Page 545 - Tel Hai Book

Abstract

This anthology marks the centennial of the Tel Hai battle of March 1920
and its multifaceted history and role in shaping Israeli national memory.
The twenty articles included in this volume examine the significance of the
Tel Hai affair and the myth that developed around it within their historical,
social, cultural and political contexts, presenting a fascinating mosaic of new
research from this retrospective view.
Part I, ‘Joseph Trumpeldor: Biographical Aspects,’ sheds light on
little explored yet important chapters in the complex life and cultural and
ideological commitments of this early Zionist activist. Part II, ‘The Upper
Galilee, 1918–1920: An Overview’ reconsiders the history of the battle
and its significance within the broader context of the post-Ottoman rule in
Palestine, southern Lebanon and Syria during the immediate post-World
War I years, prior to the stabilization of the borders and the mandate
regimes. Part III, ‘The Myth of Tel Hai: Between Ideology and Politics,’
addresses competing versions of the myth and the political contestation
over its meaning and memory. Part IV, ‘The Tel Hai Myth: Cultural
Representations,’ explores the multivocality of educational, musical, and
folkloristic texts relating to Tel Hai from a cultural-historical perspective.
Tel Hai 1920–2020 presents an innovative look at the historical, political,
and cultural meanings of Tel Hai since the early days of the Yishuv to
contemporary Israeli society. The discussion of the diversity of ideological
positions and emotional ties to the myth provides a unique venue for
exploring the profound transformations in Israeli society and culture from the
perspective of its one-hundred years of history.