DOCSLIB.ORG

Lama Shehadeh Research.Pdf (3.892Mb)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lama Shehadeh Research.Pdf (3.892Mb) ISRAELI MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES A STORY OF NATION BUILDING, NATURE TRANSFORMATION, AND ALIENATION OF PALESTINIANS FROM THEIR ENVIRONMENT A Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Regional Planning by Lama Shehadeh August 2019 © 2019 Lama Shehadeh ABSTRACT Since the early Zionist settlement project in Palestine, water resource management systems have been employed by the Israeli nation-building project. This research explores the development of Israeli approaches to water resource management that enabled the implementation of spatial planning patterns and water infrastructure projects. I argue that this implementation has led to a nation-building project that pivots around two central issues; the first is controlling the movement and livelihoods of Palestinian people while detaching them from their natural environment, as discussed through the case of Al Battouf Valley (a Galilean region). The second is the transformation of nature where Israel sought to control nature in the service of the nation-state. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Lama Shehadeh is a Palestinian Fulbright scholar receiving her master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University (2019). She is an architect, holding a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Technion in Haifa city. She has practiced both architecture and planning. Lama grew up in a small Galilean village called Kafr Yassif. Living in an unplanned dense village that lacks essential services and public spaces, she became eager to explore cities and planning. She is interested in spaces of conflict and in how politics, power, and colonialism form the living space, shape the natural environment, and drive formal and informal growth. iii To those Palestinians who remained and painfully witnessed the transformation of their homeland, and to those who are denied the right to return and see it. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For me, this research was not just an academic project, rather, it was a journey of learning and exploring one of the many layers of my personal background that intersects with my professional career. In this motivating process, I had the pleasure to be advised by my two supportive advisors, Professor Neema Kudva and Professor Ross Brann. Our discussions, their thoughts and inputs, their professionalism, and their unique perspectives have been a remarkable resource throughout the way. They have contributed not just to a better research paper, but also to my better understanding of the larger issues that this research touches on. In addition, I would especially like to thank Professor Karim-Aly Kassam from the Department of Natural Resources. His course, “Ways of Knowing: Indigenous and Place-Based Ecological Knowledge”, and the thoughtful conversations we had, have been insightful and inspiring, and have taught me a lot. I also like to pay my regards to Ms. Tina Nelson, the Academic Programs Coordinator, for her kind help and co-operation. Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to those who have taught me the most- the local people from my community. Whether throughout this research as interviewees and as informal contributors, or throughout the course of life. Every small detail they have shared with me has broadened my horizon and widened my vision. v TABLE OF CONTENTS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .................................................................................................. III DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................... V TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... VI LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... X LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ XI PREFACE ....................................................................................................................... XII INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1. THE WATER ISSUE UNDER THE BRITISH MANDATE 1918-1948 ...................................... 4 1.1 BALFOUR DECLARATION 1917 .............................................................................................. 4 1.2 JEWISH IMMIGRATION AS AN ECONOMIC QUESTION .................................................................. 6 1.3 WATER’S ABUNDANCE AND PROJECTS: JUSTIFICATION FOR JEWISH IMMIGRATION ........................... 9 2. BUILDING THE NATIONAL STATE OF ISRAEL: FROM A DISCOURSE OF SCARCITY TO DROUGHT ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.1 DISCOURSE OF SCARCITY ..................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 The Water Law ...................................................................................................... 16 2.2 THE SPATIAL PLANNING OF ISRAEL ........................................................................................ 18 2.2.1 Blooming the Negev .............................................................................................. 20 2.2.2 Agriculture and Rural Development ..................................................................... 24 2.2.3 Dispersal Policy and the Development Towns ...................................................... 29 2.2.4 Forests Planting .................................................................................................... 32 2.2.5 Drying Swamps ..................................................................................................... 36 2.2.6 Individual Farms .................................................................................................... 36 2.3 THE NATIONAL WATER CARRIER .......................................................................................... 38 2.3.1 The Saline Water Carrier (SWC) ............................................................................ 41 2.4 AL BATTOUF VALLEY – A STORY OF PALESTINIANS IN THE GALILEE .............................................. 42 2.4.1 Palestinians in Israel ............................................................................................. 42 2.4.2 The Region of Al Battouf Valley ............................................................................ 45 2.4.3 The National Water Carrier in Al Battouf Valley Region ...................................... 46 2.4.4 Kfar Manda Story .................................................................................................. 47 2.4.5 Eilabun Story ......................................................................................................... 49 2.4.6 The Agricultural Lands and the Canal ................................................................... 50 2.5 THE DROUGHT AND NATURE TRANSFORMATION ..................................................................... 54 2.5.1 The Sea of Galilee Lake ......................................................................................... 55 2.5.2 The Dead Sea ........................................................................................................ 57 vi 2.5.3 Aquifers and Streams ............................................................................................ 59 2.5.4 Soil Salinization ..................................................................................................... 60 2.5.5 The Natural Reserves ............................................................................................ 60 3. MANUFACTURED WATER .......................................................................................... 62 3.1 WASTEWATER TREATMENT ................................................................................................. 63 3.1.1 The Salt Danger ..................................................................................................... 63 3.1.2 Health Concerns .................................................................................................... 64 3.2 DESALINATION .................................................................................................................. 65 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 67 INTERVIEWS ................................................................................................................. 69 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 70 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: BORDERS OF ISRAEL-PALESTINE. ........................................................................................ 1 FIGURE 2: BALFOUR DECLARATION 1917 .......................................................................................... 5 FIGURE 3: THE JEWS AND ARAB POPULATION OF PALESTINE (1914-1946). ............................................. 7 FIGURE 4: WATER RESOURCES IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE. .........................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bimt Seminar Handout
    Bringing the Bible to LifeSeminar Physical Settings of the Bible Seminar Topics Session I: Introduction - “Physical Settings of the Bible” Session II: “Connecting the Dots” - Geography of Israel Session III: Archaeology & the Bible Session IV: Life & Ministry of Jesus Session V: Jerusalem in the Old Testament Session VI: Jerusalem in the Days of Jesus Session VII: Manners & Customs of the Bible Goals & Objectives • To gain a new and exciting “3-D” perspective of the land of the Bible. • To begin understanding the “playing board” of the Bible. • To pursue the adventure of “connecting the dots” between the ancient world of the Bible and Scripture. • To appreciate the context of the stories of the Bible, including the life and ministry of Jesus. • To grow in our walk of faith with the God of redemptive history. 2 Bringing the Bible to Life Seminar About Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT) was created 25 years ago (originally called Biblical Israel Tours) out of a passion for leading people to a personalized study tour experience of Israel, the land of the Bible. The ministry expanded in 2016. BIMT is now a support-based evangelical support-based non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt ministry dedicated to helping people “connect the dots” between the context of the ancient world of the Bible and Scripture. The two-fold purpose of BIMT is: 1. Leading highly biblical study-discipleship tours to Israel and other lands of the Bible, and 2. Providing “Physical Settings of the Bible” teaching and discipleship training for churches and schools. It is our prayer that BIMT helps people to not only grow in a deeper understanding (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Liliislittlilf Original Contains Color Illustrations
    liliiSlittlilf original contains color illustrations ENERGY 93 Energy in Israel: Data, Activities, Policies and Programs Editors: DANSHILO DAN BAR MASHIAH Dr. JOSEPH ER- EL Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Jerusalem, 1993 Front Cover: First windfarm in Israel - inaugurated at the Golan Heights, in 1993 The editors wish to thank the Director-General and all other officials concerned, including those from Government companies and institutions in the energy sector, for their cooperation. The contributions of Dr. Irving Spiewak, Nissim Ben-Aderet, Rachel P. Cohen, Yitzhak Shomron, Vladimir Zeldes and Yossi Sheelo (Government Advertising Department) are acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Co., the Israel Electric Corporation, the National Coal Supply Co., Mei Golan - Wind Energy Co., Environmental Technologies, and Lapidot - Israel Oil Prospectors for providing photographic material. TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW 4 1. ISRAEL'S ENERGY ECONOMY - DATA AND POLICY 8 2. ENERGY AND PEACE 21 3. THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR 23 4. THE COAL SECTOR 29 5. THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR 34 6. OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION. 42 7. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION 46 8. ENERGY CONSERVATION 55 9. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. 60 OVERVIEW Since 1992. Israel has been for electricity production. The latter off-shore drillings represer involved, for the first time in its fuel is considered as one of the for sizable oil findings in I: short history, in intensive peace cleanest combustible fuels, and may Oil shale is the only fossil i talks with its neighbors. At the time become a major substitute for have been discovered in Isi this report is being written, initial petroleum-based fuels in the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Visiting Israel?)
    1 Ricardo Motta Pinto Coelho & Consultores em Recursos Hídricos www.rmpcecologia.com [email protected] +5531 3517 9793 2 1.- Introdução (Introduction) A maioria dos brasileiros aprende ainda na escola elementar que esse é um país das infinitas águas. Afinal, temos a maior bacia hidrográfica do mundo, ou seja, o complexo sistema fluvial do rio Amazonas. E não é só isso. Outro grande rio, em escala mundial, o rio Paraná nasce e corre uma boa extensão em território brasileiro. A esses dois sistemas fluviais, de importância global, o país ainda dispõe de vários outros grandes rios (com mais de 1.000 km de extensão), várias províncias ou distritos lacustres, o pantanal, uma das maiores wetlands de toda a biosfera. Esses superlativos lotam os livros das escolas elementares brasileiras. No entanto, essa realidade esconde uma outra, menos ufanista. O Brasil sofre com a crescente falta de água. E não é na Amazônia, nem na bacia do rio Paraná. A água está escassa nas maiores cidades do país, espalhadas pelo planalto central e pelo litoral Atlântico. Nessas regiões, onde se concentra a maior parte dos 250 milhões de brasileiros, graças às mudanças climáticas globais, ao mau uso das águas, e à falta de uma boa governança das águas está faltando água! English Most Brazilians still learn in elementary school that this is a country of infinite waters. After all, we have the largest river basin in the world, that is, the complex river system of the Amazon River. This is not all. Another great river, on a world scale, the Paraná River is born and runs a good extension in Brazilian territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons 2004 - 2005
    Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons 2004 - 2005 BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights i BADIL is a member of the Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition Preface The Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons is published annually by BADIL Resource Center. The Survey provides an overview of one of the largest and longest-standing unresolved refugee and displaced populations in the world today. It is estimated that two out of every five of today’s refugees are Palestinian. The Survey has several objectives: (1) It aims to provide basic information about Palestinian displacement – i.e., the circumstances of displacement, the size and characteristics of the refugee and displaced population, as well as the living conditions of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons; (2) It aims to clarify the framework governing protection and assistance for this displaced population; and (3) It sets out the basic principles for crafting durable solutions for Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons, consistent with international law, relevant United Nations Resolutions and best practice. In short, the Survey endeavors to address the lack of information or misinformation about Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons, and to counter political arguments that suggest that the issue of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons can be resolved outside the realm of international law and practice applicable to all other refugee and displaced populations. The Survey examines the status of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons on a thematic basis. Chapter One provides a short historical background to the root causes of Palestinian mass displacement.
    [Show full text]
  • A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution WATCH
    HUMAN RIGHTS A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution WATCH A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution Copyright © 2021 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-900-1 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org APRIL 2021 ISBN: 978-1-62313-900-1 A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution Map .................................................................................................................................. i Summary ......................................................................................................................... 2 Definitions of Apartheid and Persecution .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Package Nngeo
    Introduction to package nngeo Michael Dorman 2021-09-06 Contents Introduction 1 Package purpose . .1 Installation . .1 Sample data . .1 Usage examples 4 The st_nn function . .4 The st_connect function . .4 Dense matrix representation . .4 k-Nearest neighbors where k>0 ......................................6 Distance to nearest neighbors . .6 Search radius . .8 Spatial join . .8 Binding distances to join result . .9 Polygons . 10 Introduction Package purpose This document introduces the nngeo package. The nngeo package includes functions for spatial join of layers based on k-nearest neighbor relation between features. The functions work with spatial layer object defined in package sf, namely classes sfc and sf. Installation CRAN version: install.packages("remotes") remotes::install_github("michaeldorman/nngeo") GitHub version: install.packages("nngeo") Sample data The nngeo package comes with three sample datasets: • cities • towns • water 1 The cities layer is a point layer representing the location of the three largest cities in Israel. cities #> Simple feature collection with 3 features and 1 field #> Geometry type: POINT #> Dimension: XY #> Bounding box: xmin: 34.78177 ymin: 31.76832 xmax: 35.21371 ymax: 32.79405 #> Geodetic CRS: WGS 84 #> name geometry #> 1 Jerusalem POINT (35.21371 31.76832) #> 2 Tel-Aviv POINT (34.78177 32.0853) #> 3 Haifa POINT (34.98957 32.79405) The towns layer is another point layer, with the location of all large towns in Israel, compiled from a different data source: towns #> Simple feature collection with 193
    [Show full text]
  • Israel's Rights As a Nation-State in International Diplomacy
    Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs Institute for Research and Policy המרכז הירושלמי לענייני ציבור ומדינה )ע"ר( ISRAEl’s RiGHTS as a Nation-State in International Diplomacy Israel’s Rights as a Nation-State in International Diplomacy © 2011 Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs – World Jewish Congress Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs 13 Tel Hai Street, Jerusalem, Israel Tel. 972-2-561-9281 Fax. 972-2-561-9112 Email: [email protected] www.jcpa.org World Jewish Congress 9A Diskin Street, 5th Floor Kiryat Wolfson, Jerusalem 96440 Phone : +972 2 633 3000 Fax: +972 2 659 8100 Email: [email protected] www.worldjewishcongress.com Academic Editor: Ambassador Alan Baker Production Director: Ahuva Volk Graphic Design: Studio Rami & Jaki • www.ramijaki.co.il Cover Photos: Results from the United Nations vote, with signatures, November 29, 1947 (Israel State Archive) UN General Assembly Proclaims Establishment of the State of Israel, November 29, 1947 (Israel National Photo Collection) ISBN: 978-965-218-100-8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Overview Ambassador Alan Baker .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The National Rights of Jews Professor Ruth Gavison ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 “An Overwhelmingly Jewish State” - From the Balfour Declaration to the Palestine Mandate
    [Show full text]
  • Israeli Cows Are Taking Over the World
    Israeli Cows are Taking Over the World Sara Toth Stub Israel’s high-tech expertise is being applied to milk and cheese. Dairy farmers from India to Italy are learning how to increase their yields by traveling to kibbutzim. And that’s no bull. On a recent hot afternoon, a group of farmers from around the world wandered through the cow barns at Kibbutz Afikim, an agricultural cooperative founded by Jewish immigrants from Russia in 1924. It was late June in the Jordan Valley; the temperature spiked at 90 degrees. But the delegation of farmers had just asked to leave an air-conditioned conference room and use their limited time to see the cow barns. Despite the high temperatures, the nearly 900 cows were calm, many lying in the mud that covers the floor of their barns, which are partly open to the outside and cooled by large fans. These barns at Afikim, and Israeli milk cows in general, are a growing attraction for visitors as Israel’s dairy industry has emerged as one of the most efficient and productive in the world. Despite limited rainfall and high summer temperatures, Israel has the highest national average of milk production per cow. And amid the fast-growing global demand for dairy products, especially in the developing world, there is increasing interest in how Israel gets so much milk out of each cow and the technology it uses to do so. “Happy cows give a lot of milk. People from around the world are coming here, and they see that it’s terribly hot, but that the cows are happy,” said Ofier Langer, a former executive at several Israeli high-tech companies who established the Israeli Dairy School six years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • United Nations Conciliation.Ccmmg3sionfor Paiestine
    UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION.CCMMG3SIONFOR PAIESTINE RESTRICTEb Com,Tech&'Add; 1 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH APPENDIX J$ NON - JlXWISHPOPULATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARXESHELD BY THE ISRAEL DBFENCEARMY ON X5.49 AS ON 1;4-,45 IN ACCORDANCEWITH THE PALESTINE GOVERNMENT VILLAGE STATISTICS, APRIL 1945. CONTENTS Pages SUMMARY..,,... 1 ACRE SUB DISTRICT . , , . 2 - 3 SAPAD II . c ., * ., e .* 4-6 TIBERIAS II . ..at** 7 NAZARETH II b b ..*.*,... 8 II - 10 BEISAN l . ,....*. I 9 II HATFA (I l l ..* a.* 6 a 11 - 12 II JENIX l ..,..b *.,. J.3 TULKAREM tt . ..C..4.. 14 11 JAFFA I ,..L ,r.r l b 14 II - RAMLE ,., ..* I.... 16 1.8 It JERUSALEM .* . ...* l ,. 19 - 20 HEBRON II . ..r.rr..b 21 I1 22 - 23 GAZA .* l ..,.* l P * If BEERSHEXU ,,,..I..*** 24 SUMMARY OF NON - JEWISH'POPULATION Within the boundaries held 6~~the Israel Defence Army on 1.5.49 . AS ON 1.4.45 Jrr accordance with-. the Palestine Gp~ernment Village ‘. Statistics, April 1945, . SUB DISmICT MOSLEMS CHRISTIANS OTHERS TOTAL ACRE 47,290 11,150 6,940 65,380 SAFAD 44,510 1,630 780 46,920 TJBERIAS 22,450 2,360 1,290 26,100 NAZARETH 27,460 Xl, 040 3 38,500 BEISAN lT,92o 650 20 16,590 HAXFA 85,590 30,200 4,330 120,520 JENIN 8,390 60 8,450 TULJSAREM 229310, 10 22,320' JAFFA 93,070 16,300 330 1o9p7oo RAMIIEi 76,920 5,290 10 82,220 JERUSALEM 34,740 13,000 I 47,740 HEBRON 19,810 10 19,820 GAZA 69,230 160 * 69,390 BEERSHEBA 53,340 200 10 53,m TOT$L 621,030 92,060 13,710 7z6,8oo .
    [Show full text]
  • Israeli Settler-Colonialism and Apartheid Over Palestine
    Metula Majdal Shams Abil al-Qamh ! Neve Ativ Misgav Am Yuval Nimrod ! Al-Sanbariyya Kfar Gil'adi ZZ Ma'ayan Baruch ! MM Ein Qiniyye ! Dan Sanir Israeli Settler-Colonialism and Apartheid over Palestine Al-Sanbariyya DD Al-Manshiyya ! Dafna ! Mas'ada ! Al-Khisas Khan Al-Duwayr ¥ Huneen Al-Zuq Al-tahtani ! ! ! HaGoshrim Al Mansoura Margaliot Kiryat !Shmona al-Madahel G GLazGzaGza!G G G ! Al Khalsa Buq'ata Ethnic Cleansing and Population Transfer (1948 – present) G GBeGit GHil!GlelG Gal-'A!bisiyya Menara G G G G G G G Odem Qaytiyya Kfar Szold In order to establish exclusive Jewish-Israeli control, Israel has carried out a policy of population transfer. By fostering Jewish G G G!G SG dGe NG ehemia G AGl-NGa'iGmaG G G immigration and settlements, and forcibly displacing indigenous Palestinians, Israel has changed the demographic composition of the ¥ G G G G G G G !Al-Dawwara El-Rom G G G G G GAmG ir country. Today, 70% of Palestinians are refugees and internally displaced persons and approximately one half of the people are in exile G G GKfGar GB!lGumG G G G G G G SGalihiya abroad. None of them are allowed to return. L e b a n o n Shamir U N D ii s e n g a g e m e n tt O b s e rr v a tt ii o n F o rr c e s Al Buwayziyya! NeoG t MG oGrdGecGhaGi G ! G G G!G G G G Al-Hamra G GAl-GZawG iyGa G G ! Khiyam Al Walid Forcible transfer of Palestinians continues until today, mainly in the Southern District (Beersheba Region), the historical, coastal G G G G GAl-GMuGftskhara ! G G G G G G G Lehavot HaBashan Palestinian towns ("mixed towns") and in the occupied West Bank, in particular in the Israeli-prolaimed “greater Jerusalem”, the Jordan G G G G G G G Merom Golan Yiftah G G G G G G G Valley and the southern Hebron District.
    [Show full text]
  • Bal Tashchit : the Jewish Prohibition Against Needless Destruction Wolff, K.A
    Bal Tashchit : the Jewish prohibition against needless destruction Wolff, K.A. Citation Wolff, K. A. (2009, December 1). Bal Tashchit : the Jewish prohibition against needless destruction. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14448 Version: Corrected Publisher’s Version Licence agreement concerning inclusion of doctoral thesis in the License: Institutional Repository of the University of Leiden Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14448 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). BAL TASHCHIT: THE JEWISH PROHIBITION AGAINST NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION Copyright © 2009 by K. A. Wolff All rights reserved Printed in Jerusalem BAL TASHCHIT: THE JEWISH PROHIBITION AGAINST NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van de Rector Magnificus prof. mr P.F. van der Heijden, volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op dinsdag 1 december 2009 klokke 15:00 uur door Keith A. Wolff geboren te Fort Lauderdale (Verenigde Staten) in 1957 Promotiecommissie Promotores: Prof. Dr F.A. de Wolff Prof. Dr A. Wijler, Rabbijn, Jerusalem College of Technology Overige leden: Prof. Dr J.J. Boersema, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Prof. Dr A. Ellian Prof. Dr R.W. Munk, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Prof. Dr I.E. Zwiep, Universiteit van Amsterdam To my wife, our children, and our parents Preface This is an interdisciplinary thesis. The second and third chapters focus on classic Jewish texts, commentary and legal responsa, including the original Hebrew and Aramaic, along with translations into English. The remainder of the thesis seeks to integrate principles derived from these Jewish sources with contemporary Western thought, particularly on what might be called 'environmental' themes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Polis Yuhsb.Org Volume Three
    The Polis yuhsb.org Volume Three EDITORS Noam Putterman ’18 David Tanner ’18 FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Seth Taylor Principal for General Studies The Polis The Centennial Series: Volume Three Editors: Noam Putterman (’18) and David Tanner (’18) Faculty Advisor: Dr. Seth Taylor Principal for General Studies, YUHSB CONTENTS Introduction: A Brief Thought on the Study of History 1 Rabbi Michael Taubes Ideological Indoctrination and the Social Media Solution 3 Noam Mayerfeld (’19) Israel’s History: A Catalyst for Innovation 11 Ariel Retter (’19) Jews and Booze: A Look at Jewish Responses to Prohibition 17 Mr. Murray Sragow The Flux of Values 26 Nadav Heller (’19) Welcome to Mars: The New Space Race 34 Eli Lichtenstein (’19) An Introduction to Solomon Ibn Gabirol 40 Rabbi Mordechai Brownstein The Legend of the Golem 51 Micha’el Shloush (’19) Introduction: A Brief Thought on the Study of History Rabbi Michael Taubes Towards the very end of the Chumash, in Parashas Ha’azinu, the pasuk states, “Zechor yemos olam, binu shenos dor va-dor”—Remember the bygone days, understand the years of generation after generation (Devarim 32:7). With these words, the Torah seems to be telling us that it is appropriate to be aware of what has transpired before us, to ponder what has happened in history, to consider the experiences of those who lived in generations gone by. While one might study history out of a sense of curiosity, out of an appreciation of an exciting story, or out of a quest for general knowledge, the Torah here indi- cates that there is a more profound goal, namely, to assimilate the message that the past is relevant to us in the present.
    [Show full text]