Posted on 01/20/2007 7:45:58 PM PST by JadeEmperor
These days, even Jews who have never been to a synagogue are happy to assert that separateness: they are rossiiskiye, Russian citizens, but not russkiye, “Russians”.
As many as 100,000 Russian-Israelis have gone back to Russia, says Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, the director of the Lubavitch-run Federation of Jewish Communities, one of Russia's two main (and rival) umbrella groups. In a fast-growing market with a population over 20 times the size of Israel's, they often get better work. Today, a Russian Jew in Moscow will be more expensively dressed than his cousin in Tel Aviv: a big reversal from ten years ago.
Israel's government dislikes acknowledging this apparent yeridah, but as Rabbi Berkowitz argues, “It's a win-win situation for both Israel and Russia.” Most of the returnees retain ties with Israel; they often leave families there, and invest earnings there, in homes and education. This makes for a new kind of diaspora: these days, as one listens to the sound of Russian in Old Jerusalem or Hebrew on the canals of St Petersburg, it can be hard to tell where Israel ends and Russia begins.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
Something about living in the center of a bullseye probably makes it hard to sleep at night.
In the other promise land.
Come to America and vote for democrats so they can continue to destroy Israel.
This is sad.
Well, however it may be, I understand this entire process perfectly because of my own condition. I am a son of ex-Soviet Jewish immigrants (to the USA) and although I do support Israel and her right to exist and defend herself, I must admit over these years that otherwise there is very little else "binding" me to the "Jewish identity", other than some remnants of the old yiddish culture surviving in my family through my grandmother.
When I was growing up in the USSR, there were times when I felt my "jewishness" strongly - that happened because of / during encounters with antisemites. It was actually less like a feeling of "identity", more like a feeling of alienation and a rhethorical question - (why was I being singled because of descendancy by some other kids, even though we grew up sharing the same air, same food and the same culture?) But to face the hard truth, given the absense of public antisemitism in the pluralist, multicultural and PC America of today there isn't really much else to define my attachment to my heritage. I am aware of it, but not much more, I'm afraid.
I hate to say it this way, but on some level I and others like me will live and die as "a lost generation". My children will likely have a much more defined sense of identity, whatever it will be. I wager a penny they most likely will be simply Americans, with no hyphens or adjectives, because they will be born and grow up here, and do not live in a ghetto or secluded community, like the orthodox Jews do, but will grow up along with and among other mainstream Americans. Maybe they will choose to . I will neither impede nor push them in that direction.
I chose to share all this, by the way, because articles like these always make me face my own divided self.
"Maybe they will choose to . I will neither impede nor push them in that direction."Oops, pushed that "Post" too soon. I meant to say maybe they will choose to rediscover their heritage one day (although I do not see how) I will neither impede them if they choose to, nor push them in that direction.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Very good article, if you use the link and read the whole thing!
Thanks for sharing your feelings. You and your family are non-hyphenated Americans now, along with millions of other immigrants, who populate our shores. I wish you and your family success in the pursuit of happiness!
Money isn't everything.
It is very hard to live in Israel, the government is horrible to its own citizens, and sweet to the terrorists. Read Ezekiel 34, a prophecy of the government of Israel today.
Shepards that exist to feed on the flock, not care for it.
That is the present government of Israel.
Israel is a very small place. There can only be so many jobs and only so much resources to make new jobs.
Leftist anti-Jewish anti-Israel tripe from the Economist.
"The only good Jew is a leftist secular Arab loving Jew who happly goes marching into the ovens. Liberal anti-Semitism from the Economist."The article really doesn't convey that point. But it does highlight the fragmented identity of many modern Jews. The latter is a fact hard not to notice.
"You might consider reading these two books; Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism And Jews, God & History"The second book looks interesting. I think I will :)
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