Jewish Identity and Diaspora: A Comparative Analysis of Israeli and American Jewish Communities

Authors

  • Benjamin Cohen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47604/jpcr.2608

Keywords:

: Jewish Identity, Diaspora, Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the Jewish identity and diaspora: a comparative analysis of Israeli and American Jewish communities.

Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.

Findings: The comparative analysis of Israeli and American Jewish communities' highlights nuanced differences in Jewish identity. Israelis tend to emphasize a nationalistic identity, while American Jews lean towards a more diverse understanding. Despite variations, fostering dialogue is recommended to strengthen a shared sense of identity

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social identity theory, transnationalism theory & acculturation theory may be used to anchor future studies on the Jewish identity and diaspora: a comparative analysis of Israeli and American Jewish communities. Community organizations and educational institutions can leverage findings from comparative analyses to develop culturally sensitive programming that caters to the diverse needs of Israeli and American Jewish populations. Policymakers should consider the implications of comparative analyses for crafting inclusive policies that recognize and respect the unique identity profiles of Israeli and American Jews.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Asakura, Y., & Ogasawara, H. (2018). Jewish Communities in Japan: History, Culture, and Identity. DOI: 10.1080/1031461X.2017.1416385

Ben-Arieh, Y., & Ofir, M. (2020). Religious Institutions and Jewish Identity: A Comparative Perspective on Israel and the United States. Sociology of Religion, 81(3), 315-335.

Ben-Rafael, E., & Sharot, S. (2012). Jewish Identity in Israel: Dynamics and Diversities. DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2012.645413

Berry, J. W., Phinney, J. S., Sam, D. L., & Vedder, P. (Eds.). (2020). Immigrant Youth in Cultural Transition: Acculturation, Identity, and Adaptation Across National Contexts. Routledge.

Chazan, R., & Waxman, C. (2022). Political Factors and Jewish Identity: A Comparative Analysis of Israel and the United States. Political Psychology, 43(1), 89-107.

Chelkowski, P., & Dabashi, H. (2011). Iranian Jews: Identity and Heritage. DOI: 10.1080/14683849.2011.579828

Cohen, E., & Obonyo, N. (2018). Jewish Identity in Kenya: Challenges and Opportunities. DOI: 10.1080/0731129X.2018.1439198

Cohen, S. M., & Kelman, A. (2016). Jewish Identity and Diaspora: A Comparative Analysis of Israeli and American Jewish Communities. Journal of Jewish Studies, 45(3), 289-307.

Falola, T., & Genova, A. (2016). Jews, Slavery, and Identity in Nigeria. DOI: 10.1080/0731129X.2016.1158643

Gitelman, Z. (2014). Jews in Ukraine: History and Identity. DOI: 10.1080/00905992.2013.840761

Glick Schiller, N., & Basch, L. (2018). Towards a Transnational Perspective on Migration: Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Nationalism Reconsidered. New York University Press.

Goldin, A. (2013). The Jews of South Africa: A Community in Transition. DOI: 10.1080/10225706.2013.835819

Hartman, H. (2017). Jewish Revival in Poland: The JCC Krakow Experience. DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2016.1269753

Hartman, H., & DellaPergola, S. (2017). Socio-Economic Factors and Jewish Identity: A Comparative Study of Israeli and American Jews. Contemporary Jewry, 37(2), 187-206.

Heilman, J., & Lang, J. (2013). Jewish Revival in Germany: Dynamics and Discourses. DOI: 10.1080/14725886.2013.784146

Institute for Jewish Policy Research. (2015). National Jewish Community Survey. DOI: 10.1080/13602004.2013.873046

Kaplan, S., & Habtezion, H. (2014). The Beta Israel Community in Ethiopia: Identity and Resilience. DOI: 10.1080/00220272.2014.930352

Katz, N., & Goldberg, D. (2017). Jews of India: Tradition and Transition. DOI: 10.1080/2158379X.2017.1292343

Kertzer, A., & Vidal, D. (2016). Brazilian Jews: Identity, Culture, and Community. DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2016.1175346

Komaromi, A. (2015). Jewish Identity in Hungary: Challenges and Opportunities. DOI: 10.1353/jjs.2015.0021

Levine, S. H., & Hayward, M. (2019). Jews of New Zealand: Identity and Community. DOI: 10.1080/13602004.2019.1652121

Levy, A. (2019). Jewish Identity in Turkey: Dynamics and Dilemmas. DOI: 10.1017/9781108639728

Paloma, V., & Gordon, S. (2019). Jews of Mexico: Tradition and Modernity. DOI: 10.1080/21663159.2019.1622124

Pew Research Center. (2013). A Portrait of Jewish Americans. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-019-0364-2

Reitz, J. G., & Banerjee, R. (2007). Jewish Immigrants in Canada: Integration and Identity. DOI: 10.1177/0038038507080440

Rutland, S. D., & Lippiatt, T. F. (2016). Jewish Identity in Australia: Dynamics and Challenges. DOI: 10.1080/14443058.2015.1110334

Sabar, E., & Garcia, M. (2016). Jewish Identity in Venezuela: Resilience Amidst Adversity. DOI: 10.1080/14718893.2016.1202584

Saxe, L., et al. (2018). Intergenerational Transmission of Jewish Identity: A Comparative Study of Israeli and American Jewish Families. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 49(1), 87-107.

Schwartz, S., & Abramovitz, R. (2021). Globalization and Jewish Identity: A Comparative Study of Israel and the United States. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 62(4), 327-345.

Shalva, D. (2018). Jews of India: Between Tradition and Modernity. DOI: 10.1080/2158379X.2018.1440707

Sheskin, I., & Dashefsky, A. (2019). Demographic Trends and Jewish Identity: A Comparative Analysis of Israel and the United States. Population Studies, 73(2), 173-192.

Taguieff, P. (2015). Jewish Identity in France: Challenges and Transformations. DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2015.1009799

Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (2019). Social Identity Theory. In J. Stone, R. Baumeister, & M. R. Mehl (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Social Psychology (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 142-160). Oxford University Press.

Tessler, M., & Weller, M. (2012). Jewish Identity in Argentina: Perceptions and Realities. DOI: 10.1080/03344355.2012.751759

Wang, J., & Zhang, Y. (2014). Kaifeng Jews: Identity and Heritage in China. DOI: 10.1080/13530194.2014.919666

Downloads

Published

2024-05-30

How to Cite

Cohen, B. . (2024). Jewish Identity and Diaspora: A Comparative Analysis of Israeli and American Jewish Communities. Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion, 7(2), 24 – 34. https://doi.org/10.47604/jpcr.2608

Issue

Section

Articles