Abstract

Israeli society at the time of state’s establishment in 1948, was a conglomeration of immigrants from different parts of the world. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the new state, it was important to discover and shape ideas, to which every citizen could appeal and identify with. Newly formed society was therefore to some extent an artificial creation, based on the memory of the events rose to the rank of national myths and the created ideas. This paper presents the main historical events to which Israeli society refers in the creation of their identity. These events are described from a historical perspective while presenting the mythmaking process associated with their retention in the collective memory of the nation. From this description a citizen model emerges as a pattern of national consciousness. Furthermore, the paper reflects on the contemporary, and therefore largely already formed, the Israeli society, seeking to answer the following questions: if the myths are still alive in the collective memory and whether they have an impact on national identity? Which historical events are placed in the collective memory of modern society? Remembrance of historic event as a national myth is based on an emotional narrative in order to shape desirable attitudes. Mythmaking process is often connected to the policymaking, for it creates a model of appropriate national or citizen behavior and attitude towards the state and its authorities. The role of myth may thus be both negative and positive – depending on the intentions of individuals or groups who use them. Dissemination of myths as national narratives can affect the integration of social or ethnic groups whose members refer to the same patterns and traditions. Hence, they are particularly vivid among communities whose existence is threatened, or among those that are not yet fully formed. Historic events which rose to a rank of national myths of major significance can be seen as a cornerstones of a newly created Israeli nation. In this paper for main events are described: fall of Masada, Tel Hai battle, 1948 War of Independence and the Shoah. Each of aforementioned events are analyzed both from the perspective of historical knowledge and in the context of its rising as a national myths as well as its consolidation in the collective memory.