‘Russian Street’ in the Jewish Homeland: between Zionism and Pragmatism

This article reflects on the social dynamics within Israel’s Russian-speaking community, which I have observed for the last 30+ years as an immigrant sociologist. Ex-Soviet Israelis comprise the largest single-origin segment of the Jewish population (40%). While mostly arriving in Israel for pragmatic reasons, after years of life in the Israeli milieu, under constant security threats and economic strain, these Olim were gradually re-socialised into Jewish-Israeli patriots. Based on an overview of social research on Russian Israelis and a recent online ethnography, I highlight internal disputes among ‘Russian’ veterans and newcomers, including so-called Putin’s Aliya. This essay contributes to understanding complex internal dynamics within Israel’s ethnic ‘tribes’ often shaped by their ‘waves’ or time of arrival.