Oriental Jews in the Literature of Hayyim Hazaz

Abstract

Hayyim Hazaz has had a prominent position in Modern Hebrew literature since the second half of the twentieth century. He described in general two different worlds: the jews in Russia and the jews, western and oriental, in israel. He also demonstrated their hopes, problems and customs after the immigration.

The research is assigned to the image of the oriental jews and their new existence in Hazaz's short stories. Hazaz did not convey a fair idea of the oriental jews.

The research revealed mainly the negative attitude of Hazaz towards the oriental jews during his narrative presentation. He described, from his point of view, the defects of these people in relation to their behavior, thoughts and customs.

The main purpose of the novelist is to defame their image for well – known goals such as: not to make them equal with the western jews who are well – educated and civilized. Otherwise he aimed to defame indirectly, the image of the Arab society, because the oriental jews have lived in it for a long time. Hazaz’s literary works contributed, actively, for the enlargement of the communal gap in the israeli society.