Intergenerational Family Solidarity as a Migration Compass

Abstract

Incorporating contemporary theories of Aliyah (Jewish migration to Israel) by English speakers and family intergenerational solidarity, this article compares the perspective of older women who immigrated to Israel accompanied by their families with representatives of organizational stakeholders: paid professionals as well as volunteers. The textual corpus of 14 episodic interviews conducted in two Israeli cities has been analyzed using the method of descending hierarchical clustering. The resulting four clusters focus on information, family, friends, and language-related challenges, in the opposition of public sphere (Clusters 1 and 4) versus private sphere (Clusters 2 and 3). The privileged condition of family solidarity contributes to the migrants’ abilities to overcome the difficulties, buffering them from migration-related stress. The findings are discussed in the light of a theoretical compass model of intergenerational Aliyah.