Multiple ethnic identities among MENA origin Jews in Paris: Native-born and immigrants compared
Mon, December 16, 10:30am to 12:00pm EST (10:30am to 12:00pm EST), Virtual Zoom Room 18Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare native-born and immigrant Jewish people from North African origins (first and second generations) who reside in greater Paris, regarding their multiple identities: Ethnic-religious, as Jewish people; national, as French citizens; transnational, with other countries, as "citizens of the world," primarily with Israel. This study employed the correlative quantitative method using survey questionnaires (N = 145) combined with qualitative semi-structured interviews.
The main findings indicate that both groups have strong Jewish and religious identities. However, while immigrants had fewer opportunities for upward mobility and were more committed to national integration, the younger second-generation have higher socio-economic status and more choices regarding their identities in contemporary France. In conclusion, even among people of the same North African origin, there are inter-generational differences in several dimensions of identity and identification which stem from being native-born or from their experience as immigrants. Different social and political circumstances offer new integration opportunities and thus, over the years, dynamically construct identities among Jewish people as minorities. Nonetheless, the Jewish community in Paris is not passive; it has its own strength, cohesiveness, vitality and resilience which are expressed not only in economic but also in social and religious prosperity of Jewish organizations shared by both the native-born and immigrants, who can be considered a "privileged" minority.