A group of Palmachniks sitting around a campfire, drinking coffee and telling chizbat.

There is a tendency to think of folklore as something old, an ancient repository of wisdom, belief, and value. Folklore, however, is not merely an inheritance of the past. Telling tales, composing songs, or coining proverbs are processes that are ongoing. Folklore cannot be ascribed to any particular time or place. It is the result of human creativity responding to a conception of the past, the exigencies of the present, and hopes for the future. It is something that is as modern as it is ancient.

The birth of a nation, the formation of a people, is one of the grand themes addressed in folklore. The numerous epics, legends, and songs that recount great battles, the deeds of valorous heroes, and the establishment of kingdoms constitute the sacred histories of nations. They have inspired words of written literature known and esteemed throughout the world.

The birth of the modern nation of Israel and the forging of an Israeli identity inspired the creation of the chizbat, a folkloric response. Although this folklore does recount the deeds of warriors and heroes, it was less than epic in its scope and less than majestic in its expression. It is virtually unknown outside of Israel, and even there it is being forgotten. Never sacred, it was nonetheless incisive and profound.