With Professor Yakov Yaggar as our guide, we explore how nation-states, particularly Israel, shape and sometimes constrain Jewish identities while emphasising the importance of celebrating diverse histories and practices, especially those of Mizrahi heritage.
Our guest
Yaacov Yadgar is a Professor of Israel Studies at Oxford School of Global & Area Studies and Oxford Department of Politics & International Relations. Read more about his work.
Key topics
Diversity of Identity: The importance of recognising Mizrahi histories and cultures to move beyond a Eurocentric view of Jewish identity.
Nationalism vs. the Individual: How state influence creates tension between nationalised and localised Jewish practices, impacting personal identity.
Your guide
Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:
Ashkenazi - Jewish people descended from Germany and Northern France
Mizrahi - Jews from the Middle East and North Africa - this term has a complex history
Sephardi - Jews descended from Iberia and the Spanish diaspora
Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.
S1E7 “Identity is overrated” with Dr Orphira Gamliel
References & Resources
Yadgar, Y (2024) To Be a Jewish State: Zionism and the New Judaism. NYU Press
Videos
UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies (2024) To Be a Jewish State: Zionism as the New Judaism
Dive deeper into the Jewniverse
Who Jew you think you are?
Credits
Producer, Eylan Ezekiel
Cohost, Penny Rabiger
With thanks to our guest, Professor Yaacov Yadgar
Artwork, Emily Theodore
Music, Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov
Sound effects, Serge Quadrado
Post-production, Communicating for Impact
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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