger, Y. (2023, November 7). Ze yihye 'hamasa lepolin' shel 2023 [This will be the 'Journey to Poland' of 2023]. Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/local/article/14798513

Shteir-Livni, L. (2023, October 22). 7 sibot shebiglalan khova lehashvot bein hatevakh lashoa [7 reasons why it is necessary to compare the massacre with the Holocaust]. Ynet. https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hy6xt7mm6

Slonim, A. (2024, January 3). Et kibbutz be’eri lo tsarikh leshakem ela leshamer [Kibbutz Be’eri should not be restored, but preserved]. Walla. https://news.walla.co.il/item/3633200

Tanami, Y. (2024, January 25). Raba shel tsarfat betekes yom haShoa: Kav yashir bein auschwitz lebe’eri [Rabbi of France at the Holocaust Day ceremony: "A direct line runs from Auschwitz to Be’eri]. Now14. https://www.now14.co.il/%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%A4%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%98%D7%A7%D7%A1-%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%90%D7%94-%D7%A7%D7%95-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%A8-%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A8/

Vipers, E. (2023, December 11). Bemilkhemet kharvot barzel, hasatira bareshatot hakhevratiot hi sakana hasbaratit [In the Iron Swords war, satire on social media is an explanatory danger], Walla. https://marketing.walla.co.il/item/3628167

Yehoshua, A. B. (1980). Bizchut hanormaliyut: Hamisa Ma’amarim al she’elot hatziyonit [By virtue of normality: Five essays on the questions of Zionism]. Schoken.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-25

How to Cite

Mashiach, A., & Davidovitch, N. (2024). Between Holocaust and National Tragedy – The Case of Israel. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(2), 135-150. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.135.150