photo essay steve gold israeli diaspora The founders of Israel believed that a Jewish state would end their people s centurieslong Diaspora. Almost 3 million people have immigrated to Israel since the nation was founded in 1948. But most Jews continue to live outside of Israel, including some once lived in Israel and have left. These Israeli emigrants are now part of two Diasporas the ageold Jewish Diaspora and a more recent Israeli Diaspora. They are among a growing transnational population of people who live abroad semi-permanently. While fashioning their lives in one country, they consider themselves citizens of another and intend to return. The proportion of all Israeli citizens who leave their country 2 percent of Israelis live in the United States is comparable to the emigration rate of countries infamous for their number of international migrants. This is a source of concern and indignation among permanent residents of Israel and many Israeli supporters abroad, who see out-migration as a threat to the ideological, moral and demographic viability of the Jewish state. Over the past 10 years, I have documented Israeli emigrants in Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris as well as emigrants who have returned to Israel. Through observations and interviews, I learned that most have left Israel for economic or educational opportunities, to reunite or establish families, or due to the ongoing violence in the Middle East. Some say they got stuck abroad during the extended travel that many young Israelis pursue at the end of their compulsory military service. In their new host countries, they have used ties to other Israelis and to local Jews to seek and find jobs, employees, customers, other resources and community status. They are notably active in real estate, construction, jewelry and diamonds, retail sales, engineering, and the garment and media industries. Expatriate Israeli men are more likely to have left willingly and are also more likely to enjoy enhanced economic opportunities in their new host country. Many women find relocation distressing, especially those who gave up careers and must now care for their families in an unfamiliar environment. Even when they find work, emigrant Israeli women typically have less rewarding professional lives and lower status than emigrant men. Many of them would like to return to Israel. Because immigration played such a key role in establishing Israel itself, Israeli emigrants have complex biographies and identities. Even among those who have been abroad a long time and adapted successfully to their new societies, few regard their separation from Israel as permanent. This makes for divided loyalties and uncertain futures. Contexts, Vol. 2, Issue 3, pp. 50-57, ISSN 1536-5042 electronic ISSN 153-6052 2003 by the American Sociological Association. All rights reserved. Send requests for permission to reprint to: Rights and Permissions, University of California Press, Journals Division, 2000 Center Street, Suite 303, Berkeley, CA 94704-1223. 50 contexts summer 2003
Like Israel itself, Israeli emigrants are ethnically diverse. These Los Angeles entertainers are of Russian (left) and Yemeni (right) origin. summer 2003 contexts 51
individual and community businesses Israeli emigrants work as professionals, and are more likely to be self-employed than any other nationality group in the United States except for Koreans. Regardless of the jobs they hold, Israelis frequently form strong business relationships with local Jews and other emigrant Israelis. Israeli businesses also provide the immigrant community with traditional products and services and places to gather socially. An Israeli obstetrician in Los Angeles. An Israeli bakery in London. 52 contexts summer 2003
Israeli businesses in Paris (above) and New York (below). summer 2003 contexts 53
designing and finding communities Israeli emigrants develop and support a wide array of social organizations. Some of these focus on economic self-help or religious and linguistic training for children, while others support political action and leisure pursuits. Some communal activities are created and sustained by the emigrants, while others are maintained with assistance from local Jewish communities or the Israeli government. Since the 1980s, the government has tempered its initial condemnation of expatriates with a more supportive and sympathetic approach. A representative of the Israeli government addresses Israeli emigrants at London s Israeli House, 1999. Israelis who trace their family origins to Yemen come together in this Los Angeles congregation to maintain their unique religious and cultural traditions. 54 contexts summer 2003
The Israeli emigrants who created this after-school program in Los Angeles felt that the youth activities offered by local synagogues placed too much emphasis on religion, and not enough on Israeli culture and spoken Hebrew. Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) at a Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles practice Hebrew and learn traditional Israeli stories, geography and folk dancing. summer 2003 contexts 55
transnational networks and identities Many Israeli emigrants participate in social networks that cross national borders and ethnic groups. These networks nurture flexible notions of ethnic and national identity. They also reinforce the value of possessing social skills and legal status in multiple societies. Israeli emigrants are in some respects well-suited for transnational social life, but many are troubled by mixed loyalties. Even the most economically successful are concerned about living away from their Jewish homeland. As an emigrant accountant in Los Angeles noted, Israel is my mother and America is my wife, so you can imagine my conflicting loyalties. An Israeli of Iranian origin (left) and his Iranian-Jewish partner arrange to sell American-style sportswear to a Japanese exporter for resale in Japan. 56 contexts summer 2003
This poster at a Los Angeles Jewish Community Center advertises an Israeli folk-dancing party to be held on the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Events that bridge American and Israeli traditions allow Israeli emigrants to celebrate two national cultures at the same time. These youthful Israelis came to Los Angeles as part of their post-military travels and then decided to stay, at least temporarily. summer 2003 contexts 57