Diaspora in the homeland: homeland perceptions regarding diaspora Jews in Israel’s discourse around its collective identity

התנועה ההמסורתית התנועה הרפורמית זהות קולקטיבית חברה ישראלית יהודי התפוצות מתווה הכותל עמיות יהודית

This study explores how perceptions of Diaspora Jews within Israel reflect and shape Israel's own collective identity. Using the "Kotel Compromise" (the plan for a pluralistic prayer space at the Western Wall) as a case study, the author analyzes Israeli parliamentary protocols to understand the tensions between the state’s Orthodox monopoly and non-Orthodox Diaspora denominations.The research demonstrates that Israeli political actors use their views of the Diaspora to define two sets of boundaries: external boundaries concerning who belongs to the Jewish people (peoplehood), and internal boundaries concerning what constitutes legitimate Jewish religious practice. The article argues that the debate over the Kotel is not just about a physical site, but about the very definition of Judaism in the Jewish state. By examining how "the Diaspora" is constructed in Israeli discourse, Abu provides deeper insights into the ongoing negotiation of Israeli national identity and its relationship with global Jewry.