Categorization, Proletarianization and Exclusion: The Two Generations of the Immigrant Middle Eastern Jews

Abstract

In its general framework, this study focuses on the Jews who immigrated from the Middle Eastern countries in the early years of Israel's foundation, starting from 1948. These immigrants who came to Israel in these years had difficulties in their living conditions and remained in the lower strata of the society compared to the European Jews who arrived earlier or immigrated after the Holocaust. Although it has been studied extensively in the literature, the emphasis has been the cultural roots of the social exclusion. In this study, both the continuity of the situation and the political and economic dimensions of it are examined.