ABSTRACT
The Jewish people have great experience with migration, perhaps more than any other people, and certainly more than any other that has positioned itself in the mainstream or center of many civilizations. Jewish communities have been found on every continent, and often in the most exotic locales. In terms of diasporas, Israel and the Jewish people have also attained unique experience and perspective. Jewish mass migrations have also shaped Jewish and world history. Modern Israel has a particularly important experience in reestablishing the Jewish national home by absorbing millions of Jews within its borders. Conversely, the Jewish state has significant experience with out-migration. Migration to Israel from the former Soviet Union in particular has also changed. Migrating to Israel no longer means that one has to cut all ties with one’s native country, and thus there are naturally new types of relations and opportunities tied to the migrants’ native land.
