Z Prahy do Jeruzaléma

The State of Israel has recently become the focus of global attention. It is important to understand its internal diversity and not view it as a monolithic society. A memoir by the Czech aesthetician Tomáš Kulka, covering the period from 1972 to 2000, can help in this regard. The narrative is divided into seven parts, chronologically charting key historical events in Israel. Kulka arrives in Israel in 1972 from England, where he had moved from Czechoslovakia in 1968. The book chronicles wars and political upheavals—the experience of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Israel was unexpectedly attacked by Egypt and Syria; the political shift in 1977, when the right wing won the elections; and the Lebanon War of 1981–1982. Attention is given to the Gulf War in 1991. The book examines the dynamics of Israeli society, particularly the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim. The growing influence of religious fundamentalism is emphasized. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Jerusalem are also depicted. The conclusion of the book describes the collapse of the peace talks at Camp David and the escalation of violence resulting from the dispute over the sovereignty of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. An important part of the book is the description of the trauma caused by the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. All of this is interwoven with an insightful analysis of local culture, religious rules, and political customs.
The text is complemented by photographs by Karel Cudlín.