More Israelis now define identity as ‘Jewish first’ amid shifting Diaspora ties, survey finds |
Israelis are increasingly defining their identity in Jewish rather than national terms, even as attitudes toward Diaspora Jewry become increasingly isolationist, according to a survey published by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry on Monday.
The study, published as part of the ministry’s Diaspora Week initiative, found that 57% of Israeli Jews now define themselves as “Jewish first,” compared with 34% in last year’s survey. That’s the highest level recorded in the past decade, and comes at a time when many fear that Israeli and Diaspora communities are drifting farther apart than ever on issues related to Israeli politics and security.
While Israelis increasingly view overseas Jewish communities as “brothers,” they increasingly expect the support of Diaspora Jews even as their willingness to support overseas initiatives declines, the survey found. Officials described the trend as a deepening of Jewish identity alongside a “contraction” in perceived mutual responsibility.
Some 94% of respondents said they expect Diaspora Jews to support Israel during times of war. At the same time, while 72% believe the State of Israel has a responsibility toward Jewish communities in the Diaspora, only 20% of respondents said Israel should allocate financial resources to assist Jews abroad. Just 22% said they would personally contribute financially to strengthening Jewish identity in Diaspora communities, the survey found.
Some 66% said they view........