Learning to be a diaspora Jew through the Israel experience

Abstract

The expression "diaspora Jewry" is commonly used to indicate all Jews living outside Israel, the great majority of whom are in the United States. This paper suggests that for many North American Jews, any deep emotional or religions connection with the land of Israel has been erased/forgotten. I show how a sense of that lost diaspora consciousness is (re-)created among participants using a case study of an Israel Experience Program. Livnot U'Lehibanot is a three-month, work-study program for North American Jews in their 20s who possess "weak" Jewish backgrounds and education. Such Israel Experience Programs are popular enough to form a kind of rite of passage for Jewish youth. This research explores both the process of developing an emotional/religious tie to Israel, and the actual construction of Israel that participants encounter on this program.