The Unseen Israelis

The integration and adjustment of immigrants in Israel has long been of interest to both social scientists and policymakers. This study concerns Jews from Turkey who have moved to Israel between 1948 and 1987. It explores how and why they have done well socially and economically in Israel, and how they have maintained much of Turkish identity while at the same time becoming respected Israelis. The study finds that one of Turkish Israelis’ unique characteristics is that they are ‘un-seen,’ i.e. that they have no general ‘image’ in Israel as do most other country-of-origin groups, and that one of the factors which accounts for this is the history of their 500 years in Turkey. Co-published with the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs/Center for Jewish Community Studies.