This research has been intended, in Korean society which is an imminent multicultural, multiracial society, based on not a blood centered national ideology but a culture centered national identity, in order to seek for the educational principle and pr ...
This research has been intended, in Korean society which is an imminent multicultural, multiracial society, based on not a blood centered national ideology but a culture centered national identity, in order to seek for the educational principle and procedures. For a concrete national educational model for the research Jewish national identity has been the object of the research.
While considering the above purpose and the specificity of the object, the Jewish people, this research has concentrated on four facets in relation to Jewish national identity. First facet is on the issue of icon with regard to symbolism and national heroes of the Jews. They, through their symbolic themes and transmission, make their past history realize not as a distant, old story from the present but as the present time’s story that is unfolding in the place of life. From stories of the ancient times to epic of numerous heroes who has appeared into the present wars is the most significant educational source to establish their national identity.
Second is on the issue of culture of memory. Jewish culture begins with ruminating spiritual heritage that must not be lost. By ruminating not physical heritage that has physical form but spiritual value of which meaning is given when developing their root and identity, they have put forth their whole energy to create their permanent national history. They search out events such as Holocaust that are hidden their past two thousand years of history of exile, and through education to ponder the events, ruminating their ontological consciousness on "being to here." In some sense, their culture of memory is their struggle and cry for maintaining their identity.
Third is on Jewish oral culture. The Jewish is a people who are excellent at transmitting their precious value and delivering it. Every feast and every Memorial Day, due to the voice of them who deliver a lot of story which hold their culture and history, it is always noisy in Jewish town. Jewish Bible Torah, which had been transmitted and then transcribed, has been read and delivered for many years with their synagogues as the center. Modern day’s Jewish people have printed Torah. But still their children grow up hearing the story of Torah.
Fourth is on Jewish religious feast culture. Jewish calendar is full of their traditional feast. They use their own calendar which is made according to their tradition other than the modern calendar which the whole world uses. So the beginning of the year is not January but between September and October. The Jews elevate feasts such as the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication to their religious festival. They, through the feast events, ponder meaning and value of the culture that is inherited historically, transmitting them. When this season comes, educational environment combined with performance is produced. These traditional patterns become a culture and make their unique life. They devolve their own identity in the culture and life.