ABSTRACT
The importance of emigration from Israel (yeridah) is over and above its demographic and economic implications. Emigration contrasts with the Zionist ideology and is perceived as a failure in achieving the ideal of gathering the Jews into Israel. Therefore, the size and structure of emigration have become a public as well as political issue of major importance. Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics publishes several estimates of the number of Israelis who stay abroad for lengthy periods, though it does not label them as 'emigrants'. Much attention has been paid to emigration of the Israeli-born. Many estimates have been published particularly in the media as to the total number of Israelis living abroad and especially in the United States. According to the 1980 census findings, 52 percent of the Israeli-born are naturalized citizens of the United States. Education levels among the Israeli-born in the United States are relatively high.
