So far I have recorded around 40 interviews, mostly people in Jerusalem. Literally everyone, Jews and non-Jewish Arabs alike, agree that Israeli culture is significantly influenced by Arab culture. I have noticed some interesting trends though.
1) Most non-Jewish Arabs I interviewed, all of whom --thus far-- live in Jerusalem, believe that the Arab influence in Israeli culture was taken directly from Palestinian culture. When I asked them whether they believe this is good or bad, most said that they think it is good, so long as Israelis acknowledge that they got these customs from Palestinians instead of acting like it is part of 'Israeli culture'. When I asked whether they think it is possible some of these Arab cultural influences came from Jews who immigrated to Israel from surrounding Arab countries, such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, etc..., roughly 1/3 said they do not think the Arab culture found in Israeli culture came from these Jews, roughly 1/3 said that they think it also comes from 'Arab Jews', and about 1/3 did not want to talk about that possibility.
2) Roughly half of the Jews I interviewed denied that Israeli culture is influenced by Arab culture, *until* I asked them how they define 'Arab culture'. Turns out they were defining it specifically as Muslim practices. However, when these same Jews were asked whether Israeli culture is influenced by Middle Eastern culture, or influenced by customs brought to Israel by Jews from Arab countries, they all agreed that yes, according to that definition they believe Israeli culture is strongly influenced.
The other half of Jews I interviewed immediately admitted that Israeli culture is influenced by Arab culture, and then when I specifically asked whether Israeli culture is influenced by the culture of Jews from Arab countries, they went from saying that Israeli culture is somewhat influenced to saying that Israeli culture is very influenced.
3) Some of my favorite encounters were when the person being interviewed denied that there is Arab cultural influence in Israeli society, while at the same time using Arab slang in his speech, lol. This, of course, occurred as we spoke in Hebrew. When I would then stop them and ask them 'if there is no Arab influence, then what are these Arabic words you are using while talking to me', they respond saying 'but I got these words from my parents' -- ie: from parents who grew up in Arab countries. The same thing happened with music. In one interview, which I was able to video record (most are only audio), they deny Arab influence but then at the same time you can hear Israeli music playing in the background which has a very distinct 'Arab' sound to it.
I'm really enjoying talking to people and increasing my understanding of how people here perceive their surroundings, and how aware they are of their own culture and where it comes from.
1) Most non-Jewish Arabs I interviewed, all of whom --thus far-- live in Jerusalem, believe that the Arab influence in Israeli culture was taken directly from Palestinian culture. When I asked them whether they believe this is good or bad, most said that they think it is good, so long as Israelis acknowledge that they got these customs from Palestinians instead of acting like it is part of 'Israeli culture'. When I asked whether they think it is possible some of these Arab cultural influences came from Jews who immigrated to Israel from surrounding Arab countries, such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, etc..., roughly 1/3 said they do not think the Arab culture found in Israeli culture came from these Jews, roughly 1/3 said that they think it also comes from 'Arab Jews', and about 1/3 did not want to talk about that possibility.
2) Roughly half of the Jews I interviewed denied that Israeli culture is influenced by Arab culture, *until* I asked them how they define 'Arab culture'. Turns out they were defining it specifically as Muslim practices. However, when these same Jews were asked whether Israeli culture is influenced by Middle Eastern culture, or influenced by customs brought to Israel by Jews from Arab countries, they all agreed that yes, according to that definition they believe Israeli culture is strongly influenced.
The other half of Jews I interviewed immediately admitted that Israeli culture is influenced by Arab culture, and then when I specifically asked whether Israeli culture is influenced by the culture of Jews from Arab countries, they went from saying that Israeli culture is somewhat influenced to saying that Israeli culture is very influenced.
3) Some of my favorite encounters were when the person being interviewed denied that there is Arab cultural influence in Israeli society, while at the same time using Arab slang in his speech, lol. This, of course, occurred as we spoke in Hebrew. When I would then stop them and ask them 'if there is no Arab influence, then what are these Arabic words you are using while talking to me', they respond saying 'but I got these words from my parents' -- ie: from parents who grew up in Arab countries. The same thing happened with music. In one interview, which I was able to video record (most are only audio), they deny Arab influence but then at the same time you can hear Israeli music playing in the background which has a very distinct 'Arab' sound to it.
I'm really enjoying talking to people and increasing my understanding of how people here perceive their surroundings, and how aware they are of their own culture and where it comes from.
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