Migration plays a crucial role in the evolution of human society and its events. According to the United Nations’ 2018 report (published in 2020), there are approximately 272 million immigrants worldwide, with almost two-thirds of them being defined as “migrant workers.” Immigration is especially significant in Israel, where 3.3 million immigrants have arrived since its formation, with 44.6% immigrating since 1990 (The Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021). The migration of individuals and groups, whether by choice or necessity, has shaped the course of history and resulted in both conflictual and harmonious encounters. The emphasis on subjectivity in Migration Studies has brought attention to the personal and psychological aspect of the immigration experience, viewed as a reflection of the identity crisis not just for immigrants, but for all modern individuals (who “were exiled” from their childhood).
In recent decades, Migration Studies has gained momentum partly due to political transformations leading to migration waves. However, the majority of research in this relatively new discipline focuses on the social sciences with the aim of informing policy, rather than the humanities. When humanities-based research is conducted in this field, it is often focused on the present or recent past.
The four PIs of In Between: Traces of Migration group propose a unique approach to Migration Studies. On one hand, they view migration as an ongoing movement, even after it appears to have ended. This dynamic perspective differs from traditional Migration Studies, as immigration is seen as a vector with ongoing consequences for both the immigrants and the culture in which they are absorbed. On the other hand, they also perceive immigration as both a fracture and a potential, offering an opportunity for growth and development rather than just being a source of trauma.
The research group aims to advance Migration Studies and make changes to its conventions, with three primary objectives:
- Strengthen Migration Studies in Israeli academia and place the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the forefront;
- Promote a symbiotic relationship between the humanities and social sciences in this field, providing a sustainable model for the discipline as a whole;
- Establish a series of humanities-based studies to explore immigration in the distant and ancient past, particularly in fields traditionally studied in Jewish Studies, and examine the connection between present immigration and migration processes in the past.
Research Team:
- Prof. Maya Benish-Weisman, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare
- Prof. Noam Mizrahi, Department of Bible
- Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat, Institute of Archaeology
- Prof. Giddon Ticotsky, Department of Hebrew Literature
- Rishona Fine, Folklore Studies
- Avraham Mashiach, Institute of Archaeology
- Ido Nitzan Malcior, Department of Hebrew Literature
- Ward Awad, Department of Genral and Comperitive Literature
"In Between: Traces of Migration" Full Research Proposal
