IN THE WORDS OF RESEARCHER Ran Porat, relations between Israeli-born Jews in Australia and the local Jewish community have not always been a “love affair”.
During the 1960s and 1970s, most of the Israelis who arrived in Australia came as single men. Some were drifters or dreamers; looking for love, work or both. Many were “living on the periphery of the Jewish community,” Porat explains.
“They were youngsters and backpackers. A few were not always engaged with the right side of the law.”
“Local Jews carried on these negative attitudes towards the Yordim [Israel-born Jewish emigrants, traditionally viewed poorly by other Israelis].”
And while the profile of these ‘Ausraelis’ has changed, a new report written by Porat for the Monash University’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (ACJC) indicates that relations remain lukewarm.
As many as one in five (20%) of Ausraelis experienced difficulties with “discrimination from the Jewish community” since migrating to Australia. That’s the joint highest among Jewish migrants surveyed (the ACJC’s landmark Gen17 Australian Jewish community survey from 2017 forms the basis of the data included in the report).
When asked how connected they feel to Jewish communal life, almost a quarter of Israel-born Jews indicated they are either ‘somewhat’ or ‘very unconnected’ – the highest proportion in the Gen17 survey based on country of birth.
One in five (20%) consider belonging to a Jewish community as either ‘very unimportant’ or ‘fairly unimportant’ to a sense of a Jewish identity.
Despite the clear gap, Porat sees progress. He points out that since Gen08 (Gen17’s predecessor from 2008) was conducted, the percentage of Israel-born Jews who feel ‘very’ or ‘somewhat connected’ to Australian Jewish community has increased by 10% to 64%.
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“There is more understanding from the Jewish community, and I praise them for that. And more understanding from the Israelis.”
A migrant from Israel, Porat appreciates why. “I think many initially thought, ‘What do I need from the Jewish community?’ But overtime that’s changed. You now see more interactivity and more connectivity between the two.”
While the findings regarding attitudes towards the wider Jewish community will arouse great interest, the rest of the report offers important discoveries about Israeli-born Jews in Australia; their demographics, attitudes, perceptions and experiences.
What emerges is a picture of a complex migrant community. One with contradictions and paradoxes: Jewish but forgoing synagogues and rituals; Zionist but highly critical of Israel; Economically advantaged but challenged by financial insecurity; Living close to other Jews but on the periphery.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS, using data from the 2016 Australian census, show that Ausraelis, once a small slither of Australian Jewry, now represent a growing percentage of the total Australian Jewish population. They number somewhere between 7,000-9,300 residents or around 5.8% and 7.7%. Since the 2000s they have accounted for the largest cohort of Jewish immigrants to Australia – overtaking South Africans in 2010.
Their settlement patterns correlate with the rest of the Australian Jewish population: most (85%) live in either Victoria and New South Wales. In Victoria close to 80% live within the City of Glen Eira – the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community.
In NSW they are more geographically dispersed, but many also choose to live within reach of Sydney’s Jewish eastern suburbs: Rose Bay, Vaucluse and North Bondi.
By many socio-economic indicators, Ausraelis are doing well.
hey are highly educated: 36% have completed at least a university bachelor’s degree – more than double the Australian population (16%). They outperform the Australian population in income: 40% earn a weekly income of over $1000, which is 15% higher than the equivalent figure within the Australian population.
In terms of occupational status, 20.8% are professionals and 13.4% managers, compared to 10.1% and 5.9% respectively in the wider Australian population.
Attitudinally, Ausraelis relate to Israel much like a beloved family member whose failings are well known.
Three quarters (76%) consider themselves Zionist, three quarters (76%) keep up with news and events in Israel, and the vast number (86%) feel a sense of responsibility to ensure that the State of Israel continues to exist.
Yet they are also more critical of Israeli democracy and its treatment of non-Jewish citizens than their Australian Jewish counterpart (surveyed in Gen17). Around 71% believe there is too much corruption in Israel’s political system (compared with 46%) and 52% believe non-Jews in Israel suffer discrimination (compared with 35%).
Ausraelis read news about Israel, the good and the bad. They are not afraid that if you criticise Israel it will break. 'We own it and we want to make it better.'
Porat stresses this finding is not surprising. “There’s no contradiction between being Zionist and these views. Israelis, the first generation at least, don’t have the filter (for connecting with Israel). They read news about Israel, the good and the bad.
“We are not afraid that if you criticise Israel it will break. We own it and we want to make it better.”
Their migration experience has not been without challenges. When asked about the difficulties faced by since their arrival in Australia: 40% noted difficulties with the English language; 30% nominated “Finding suitable employment”; and 29% In adequate income.
Financial insecurity is also an emerging theme. The report notes a minor decline in the feeling of economic security over the 10 years between Gen08 and Gen17. A slightly higher percentage of Israel-born Jews reported that they are ‘just getting along’ in the Gen17 survey (22%) than in the earlier Gen08 survey (17%), and a 5% fall was recorded in the portion of Israel-born Jews indicating that they are ‘living very comfortably’.
“A migrant will always face difficulties,” Porat explains. “If there were no difficulties recorded then there is something wrong with the reporting.”
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RAN PORAT’S OWN MIGRATION STORY mirrors that of the Ausraelis he studies. In 2008 Porat, his wife and two young daughters packed up the family’s belongings and flew to Australia. The couple, then in their mid-30s, left good jobs, family and friends.
They had never visited Australia – let alone lived there – but they knew they wanted out of Israel.
“We understood we were heading towards a very specific trajectory, a very ordinary type of life. We wanted to change our lifestyle. We wanted to avoid the same regular patterns and expectations,” Porat explains.
“We didn’t connect with the social structure around us. And Australia was the most feasible alternative.”
Unlike generations of yordim before them, they didn’t face outrage. Quite the opposite.
“People were saying, ‘Oh how I envy you. Take me with you. Get me a visa to Australia.’
“Our family were shocked at first, but they quickly came around.”
The Porats landed at Melbourne airport on a gloomy day. They had a handful of contacts but no friends, no jobs and little idea of what awaited them.
“I had never driven on the other side of the road or with the steering wheel on the right-hand side,” Porat laughs, as he remembers that exciting arrival.
“And there I was driving down the freeway in the pouring rain headed for Oakleigh (in Melbourne’s south-east).”
Their early years brought all the usual trials: finding a job, choosing an area to settle and mastering English.
Affable and good-humoured, Porat quickly secured a research opportunity: a PhD on the Israel-born Jewish experience in Australia at Monash University’s ACJC – with a full academic scholarship.
In the 12 years since, he’s become an established expert on Ausraelis (a term for Israel-born Jews he coined through his scholarship), co-founded Ausraelim (one of several online hubs for the Israeli community in Australia) and is one of several de-facto voices for the Israeli community in Australia.
Porat also teaches at the University of Melbourne and writes research articles for pro-Israel lobby group, the Australian Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC).
Meanwhile his three daughters (the third born in Australia) reflect the paradoxes of the diasporic experience. “The child who was born in Israel, and spent her earliest years there, has the least interest in Hebrew or her Israeli background.
“And the one who was born here, she speaks the best Hebrew and shows the most interest.”
Porat says an Ausraeli identity can last one, perhaps two generations – but no more. “My perception is that in a faraway place, like Australia or Canada, you may raise kids to affiliate with Israel. But they will never be Israelis.”
“If you don’t keep kids in a ghetto, they will wander off.”
Porat is grateful for the opportunities afforded by leaving Israel for Australia. “I love Israel, the people and it’s a wonderful place – to visit. It’s a much more difficult place to live there.
“I don’t regret coming here. I would do it all over again. “
Illustration: John Kron
