Reading the Spaces. Narrative Perception of Eretz Israel
Description
This research paper examines the geographical reality of the Land of Israel, recognized as the cradle of the Jewish people long before the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948. Employing an integrated methodological framework—including geocritical, narratological, topographical, and philological analyses of primary texts and critical editions—the study investigates the perception and representation of Eretz Israel’s spaces prior to its formal political foundation. The paper begins by addressing the geographical and cultural dimensions of biblical Israel, con-textualized through an examination of early travel literature, such as the Itinerarium Burdiga-lense, and other significant texts from later historical periods. A critical analysis of literary por-trayals follows, focusing on selected works by Mark Twain (The Innocents Abroad), Herman Melville (Clarel), and George Eliot (Daniel Deronda), which reflect Western conceptions of the land during pivotal moments in its history. Furthermore, the study considers Matilde Serao’s travelogue, In the Country of Jesus, written during a transformative era when the land associated with the Jewish figure of Jesus was beginning its journey toward becoming the Jewish State. The interplay between geographical reality and literary imagination is central to understanding these evolving narratives. Finally, the paper incorporates testimonies from women of the First Aliyah, offering firsthand accounts of the socio-cultural and spatial transformation of the land. These testimonies serve as a lens to explore how individual and collective experiences shaped the perception of Eretz Israel as both a historical and symbolic space. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this research paper provides a nuanced understanding of the geographical and literary constructions of Eretz Israel, illuminating its multifaceted identity before its modern political establishment.