Preliminary Programme

This paper presents a historical approach to the "new families" that emerged in two forms of socialist settlements, the kibbutz (a collective equalitarian community) and the moshav (a workers cooperative settlement in which the family was the basic unit of production and consumption) in the Jewish community in Palestine, during the pre-state -period, from 1910 to 1948 . It underscores the dynamic nature of that institution and sheds light on the changing private and public spheres that evolved during the course of this development. On the methodological level, the paper rests on the multi-faceted and multi-cultural voices of the women members of the kibbutz and the moshav. As a conclusion, it emphasizes the fact that attempts at creating "new egalitarian families for a a new egalitarian society" that focus only on transforming the status of women while refraining from making the same demand of men, are doomed to fail.

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The perception of the family's role in the Kibbutz underwent considerable changes since the first Kibbutz was founded in pre-State Palestine in 1910. The purpose of the proposed paper is to trace the changing perceptions of the leader of one of the Kibbutz movements, Meir Ya'ari, of the family as social institution and human phenomena, from the early days when the Kibbutz was founded by young Jewish immigrants from Europe, most of them single, until the 1980s when it was a multi-generation society. His attitude shifted from total negation of the family as an institution to deeming it as the focus of Kibbutz life and the essence of his personal experience.
All along his opinions regarding the role of the family in the Kibbutz went hand in hand with non- (not to say anti-) feminist opinion regarding the nature and status of women. Another outstanding feature is the dissonance between his public stand toward familial framework and his personal conduct in these matters.
The main contentions of the proposed paper are that Kibbutz leaders objected to the conventional family structure and functions and tried to control the scope of family ties out of fear lest they infringe the collectivity and limit the Kibbutz ability to carry out its national and social goals. However, many of the unprecedented practices that were introduced in Kibbutz family life as a matter of necessity at a national and personal revolutionary stage were emotionally contradictory to the will of the members and underwent gradual changes due to the changing external and internal circumstances and the very fact of getting older with all which that process entails.
In the early stages of Kibbutz history Yaari endeavored to structure a new model of family life and thus shaping the Kibbutz as a new society; later on his attitude was marked by compliance with human needs and the changing social circumstances.
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The aim of this paper is to investigate some of the cultural ethos and the social practices that governed the Yemeni Jewish family in the 19th century as reflected in testaments. The presentation points to generational changes, shifts in power relations within the family, and the transfer of wealth. It also shows that the concept of the Yemeni Jewish family and its structure were based on traditional and religious tenets that were in congruence with the Muslim society among which they lived. This patriarchal society cultivated the ethos of the superior position (practical and formal) of men over women, according to which most women did not inherit or owned property. At the same time, the analysis shows that 19th century political and social changes effected a growing participation of women in the labor force, thusly strengthening their practical position in the family and community. The paper suggests that the dissonance between the formal status of women and their actual power lasted as long as Jews lived in Yemen. Patriarchal concepts of the Yemeni Jewish family underwent considerable changes only following immigration to Palestine and Israel, which started at the end of the 19th century and culminated in 1949-1950, when Yemeni Jewish immigrants adopted some of the new ethos for gender equality.
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The Zionist narrative emphasized the contribution of the immigrants, especially men belonging to hegemonic groups, to Zionist accomplishments. In relation to women immigrants from non-hegemonic groups, especially those from Arab countries, this narrative connotes Zionism 'their redeemer' from lowly-status and oppression, granting them equality, modern education and socio-economic opportunities. However, studies on the histories of these Jewish communities in Arab countries indicate the limitations of this narrative, as revealed in the existence of modern education in the older, urban communities across the Middle East.
This paper deals with the process of modernization of the Jewish community in Baghdad, and focuses on the changes in the family relationships, following the establishment of the first modern girls' school in 1893 and until the 1970s in Israel, two decades after most of their community had been uprooted and immigrated to Israel.
The factors that catalyzed the spread of modern education among the Jewish girls in Baghdad and the changes in educational contents will be discussed, both in scope and orientations. Similarly, the integration of these educated girls into the local Arab job market, society and culture will be presented and also their participation in political organizations, such as the Communist Party and the Zionist Movement.
All these subjects will be examined through the changes in mother-daughter relations, especially the role of the mothers as a catalyst and an inhibitor simultaneously, serving, on one hand, as 'gate-keepers' and, on the other, as 'agents of change'.
Finally, I will examine how the educational background molded the integration of these Iraqi women in Israeli society and did Zionism really 'save' these women.
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