Shana Tova Card from the 1970s

This is a Shana Tova (New Year) greeting card showing both a male and female soldier in a field of flowers. The male soldier is wearing the silver wings of the paratroopers’ unit and the unit’s distinctive red beret. His rank is first lieutenant as indicated by the officer insignia on his shoulders. The female soldier is wearing a uniform shirt and skirt and a special women’s army hat. The Knesset building is directly behind them.

The inscription on the card reads: “A year of peace and security.” The designer has included the phrase “A Happy New Year” in both English and French underneath the image.

After the Six-Day War, many of the Shana Tova cards featured soldiers, who represented the miracle of the victory. This explains why so many of the soldiers appearing in these cards are wearing the red berets of the paratrooper unit that fought in the battle for the Old City of Jerusalem.

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Discussion Questions

Observation

• What is this?
• Which festival is referred to in the text?
• Who are the figures depicted on the card?
  Describe their uniforms.
• What is written on the card?
  Which languages are used?
• Which building can be seen in the background?

Reading Between the Lines

• Why did the artist portray both a male and female soldier?
• Israel is one of the only countries where women are required to enlist in the army.
  Since when have Israeli women served in the military?
  What roles do women serve in the IDF today?
  Do all women serve in the army?
• Why are there three languages on this card?
• Why is the Knesset building included in the background of the photograph?
• This card features a paratrooper and was probably printed after the Six-Day War.
  What happened in this war?
  What was the role of the paratrooper unit in the war, and why do you think that a paratrooper is featured on the card?
• Shana Tova cards reflect the values of the time and place where they were created.
  What message is this card conveying?
  What were the values of this time?

Connections

• What do you think about women serving in the army?
  Explain your view.
• Would you like to serve in the Israeli army?
• Does your family send Rosh Hashanah greeting cards?

Creative Ideas

• Create a Shana Tova card reflecting Israel and Israeli values. Explain your design choices.
• Hold a debate on the question: Should women be allowed to fight in combat units?