Young Italian jews in Israel, and back: Voices from a generation (1945-1953)

Abstract

This chapter discusses how a generation of young Italian Jews was able to reinsert Italian Jewry into broader Jewish currents and political developments after World War II, with reference to Zionism and the choice of settling in a kibbutz. First, the external and foreign influences that led some of these youngsters to found Hechalutz-an autonomous, Italian youth movement-are discussed. Secondly, internal dynamics are examined, based on the exchanges between the groups that were still in Italy preparing for immigration and those already in Israel. Relying upon hitherto unpublished sources and a large number of interviews, this chapter draws a portrait of the post-war generation through their own written and oral testimonies and discusses its ambiguous legacy concerning the relationship with the State of Israel and immigration.