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This long analysis of the impact of European culture and Europe in general on the Middle East was published in four consecutive issues of Do’ar Hayom. In it, BenKiki analyzed the ways in which the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities in the region had responded since the nineteenth century to the European influence in the region. october 12, 1920 The Orient has a unique culture and unique customs and religion that greatly distinguish it from the West. This difference is profound and is based on the Weltanschauung of the great oriental sages and prophets and their opinions concerning life and death, good and evil. In ancient times, Western nations feared Eastern expansion into their lands, so they used armed force against the Orient, and they succeeded in pushing the onslaught westward and saving their countries . Yet at the same time they perceived that a constant threat to their lands existed as long as the Orient remained culturally and spiritually intact. Whenthehumanandsocialsciencesprevailed[overothermodesofthought], forces inside the kingdoms and among nations came to realize that just as one cannot weaken a certain substance except with another substance and with armed might—so one cannot weaken the spirit, except with spirit. When one tries to subjugate the spirit with might, the opposite outcome prevails, that is, the spirit’s strengthening. This was the genesis of the idea of spreading Western culture to the Orient. The Europeans thought that by presenting to the natives their culture and its essence, the Easterners would come to appreciate it. Yet they hardly managed to accomplish even a small measure of this goal. Sometimes they even worsened things since many in the Orient came to loathe European culture precisely as a consequence of their exposure to it. Europe still profited from other elements of this endeavor. The venture of spreading European culture to the East helped Europeans to acquaint themselves with this region. Most importantly, this project weakened the national culture of the Orient. The East17 | European Culture in the East Hayyim Ben-Kiki, “Ha-Tarbut ha-Eropit ba-Mizrah,” Do’ar Hayom, October 12–15, 1920. European Culture in the East | 89 erner got baffled by the diverse education, fashion, beautiful new customs, and so on and so forth. All of this caused Oriental people to forget their identity, until they gradually internalized the notion that they were weak, inferior creatures. Europe employed a variety of means to arrive at its goals. These included Turkey’s economic and spiritual weakness, the penetrating influence of foreign governments in the Ottoman Empire or large amounts of money poured into schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions. All such means made Europe— and anything originating from abroad—appear formidable in the eyes of the natives. Love and submission to the rich is not just something occurring at the individual level alone; it is also—and even more intensely—a national trait. This is even truer among acculturated commoners. Yet the most effective instrument Europe found in the Orient was religious difference. The Jews and Christians—who are distinct collectivities within the Orient’s body of nations and subjects—proved to be an excellent tool for helping Europe fortify its position in the [Ottoman] Empire. Europe utilized Jews and Christians as a vehicle through which to push new ideas and worldviews onto the empire. This resulted in the Orient’s weakening of national unity. The Christians never had any national sentiment; even though their language is Arabic, their character and mentality—even more than in the case of the Jews—are very divergent from [those of] the Muslims. This situation is conditioned by the Christian religion itself, which is incompatible with Islam and the spirit of “Muslimhood.” Europe reinforced this situation through its schools and its influence on the government. Thus, both sects—the Jews and Christians—evolved separately without any internal or mental desire to make contact with the larger society: the only ways in which they are part of the people are through their language and simple habits. Language—the foundation of racial unity—was the only thing that could hold back the expansion of Europe’s influence. But Europe conducted herself with savvy and wisdom even in this realm. She did not disregard Arabic, or try to eradicate it by investing in the teaching of foreign languages. Instead, Europe tried to keep the Arabic language alive, teaching it with enthusiasm and rigor. She only did one small thing to Arabic. Using its teachers and students, both in Europe and...

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