634
PARTISAN REVIEW
weird, attention-grabbing hair style? A newcomer immigrant from Rus–
sia proud of his language and culture? Or one from Ethiopia who has
struggled for recognition as a Jew by the Chief Rabbinate? An Ashke–
nazi who loves classical music, or an Oriental Jew who prefers Eastern
rhythms and riffs? Or maybe there exists a silent Israeli majority, secu–
lar in outlook yet wishing to keep a link to ancient Jewish tradition,
who long for peace with security, who want economic progress-or sim–
ply just
to
get on with their lives, like any human being? And what
about the Arab citizens of the state? And of course, we could have
framed the whole passage in gendered terms, shifting the focus to the
other 50 percent of the population that is not male.
The optimists will argue that we are in a phase of transition and from
all the friction and clash between contending sub-identities a new Israeli
identity will issue forth. It's a normal process. But if it's so good and
normal, why is it so hard and painful?
The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin marked a watershed, a founda–
tional event in Israeli society. At the time it seemed that a new generation
had made its debut upon the historical stage, the Candle Children gen–
eration: the Israeli youth who had grown to adolescence in the shadow
and smoke of the Intifada and blossomed in the glow of the peace
process initiated at Oslo. This generation reeled in shock with the death
of the revered leader, the collective father who symbolized hope for a bet–
ter tomorrow. Will the shaping experience of that generation help to fuel
a new nihilism, the loss of basic existential moorings such as we wit–
nessed in the manifestation of the snail retreating into its shell? Or will it
perhaps serve as a basis for a return to a rejuvenated sense of solidarity,
the creation of a new collective will? A shared spirit that is moderate, tol–
erant, respective of diversity and difference, but also desirous of creating
a constructive public space-positive, responsible, and able to weld
together diverse segments of society. Will this generation become
ensnared in the quagmire of despair, bogged down in cynicism devoid of
any hope? Or will it be able to take stock and translate its trauma into a
new set of blueprints and visions for building a better social order?
Five years have passed since those days of blood and sorrow. On May
I7, I999,
the Candle Children went to the polls for the first time. They
seem to have given a clue to their state of mind: are we witnessing the
emergence of a new generational cohort which will leave its imprint on
Israeli society and culture?
Translated from the Hebrew by William Templer
