pele SciaSction - new media

ISRAEL
A Conf luence of
Cultures
Daniel Zohar Zonshine,
The development of the Israeli culture may be associated Orthodox, that every one of Consul General, Israel
with the development of the immigration to it from them encounters about a
different countries with different cultural backgrounds. In million people and holds independent communities,
the first years of colonization of Israel, the main influences including their own newspapers and networks in which
on the culture in the settlements were mainly from the they distribute their own products of culture, the Israeli
Shtetls (Jewish towns) from which most of the immigrants culture is exquisite in its richness and wide variety.
came. The culture of France and Germany also had an Nowadays the Israeli government supports the arts less
impact, becoming more popular after a lot of and less. The amount of financial support is lower than
contributions were made by the Jewish French what is average in most western countries and less than
philanthropist Baron Edmond James de Rothschild. half percent arrives from the country's budget. Israel's
The Russian culture had an undeniable poetical, musical Philharmonic Orchestra have concerts throughout the
and theatrical effect until the 1950s. Poets such as Rachel country and occasionally plays abroad too. The Israeli
Bluwstein, Nathan Alterman, Leah Goldberg and broadcasting authority orchestra performs concerts
Alexander Penn; theater people such as Hanna Rovina,
throughout the world as well. To the local authorities there
or Shimon Finkel; and musicians such as Sasha Argov
are many little orchestras, which their players arrive
expressed this in a very prominent way. The "Habima
usually from the former Soviet Union. Israel is known
Theatre" which was originally created in Russia
world wide in the greatness of its modern dance, with
bands like Batsheva and Batdor which perform around
immigrated to Israel and habitated theater mainly the world.
influenced by the Russian and Yiddish culture.
Israeli culture is heterogeneous, dynamic, and very hard Theatre
to define. Considerable parts of the secular cultural Habima Theatre, Cameri Theater, Beit Lessin Theater,
creations is situated in the Tel Aviv area, although many of Gesher Theater (which performs in Hebrew and in
the official cultural institutions are situated in Jerusalem. Russian), Haifa Theater and the Beersheba Theater are
But without a doubt, most of the Israeli culture occurs in considered to be the most important in Israel. The
these areas, with emphasis on Tel Aviv. Due to population repertoire of their shows cover a variety of appearance of
composed from immigrants of five continents and more classic and modern drama, and likewise from plays of
than 100 different countries, and due to significant Israeli playwrights. The national theater is the Habima
subcultures like the Palestinians, the Russians and the Theatre, which was founded in 1917.
OPEN TRADE 32
Oct-Dec 2007