Ketzia Alon facts for kids

Ketzia Alon (born in 1971) is an Israeli professor and social activist. She is known for her work as a Mizrahi feminist. She also curates art shows and writes about art. Ketzia Alon helped start the Ahoti – for Women in Israel movement.

She was part of the team for the literary journal "Criticism and Review". She also led the Gender Studies program at Beit Berl College. In 2017, Ketzia Alon won the Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works. This award recognizes important Hebrew writers.

Ketzia Alon's Life Story

Ketzia Alon was born in Jerusalem in 1971. She studied art history and communications at the Hebrew University. Later, she earned her master's degree focusing on Jewish-Christian relations. Her PhD was in Hebrew literature.

As a professor, Alon has taught at several universities. These include the Open University and Ben Gurion University. She also led the Gender Studies department at Beit Berl College.

Starting the Mizrahi Feminist Movement

Ketzia Alon is a founding activist of the Mizrahi feminist movement. This movement began in 1994 at the 10th Feminist Conference. At this meeting, there was a big disagreement between Mizrahi and Ashkenazi feminists. This led to a split in the feminist movement. After this, Alon helped create the Mizrahi movement called Ahoti – for Women in Israel.

Ketzia Alon's Writings

Alon's writing often focuses on the idea of Mizrahim. Mizrahim are Jews from Middle Eastern and North African countries. She explores the social, cultural, and political meanings of being Mizrahi. She does this by looking at poetry, art, and essays by Mizrahi Jews.

Feminism and Mizrahi Identity

Ketzia Alon is very interested in how feminism and Mizrahi identity connect. She wrote a book called Breaking Walls with Shula Keshet. This book explores these ideas. In her research, Alon compares the differences between Ashkenazi and Mizrahi people. Ashkenazi Jews are from European countries. She looks at these differences in the past and today.

She also compares them to other social differences in Israel. These include Jews and Arabs, religious and non-religious people, and rich and poor. Alon explains that the idea of Mizrahi identity can be confusing. This is because Mizrahi people are often Arab Jews. This challenges simple ideas of who is Jewish or Arab.

Alon believes that society should not be divided into groups like Ashkenazi and Mizrahi. She says that Mizrahi identity does not fit neatly into one separate group. Just as she doesn't believe men and women should be completely separated.

Books by Ketzia Alon

Ketzia Alon has published ten books and many articles. Here are some of her selected works:

• אמנות הסימפטום: קריאות ביצירותיו של אהרן אפלפלד / יוחאי אופנהיימר, קציעה עלון. הוצאת גמא, 2014 – The Art of Symptoms: Readings in Aharon Appelfeld's Fiction
• אפשרות שלישית לשירה: עיונים בפואטיקה מזרחית / קציעה עלון. הוצאת הקיבוץ המאוחד, 2011 – A Third Possibility for Poetry: Studies in Mizrahi Poetics
• שושנת המרי השחורה: קריאות בשירה מזרחית / קציעה עלון. משרד הביטחון – ההוצאה לאור, 2014 – The Black Rose of Rebellion: Readings in Mizrahi Poetry
• שוברות קירות: אמניות מזרחיות עכשוויות בישראל / קציעה עלון, שולה קשת. ארגון אחותי, 2013 – Breaking Walls: Contemporary Mizrahi Women Artists in Israel
• אנא מן אלמגרב: קובץ מאמרים על היצירה הפואטית של ארז ביטון / קציעה עלון, יוחאי אופנהיימר. הוצאת גמא והוצאת הקיבוץ המאוחד, 2014 – Ana min al-Magreb: Readings in Erez Biton's Poetry
• עדות היופי וחוקת הזמן, מאמרים על אמירה הס / קציעה עלון. הוצאת גמא, 2016 – Testament of Beauty and Laws of Time: Discussing Amira Hess's Poetry
• אופ- פוטו, אוסף הצד האחורי של הצילום הישראלי / קציעה עלון. הוצאת גמא, 2017 – Photo Opp: The Other Side of Israeli Photography
• לשכון בתוך מילה: הרהורים על זהות מזרחית / קציעה עלון. הוצאת גמא, 2015 – To Dwell in a Word: Reflections on Mizrahi Identity