Israeli TV shows bolster ties between Jews in the Diaspora to Israel, bolster general Jewish solidarity, and even improve Israel's image among Jews and non-Jews, according to research by the Jewish People Policy Institute.
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The study's findings were recently presented to senior government officials and leading industry figures, who convened to discuss the soft power of Israeli TV series.
For Jews, an Israeli TV series offers an experience similar to that of a journey of discovery of Israel, the study found.
American Jews for whom Israel is a priority want to maintain their connection to Israel on an everyday basis. These TV shows provide a cheap, enjoyable, and relatively simple way to maintain their connection to Israel and the Israeli aspect of their Jewish identity.
The study further found a clear connection between watching an Israeli TV series to reinforcing Israel ties: The stronger the initial bond to Israel, the more the series bolstered that connection.
In addition, Israeli TV series were found to have a positive influence on Jews who did not have a significant connection to Israel. Jews who were unfamiliar with Israel and watched Israeli TV shows were shown to have particularly bolstered their Jewish identity and their opinion of Israel.
Jewish People Policy Institute President Professor Yedidiah Z. Stern said, "We know images create reality, and right now, it looks from the outside like Israel is a country that has only one problem, but we know that this is not the reality. And here we have an expression of the importance of the shows, which depict Israel as a living, vibrant, and functioning society.
According to Stern, "The fact that Israel is pluralist, that there is no meddling in content - artists and creators have the ability to express themselves without interference, alongside the free market, is what makes culture a strategic tool both from an external and internal perspective."
He said, "Culture has the power to bring Diaspora Jews and Israel closer together and vice versa, and we must not give up on this soft power. We must make Israel a start-up nation in the field of TV and cultural entrepreneurialism. Through TV, we can reflect the reality, design, influence, bring [people] together, and strengthen the relationship among Jews around the world."
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