1st Edition

Still Moving Recent Jewish Migration in Comparative Perspective

By Morton Weinfeld Copyright 2000
    492 Pages
    by Routledge

    492 Pages
    by Routledge

    The aftermath of World War II was a period of massive Jewish migration. More than a million Jews came to settle in the new state of Israel; hundreds of thousands moved to North America, Australia, and France, while tens of thousands resettled themselves elsewhere in Europe and the world. Emigration was, in turn, paralled by large-scale movement among second-generation Jews from the great urban centers to the suburbs. Until recently it has seemed as though the Jewish people had, in the words of the Bible, reached a situation of rest and landed inheritance. However, there is considerable evidence that Jews are still moving: from the former Soviet Union, to and from Israel, and within nations where they have been long resident. Still Moving examines the causes and character of contemporary migration in Israel and throughout the Diaspora.The contributors to this volume adopt a cross-cultural comparative approach. Part 1 establishes the context of the new migration globally with specific concentration on its effects on the institutions of Israeli democracy. Part 2 surveys immigration to Israel in the 1990s with particular emphasis on the wave of Russian emigres since the fall of the Soviet Union. Internal migration from rural to urban centers is also explored. Migration to the Diaspora is covered in part 3. The Jewish identity of Soviet Jews is compared to their American and Canadian counterparts. Economic performance and problems of multigenerational families among emigres are also treated, as are the controversies surrounding politically motivated emigration from Israel. Part 4 focuses on the changing nature of the Diaspora and its relations with Israel. Beyond its grounding in Jewish culture and history, Still Moving frames questions that are central to understanding contemporary migration in general: Does immigration accelerate or retard the abilities of host countries to restructure economically? How does greater ethnic diversity affect the social and cultural life of cities? What factors help immigrants integrate into the wider community? Does immigration contribute to the creation of a marginalized underclass? Still Moving will be essential reading for historians, sociologists, Jewish studies specialists, and policy analysts.

    Preface, Part I: Setting the Context, 1. Israel, the Jewish People, and the New World of Migration, 2. The Global Context of Migration to Israel, 3. Israel, Democracy, the Law, and the Protection of Citizens and Minorities, 4. Comparing Recent Multi-Ethnic Immigration to Canada and to Israel: Impact on Social Cohesion and Approaches to Integration, Part II: Jewish Migration and Integration in Israel, 5. The Wave of Immigration to Israel in the 1990s, 6. The Current Wave of Former Soviet Union Immigrants: Their Absorption Process in Israel — An On-Going Survey (1990-1995), 7. Absorption Policies in Israel: The Retraining of Immigrant Scientists in an Emergency Mass Immigration, 8. Internal Migration in Israel: From Periphery to Center — From Rural to Urban, Part III: Migration to the Diaspora — The Canadian and U.S. Cases, 9. With Our Young and With Our Old: Multi-Generational Family Migration and Ethnic/Religious Identity, 10. The Economic Performance of Jewish Immigrants to Canada: A Case of Double Jeopardy?, 11. Refugees, Human Rights, and the Making of Israeli Foreign Policy: The Conferral of Refugee Status on Israelis as a Case-Study, 12. The Integration of Jewish Immigrants in Montreal: Models and Dilemmas of Ethnic Match, Part IV: Diaspora Experiences, 13. Israel-Jewish Diaspora Experience as a Model for Other State-Diaspora Relationships, 14. The Loyalties of Ethno-National Diasporas and the Case of the Jewish Diaspora, 15. Have We Learned from History?: Jewish Voluntary Organizations and Israel — Their Attitude Towards International Migration, 16. The Dwindling Jewish Communities in the Muslim Countries of the Middle East: Their Current Status and Reasons for Mass Emigration, 17. Jewish on Three Continents: Reflections of a Two-Time Migrant, Part V: Freedom of Movement: Should There Be a Right of Free International Migration?, 18. Freedom of Movement: The International Legal Framework, 19. Freedom of Migration: Legal Standards and State Practice, Appendix: Study of Jewish Community Organization — Publications, Contributors

    Biography

    Weinfeld, Morton