Russia – Israel: cultural parallels and associations

Abstract

The article presents a description and philosophical analysis of the history and prospects of the multifaceted Russian-Israeli cultural dialogue, demonstrates its continuity over a long period of the development of the two peoples. Much attention is focused on considering the way some natural landscape sights and monuments of the history and culture of Israel became an organic part of Russian culture, when and how they turned out to be connected with it, what their significance and relevance are in the national cultural heritage of Russia and how they relate to each other and overlap in the dialogue of cultures. The authors stress that Russian and Israeli cultures can be regarded as quite similar to each other in some respects, first of all ideologically, philosophically, artistically, and aesthetically, because both of them rely upon the same ideas of the world and man, the ideology of a special mission and destiny of the country as well as on the belief that their historical development is predetermined by a higher power. The factual material gathered and analyzed by the authors of the article enables them to conclude that there is a wide range of historical parameters, parallels and points of contact that bring Russian and Israeli cultures closer together, stimulate an intercultural com­munication and revive  a mutual interest in the exchange of cultural achievements. The article can be used as a practical guide in the search for com­mon cultural values to optimize and develop the diplomatic relations between the two countries, it might help to plan and forecast socio-cultural cooperation in the context of increasing globalization.