Preserving Israeli Culture

Recently, an article was published detailing The Lost Children of the Holocaust, their adoption into non-Jewish families during World War II and the difficulties they had rediscovering their Jewish heritage after the war ended.

As I read this article, I was struck again by the importance of the fight to which I have devoted myself, preserving Israeli and Jewish culture.

One of the greatest tragedies in the history of all humanity, the Holocaust was an attempt to remove every trace of Israel, Judaism and Jewish identity from the face of the planet. It was with a heart full of sadness that I realized the devastating intentions of the holocaust were being perpetuated through the lives of these lost children.

When the war ended, family members who had survived the Holocaust tried to retrieve their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces and reintroduce them to their families. Other children, who had no surviving relatives, were transferred to Jewish orphanages.

For some, the separation from their adoptive parents was incredibly traumatic, while others had difficulty rejoining their Jewish families. At the extreme end of the spectrum, some even began to display anti-Semitic views after the war had finished.

Though they were rescued from the grips of a genocide that sought to erase their lineage from the face of the earth, their struggles to re-assimilate with their Jewish heritage and the fact that their story has largely been forgotten means the ever present reality that history might once again repeat itself continues to loom over us.

As an art culture professional with a vested interest in the state of Israel, I’m very aware of the uphill struggle the Jewish and Israeli people have gone through in order that they might simply exist, let alone the entirely different problems they face as they seek to establish and preserve a culture among themselves.

Just 3 years after the end of World War II, Israel declared independence in a move designed to create a home and a breeding ground for a fractured and disparate Israeli identity. Instead of being welcomed by the international community, Israeli and Jewish identity was again under attack as war was declared on the 1 day old state. Since then, Israel has had no choice but to remain strong in the face of continued attacks from multiple aggressors against a backdrop of uncloaked hostility.

The Washington Post recently reported that 2014 was a record year for anti-Semitism, both in Europe and the United States. In the U.S., anti-Semitism on college campuses particularly has risen dramatically as anti-Israel sentiment is becoming increasingly popular among college-aged students.

In the face of a protracted and brutal assault on all things pertaining to the state of Israel, utilizing the arts can seem naive at best and facetious at worst. Though I readily concede the need for battles to be fought in the political and international arenas, the arts still have an important part to play.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair of the Arts Council, England hinted at the multifaceted benefits of the arts when he said:

“While we do not cherish arts and culture because of the impact on our social well-being and cohesion, our physical and mental health, our education system, our national status and our economy, they do confer these benefits and we need to show how important this is.”

This is why I do what I do to preserve Israeli culture through the arts. It is by no means the only tool we have, but it is effective and often overlooked.

It is my firm belief that rescuing and securing Israeli and Jewish art is one step of many that must be taken if we want to preserve and celebrate Israeli and Jewish culture, and tell the true narrative of Israel’s history.

As we move out on this cause, we connect ourselves to our past, ensuring that we may never forget it. As we stand on the foundations laid by those who went before us, we embrace our present reality. Though the fight seems long and hard, we know we must not give up, the legacy of our fathers and mothers demands that much of us.

And as we embrace the present, we point towards a brighter future, one in which our culture, along with countless other beautiful and indispensable cultures, is given room not only to survive, but to flourish and add its bright and glorious color to the rich tapestry of human existence.

I take great pride in the art and artists produced by Israel. It speaks to the heart of who I am and of who we are. It inspires us, it inflames us and it causes the very best that is within us to take root and grow. Endeavoring to preserve Israeli culture through the arts is the gauntlet I have picked up and I will carry on in this direction with every ounce of strength within me.

By, Rayah Levy, Art Market Expert
LinkedIn, July 30, 2015:
https://lnkd.in/bJHFGcD