American Israelis : migration, transnationalism, and diasporic identity

This is a thorough investigation of Israelis who live in the United States tracing their social and economic mobility, their integration into the local Jewish community, as well as their attachment to their home country. Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 10 List of Figures......Page 14 Preface......Page 16 2. International Migration......Page 20 3. Transnationalism......Page 26 4. Contemporary Diasporism......Page 29 5.1 Definitions, Measurements, and Number of American Israelis......Page 32 5.2 Emigration Motives, Emigrants’ Characteristics, and Return to Israel......Page 35 5.3 Absorption and Integration in the United States......Page 37 6. Data and Methodology......Page 40 7. Structure of the Book......Page 43 1. Overview......Page 46 2. Geographic Origin and Ethnicity......Page 49 3. Chronology of Migration......Page 53 4. Age and Gender......Page 59 5. Family and Children......Page 63 6. Geographic Distribution and Residential Preferences......Page 68 7. Summary......Page 74 1. Overview......Page 78 2. Educational Attainment......Page 84 3. Economic Acculturation: Employment, Occupation, and Income......Page 91 4. Housing Characteristics......Page 101 5. Proficiency in English......Page 105 6. American Citizenship......Page 109 7. Determinants of Social and Economic Attainments......Page 112 8. Summary......Page 115 1. Overview......Page 120 2. The Multifaceted Structure of Jewish Identification in the United States......Page 124 3. Denominational Identification......Page 126 4. Observance of Religious Rituals and Holidays......Page 131 5. Community Involvement......Page 139 6. Determinants of Jewish Identification......Page 144 7. Attachment to Israel......Page 146 8. Summary......Page 150 1. Overview......Page 156 2. Theoretical Aspects......Page 159 3. A Reflection of Israeli Society......Page 163 4. Israeli Emigrants and American Jewry......Page 165 5. Challenges for Public Policy......Page 168 6. Epilogue......Page 172 Bibliography......Page 174 Index......Page 186 This book is a scientific and comprehensive analysis of Israelis who live in the United States. Using different complementary sources of data, and through cutting-edge approaches in the social sciences, this volume examines the settlement patterns of the Israeli immigrants, their social profile, their economic achievements, their Americanization processes, as well as the nature and rhythm of their Jewish identification including changes in attachment to the homeland. The characteristics of the immigrants shed light on Israeli society. At the same time they also have important implications for the Jewish community in the host country and on Jewish continuity in America. '...Rebhun and Lev Ari do what the title outlines. They offer nuanced and in-depth insights into transnationalism, identity and diaspora of American Jewish Israelis. Based on their theoretical and methodological expertise, the book can be recommended to scholars of these areas, regardless of its focus on Israel. For experts, American Israelis is a gem: it offers so much in terms of data and analysis that it makes for many questions, which should be addressed in further research, qualitative and quantitative alike. ' Dani Kranz, Erfurt University 'This book is central to Israeli Studies as it has comprehensive and current data on Israelis in America. ' Yoram Bitton, Columbia University This book is also available in paperback Migration, transnationalism, diaspora, and research on Israelis in the United States Migration and settlement in the United States Socioeconomic acculturation and mobility Jewish identification and attachment to homeland Discussion : the multifaceted Israeli diaspora.