ABSTRACT
In fact, we observed that Israeli emigrants in various points of settlement have developed activities and organizations in order to resolve their ambivalence about being abroad. In the course of our research, we identified some twenty-seven Israeli organizations in Los Angeles alone (Gold 1992b: 18-23; Sachal-Staier 1993: 74-80). These allow émigrés to maintain various Israeli practices and outlooks in the diaspora. Community activities include socializing with other Israelis, living near coethnics (and within Jewish communities), consuming Hebrew-language media (originating in both the host society and Israel), attending Israeli restaurants, nightclubs, social events and celebrations; joining Israeli associations, working in jobs with other Israelis, consuming goods and services provided by Israeli professionals and entrepreneurs, keeping funds in Israeli banks, sending kids to Israeli-oriented religious, language, recreational, day care and cultural/national activities; raising money for Israeli causes, calling Israel on the phone, perusing Israeli web sites, hosting Israeli visitors and making frequent trips to Israel. Reflecting emigrants’ high degree of communal organization, their collective endeavors include not just the economic and identity-oriented bodies common to migrant groups, but leisure associations as well, such as an Israeli flying club.
