One bright Friday morning last month in Tel Aviv, I sat for coffee with an old friend on the lazy, colorful chairs on the artificial grass by the fountain at Dizzengoff Square. She brought along her friend: a peppy, well-dressed New Yorker with boat shoes.
I think the authro over states his case. Israelis dont see higher education as critcal stage of social and intelelctual development. much more important is where you where in the army. having been a pilot or in a sayeret certaily does matter. But having gone to Technion for engineering of HU for Law certainly helps. Also a columbia degree may not be worth much, becuase Israelis hvae ntoheard of it, but they have heard of Harvard and MIT.
Israelis definitely do have prestige institutions: the units they served in, in the army. Some of these can't be disclosed, so they aren't mentioned. These postings tell you far more about a person and his or her skills than whether they attended a particular Ivy League university. They are not merely "a social fact." They are highly selective and they mold the people in them. Furthermore, given the size of the country, elite high schools and having grown up in elite neighborhoods certainly signal prestige and proximity to power.
Excellent article. Really got me thinking of the differences in the two countries. One thing I would add about Israel is army service and the threat of war. I served in the IDF many, many years ago and it gave me the courage to have my own small business here in America. Not a lot of prestige, but I pay my bills. The one thing I learned in the army is that life is too short to waste on things that don't make a difference. Americans have no concept of that fact, whether Jewish or Gentile.
great article
Loved this
I think the authro over states his case. Israelis dont see higher education as critcal stage of social and intelelctual development. much more important is where you where in the army. having been a pilot or in a sayeret certaily does matter. But having gone to Technion for engineering of HU for Law certainly helps. Also a columbia degree may not be worth much, becuase Israelis hvae ntoheard of it, but they have heard of Harvard and MIT.
Israelis definitely do have prestige institutions: the units they served in, in the army. Some of these can't be disclosed, so they aren't mentioned. These postings tell you far more about a person and his or her skills than whether they attended a particular Ivy League university. They are not merely "a social fact." They are highly selective and they mold the people in them. Furthermore, given the size of the country, elite high schools and having grown up in elite neighborhoods certainly signal prestige and proximity to power.
Excellent article. Really got me thinking of the differences in the two countries. One thing I would add about Israel is army service and the threat of war. I served in the IDF many, many years ago and it gave me the courage to have my own small business here in America. Not a lot of prestige, but I pay my bills. The one thing I learned in the army is that life is too short to waste on things that don't make a difference. Americans have no concept of that fact, whether Jewish or Gentile.
This is the best analysis of the American Jewish personality, made clear by the difference from the Israeli personality, that I have ever read.
Really well done and insightful! Israel is a unique place with unique people. Everywhere you turn someone will invite you to dinner.
Shana Tova..Awesome essay ..thank you for delving and finding heart at the essence of it all
Not surprisingly, someone shared this quote with me in Boston:-) No idea where, he wrote it.