The Israeli mind : how the Israeli national character shapes our world

Israelis are bold and visionary, passionate and generous. But they can also be grandiose and self-absorbed. Emerging from the depths of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, they have a deeply conflicted identity. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective, but also to sacrifice that very collective for a higher, and likely unattainable, ideal. Resolving these internal conflicts and coming to terms with the trauma of the Holocaust are imperative to Israel's survival as a nation and to the stability of the world.Alon Gratch, a clinical psychologist whose family has lived in Israel for generations, is uniquely positioned to confront these issues. Like the Israeli psyche that Gratch details, __The Israeli Mind__ is both intimate and universal. Intelligent and forthright, compassionate but sometimes maddening, it is an utterly compelling read. Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, __The Israeli Mind__ presents a provocative, first-hand portrait of the Israeli national character. Israelis Are Bold And Visionary, Passionate And Generous. But They Can Also Be Grandiose And Self-absorbed. Emerging From The Depths Of Jewish History And The Drama Of The Zionist Rebellion Against It, They Have A Deeply Conflicted Identity. They Are Willing To Sacrifice Themselves For The Collective, But Also To Sacrifice That Very Collective For A Higher, And Likely Unattainable, Ideal. Resolving These Internal Conflicts And Coming To Terms With The Trauma Of The Holocaust Are Imperative To Israel's Survival As A Nation And To The Stability Of The World. Alon Gratch, A Clinical Psychologist Whose Family Has Lived In Israel For Generations, Is Uniquely Positioned To Confront These Issues. Like The Israeli Psyche That Gratch Details, The Israeli Mind Is Both Intimate And Universal. Intelligent And Forthright, Compassionate But Sometimes Maddening, It Is An Utterly Compelling Read. Drawing On A Broad Cultural And Historical Canvas, And Weaving In The Author's Personal And Professional Experience, The Israeli Mind Presents A Provocative, First-hand Portrait Of The Israeli National Character,--amazon.com. Introduction: Rabbi, I Object -- One. Who Is An Israeli? -- Two. It's Easier To Change A Song Than A City -- Three. The Whole World Is Against Us And The World Is Silent -- Four. Crying While Shooting -- Five. Anatomy Of A Cliche : Sabras At War -- Six. There Is No Place Like Masada -- Conclusion Saying No, Getting To Yes -- Epilogue: Dinner In Jerusalem -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index. Alon Gratch. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 253-261) And Index. "A provocative blend of psychological profile and foreign policy analysis...illuminating and full of fresh insights into contemporary geopolitics...fascinating." -- Publishers Weekly Israelis are bold and visionary, passionate and generous. But they can also be grandiose and self-absorbed. Emerging from the depths of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, they have a deeply conflicted identity. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective, but also to sacrifice that very collective for a higher, and likely unattainable, ideal. Resolving these internal conflicts and coming to terms with the trauma of the Holocaust are imperative to Israel's survival as a nation and to the stability of the world. Alon Gratch, a clinical psychologist whose family has lived in Israel for generations, is uniquely positioned to confront these issues. Like the Israeli psyche that Gratch details, The Israeli Mind is both intimate and universal. Intelligent and forthright, compassionate but sometimes maddening, it is an utterly compelling read. Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, The Israeli Mind presents a provocative, first-hand portrait of the Israeli national character.

Israelis are bold and visionary, passionate and generous. But they can also be grandiose and self-absorbed. Emerging from the depths of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, they have a deeply conflicted identity. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective, but also to sacrifice that very collective for a higher, and likely unattainable, ideal. Resolving these internal conflicts and coming to terms with the trauma of the Holocaust are imperative to Israel's survival as a nation and to the stability of the world.
Alon Gratch, a clinical psychologist whose family has lived in Israel for generations, is uniquely positioned to confront these issues. Like the Israeli psyche that Gratch details, The Israeli Mind is both intimate and universal. Intelligent and forthright, compassionate but sometimes maddening, it is an utterly compelling read. Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, The Israeli Mind presents a provocative, first-hand portrait of the Israeli national character.

"Israelis are bold and visionary, passionate and generous. But they can also be grandiose and self-absorbed. Emerging from the depths of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, they have a deeply conflicted identity. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective, but also to sacrifice that very collective for a higher, and likely unattainable, ideal. Resolving these internal conflicts and coming to terms with the trauma of the Holocaust are imperative to Israel's survival as a nation and to the stability of the world. Alon Gratch, a clinical psychologist whose family has lived in Israel for generations, is uniquely positioned to confront these issues. Like the Israeli psyche that Gratch details, The Israeli Mind is both intimate and universal. Intelligent and forthright, compassionate but sometimes maddening, it is an utterly compelling read. Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, The Israeli Mind presents a provocative, first-hand portrait of the Israeli national character, "--Amazon.com Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, The Israeli Mind presents a compelling, if disturbing, portrait of the Israeli national character. Emerging from the depth of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, Israelis are struggling to forge an identity. They are grand and grandiose, visionary and delusional, generous and self-centered. Deeply caring because of the history of Jewish victimization, they also demonstrate a shocking indifference to the sufferings of others. Saying no is their first, second and third line of defense, even as they are totally capable of complete and sudden capitulation. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective but also to sacrifice that very collective—for a higher, and likely unattainable ideal. Dr. Alon Gratch draws a vivid, provocative portrait of the conflicts embedded in the Israeli mind. Annihilation... Chapter 1. Who is an Israeli? -- Chapter 2. It's easier to change a song than a city -- Chapter 3. The whole world is against us and the world is silent -- Chapter 4. Crying while shooting -- Chapter 5. Anatomy of a cliche : Sabras at war -- Chapter 6. There is no place like Masada -- Conclusion saying no, getting to yes