ABSTRACT

Global Jewish international migration trends are better understood in the framework of an integrated system of competing areas of origin and destination. Jewish migrations from countries where a situation of stress prevailed for Jewish communities were significantly assisted by various Jewish international organizations, often involving the transfer of whole households. The most significant development in the world Jewish migration system is the exodus from the former Soviet Union. Israel's appeal evidently was an important element in the choice of Jews who decided to emigrate there rather than to alternative destinations. The wave-like pattern of Jewish immigration to Israel suggests the existence of components of stress in the process of decision making associated with the timing of migration. The profile of Israeli emigration was rather characterized by frequent and short-term ups and downs, broadly comparable to those of the typical business cycle.