Israel celebrates : Jewish holidays and civic culture in Israel /

Though this is not the first attempt to examine celebrations and evolving ritual in Israeli religious and secular life, the historical and social context are very well presented, and the material is approached from multiple perspectives. Rather than attempting an encyclopedic examination of the gamut of such occasions, Shoham (cultural studies, Bar-Ilan Univ., Israel) chose four examples: Pesah, Passover, the ancient biblical spring festival universally observed by Jews; Tu B'shvat, the "New Year of Trees" mentioned in the Mishnah, with minimal customs dating perhaps to the Middle Ages; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, of biblical origin and the holiest occasion in the Jewish year; and Yom Ha'atzma'ut, Israeli Independence Day, celebrated since 1949. The religious holidays, Passover and Yom Kippur, are observed by Orthodox Jews much as they are in the diaspora, but secular Jews have found ways to make these days socially meaningful, celebrating with family on Passover, friends on Yom Kippur. Tu B'shvat became Arbor Day, with tree planting involving schoolchildren, fulfilling nationalist ideals to make Israel green. Yom Ha'atzma'ut is in flux, with government and religious rituals being modified locally and social rituals such as mangal (barbecuing with friends) slowly becoming fixed. Fascinating for civil religion and Judaism specialists. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --Laurence D. Loeb, University of Utah