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.

Dr. Alon Gratch is a New York-based clinical psychologist, organizational consultant, and author. He has been on the faculty of Columbia University and worked with clients such as Pepsi, Colgate-Palmolive, the NFL and NYPD. Dr. Gratch is the author of two previous books, If Men Could Talk and If Love Could Think. He has written for both academic and popular publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

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 Cliché
Six. There's No Place Like Masada
Conclusion: Saying No, Getting to Yes
Epilogue: Dinner in Jerusalem

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