African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa
As part of this Special Issue devoted to research on the Jewish communities in Africa and their diaspora, we focus on the case of South African Jews who emigrated to Israel. First, we analyze the socio-religious and cultural context in which a Jewish diaspora developed and marked the ethno-religious...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/2/200 |
| _version_ | 1797297160047296512 |
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| author | Rebeca Raijman |
| author_facet | Rebeca Raijman |
| author_sort | Rebeca Raijman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As part of this Special Issue devoted to research on the Jewish communities in Africa and their diaspora, we focus on the case of South African Jews who emigrated to Israel. First, we analyze the socio-religious and cultural context in which a Jewish diaspora developed and marked the ethno-religious identity of South African Jews both as individuals and as a collective. Second, we examine the role of ethno-religious identification as the main motive for migrating to Israel, and third, we show the role of ethno-religious identity in the integration of South African Jews into Israeli life. This study relies on data from a survey of South Africans and their descendants living in Israel in 2008, and in-depth interviews. The findings provide evidence for a strong Jewish community in South Africa that created a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people and a strong attachment to Israel. As expected, two of the key reasons for the decision to move to Israel were ideology and religion. The immigrants wanted to live in a place where they could feel part of the majority that was culturally and religiously Jewish. Finally, ethno-religious identities (Jewish and Zionist) influenced not only the decision making of potential immigrants but also their process of integration into Israeli life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:16:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c17928a98abf40b0ae7fae433c882ce0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:16:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-c17928a98abf40b0ae7fae433c882ce02024-02-23T15:32:43ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-02-0115220010.3390/rel15020200African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South AfricaRebeca Raijman0Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, IsraelAs part of this Special Issue devoted to research on the Jewish communities in Africa and their diaspora, we focus on the case of South African Jews who emigrated to Israel. First, we analyze the socio-religious and cultural context in which a Jewish diaspora developed and marked the ethno-religious identity of South African Jews both as individuals and as a collective. Second, we examine the role of ethno-religious identification as the main motive for migrating to Israel, and third, we show the role of ethno-religious identity in the integration of South African Jews into Israeli life. This study relies on data from a survey of South Africans and their descendants living in Israel in 2008, and in-depth interviews. The findings provide evidence for a strong Jewish community in South Africa that created a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people and a strong attachment to Israel. As expected, two of the key reasons for the decision to move to Israel were ideology and religion. The immigrants wanted to live in a place where they could feel part of the majority that was culturally and religiously Jewish. Finally, ethno-religious identities (Jewish and Zionist) influenced not only the decision making of potential immigrants but also their process of integration into Israeli life.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/2/200Jewish diasporaSouth African Jewsmotives for migratingintegrationIsrael |
| spellingShingle | Rebeca Raijman African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa Religions Jewish diaspora South African Jews motives for migrating integration Israel |
| title | African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa |
| title_full | African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa |
| title_fullStr | African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa |
| title_short | African Jewish Communities in the Diaspora and the Homeland: The Case of South Africa |
| title_sort | african jewish communities in the diaspora and the homeland the case of south africa |
| topic | Jewish diaspora South African Jews motives for migrating integration Israel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/2/200 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rebecaraijman africanjewishcommunitiesinthediasporaandthehomelandthecaseofsouthafrica |