Enterprise, Innovation, and Everyday Essentials: The Impact of Russian-Speaking Repatriants on Israel's Economy

The Labor, Bourgeois, Sausage, Crimean, Golden, Baguette, Coffee, Suitcase, Pumpkin, Yeke, IKEA, Protest, and Military aliyahs—these are all monikers bestowed by Israelis upon the various waves of repatriation to Israel.

It is widely recognized that the technical and mathematical expertise brought by Russian-speaking immigrants during the Great Aliyah of the 1990s was instrumental in shaping Israel's identity as a "startup and high-tech nation."

The latest episode of "Jewish Discourse" explores the history of the Law of Return to Eretz Yisrael and examines the specific contributions of Russian-speaking repatriates to the development of the State of Israel.

This episode is longer than usual and is divided into two parts. The first part features a discussion with economist Dmitry Maryasis.

The second part features a conversation with political sociologist Professor Ze'ev Khanin, focusing on how the state regulation of repatriation to Israel has itself become a subject of intense domestic political debate.