Language:
English
Year of publication:
2022
Titel der Quelle:
Israel and the Diaspora
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2022) 99-114
Keywords:
Jews Identity
;
Israel and the diaspora
;
Israelis
;
National characteristics, Israeli
;
Western countries Emigration and immigration
;
Israel Emigration and immigration
Abstract:
Jewish migrants from Eastern Europe have been a paradigmatic case of successful assimilators in many Western countries. They have actively identified with the nationality and culture in points of settlement, had little propensity to return to the country of origin, and overcame discrimination to attain levels of educational, economic and cultural prominence matching those of the native-born elite. While Israeli emigrants – who are now among the largest Jewish migrant populations in many Western societies – share social, cultural, occupational, and residential characteristics with native-born Jews, they reveal dissimilar patterns of adaptation. Most notable, is their ambivalent identification with host societies. They seldom describe themselves as host country nationals, socialize almost exclusively with other Israelis, frequently describe their intentions to return home, and often do so. Accordingly, Israeli emigrants confront strong and conflicting bases of identity associated with Western Jewish communities, on the one hand, and Israel, on the other. Using in-depth interviews, ethnographic data and a review of published research, this paper explores how Israeli emigrants address conflicting identities associated with the country of origin and the host society. The paper concludes that the actions of Israeli emigrants are partly compatible with elements of both segmented assimilation and transnational views of migrant identity, but fully consistent with neither view. Rather, their identities are simultaneously shaped by both the context of settlement as well as their links with the country of origin.
DOI:
10.1007/978-3-030-80872-3_6
URL:
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