Israel at 70 and World Jewry: One People or Two?

דמוגרפיה זהות קולקטיבית יהדות ארה"ב ישראל והתפוצות עם יהודי עמיות יהודית ציונות

In this comprehensive chapter, world-renowned demographer Sergio DellaPergola evaluates the complex relationship between the State of Israel and World Jewry after 70 years of Israeli independence. The central question explores whether contemporary Jews still constitute "one people" or if they have diverged into two separate and distinct entities.DellaPergola analyzes major demographic shifts, including the concentration of the Jewish population in Israel and the changing nature of the Diaspora. He examines points of convergence and divergence, such as shared historical memory (especially the Shoah) versus conflicting political views and religious identities. The research highlights how globalization and different social environments in Israel and the West have created a "transnational galaxy" with multiple, sometimes competing, centers. Ultimately, the author suggests that while there are deep structural differences, a resilient sense of peoplehood remains, though it requires constant navigation of the tension between Israeli sovereignty and Diaspora pluralism.