Pomp and circumstance? Not!

June 25, 2007 - 4:18 PM by

none of that hereno academic regalia here in Israel - this guy isn’t graduating in Israel

It’s not pomp and circumstance here. Last week was graduation week throughout Israel – both high schools and colleges and universities. Unlike America, one does not receive their university diploma until a year after finishing. It sounds odd, but this is also how it is in Europe, so in reality it is the American tradition that is quite odd.Social sciences graduation at Hebrew U 2007

Last week was my graduation ceremony for my masters degree at Hebrew University. Unlike in America, I received no instructions, no guidelines, no policies. I didn’t even know what to wear. Academic regalia is a throwback from Christian clergy in the Middle Ages – not appropriate for the Jewish and informal Israel. So, while I was upset not to be wearing a cap and gown (graduate students get all sorts of cool complicated ones, so I have to admit that I felt like I was missing out), I figured I should at least sport a necktie for this important occasion. But, upon getting to campus, I realized I was mistaken.

Arriving at Hebrew University’s amphitheater, with its majestic view of Maaleh Adumim and the Dead Sea, I was surprised by how few people were there. A year later, with only the honors graduates getting their degrees on stage, many chose not to show up. Only the ceremony for bachelors and masters students in the faculty of social science was being held, but this was truly a last minute occasion. With many men in jeans or khakis and polo shirts, I thought it odd that dressing up meant wearing what many American businessmen would wear on a Sunday golf outing. While there didn’t seem to be instructions most people seemed to know where to go or what to do. No one – except myself, it seemed – was confused. Due to wrong answers, I almost didn’t get my nametag – given only to those who graduated with honors and would be called up on stage to receive their diplomas. The lack of instructions meant that at the beginning of the ceremony, all the honors graduates were told to sit close – but where? Is there special assigned seating? What? No processional? – to the stage for when they were called up. Boy was I confused! Lo cmo b’America.

And the tie? Well, after getting made fun of (by my [American!!!!] friends) I took it off just prior to the ceremony. In a country where the graduation ceremony isn’t pomp and regalia but rather singing national songs (after every speech … beginning with the dean’s “This degree won’t get you a job in the modern 21st century job market speech” [how inspiring!] to Prof. Reuven Hazan’s talk (with his shirt untucked, no less!) about why Israeli political system shouldn’t be like America’s to the giving of the degrees for those who finished magna or summa cum laude), formality – even for such an important occasion – is just not fitting.

It seems I wasn’t the only one with this thought. Brian Blum had a similar experience at his son’s high school’s graduation ceremony.

Now up to this point, the disorganization that is inherent in Israeli events had been mildly annoying. It would have been more so, but after 13 years here, you almost forget that things could be different. OK, maybe not forget, but forgive a bit.

…

About half way through the show, as Lahav was nearly drowned out by the cacophony of merriment encircling him, my wife Jody turned to me and said “It would never be like this in the States.” I started to sigh in empathy when she added unexpectedly, “Isn’t it great!”

Tags: • Category: General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life 

Comments

2 Comments on Pomp and circumstance? Not!

  1. Laura Ben-David on Mon, Jul 14th 2008 8:54 PM

    2. Hi there-
    just got a kick out of reading your Pomp and Circumstance article as it reminded me of my own article that i just recently wrote. apparently it is an obvious topic that begs to be written! My own, entitled, “Pomp and Israeli Circumstance” can be found at my blog – http://www.aliyahbook.com/blog/?p=57.
    I have to agree with Brian Blum’s wife – “Isn’t it great!”
    ~laura ben-david

  2. Val Marx | graduation picture frame on Wed, Feb 25th 2009 11:30 PM

    3. It is interesting to hear how this tradition differs so greatly throughout the world. I for one think that in your situation I might have missed the formality to mark such an occasion. After all, it does signify the closure of one chapter and the begining of another. I don’t think that I would miss the traditional “cap toss” done here in the states but some level of formality seems appropriate.

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