Holocaust Metaphors and Symbols in the Moral Dilemmas of Contemporary Israeli Soldiers

This article examines the development, function, and changes in metaphors concerning moral issues arising for contemporary military actors in Israel. Attention is given to the role of the collective experience of the Holocaust in the construction and understanding of commonly used phrases. The key metaphor themes holding shared linguistic meanings are: "IT IS GOOD TO DIE FOR THIS COUNTRY," "SHOOTING AND CRYING," "PURITY OF ARMS," "COG IN THE MACHINE," "CAMPS," and "DAVID AND GOLIATH." Analysis of these metaphors reveals that the central conflict reflected in them is how to behave morally when life constraints may swing the moral actors into a position similar to that played by victors and victims during the Holocaust.