Israelis in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Israelis in the United Kingdom refers to citizens or residents of the United Kingdom
who were originally from Israel
.
and, in particular, the densely populated Jewish area of Golders Green
. The vast majority of Israeli Britons follow the Jewish faith. The most common languages amongst the Israeli British community are Hebrew
, Arabic
and British English
.
, a comedian, writer and Golden Globe-winning actor. His mother came from Israel.
cIn 2008, six Israelis were counted amongst the top 50 richest people in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List
, equal to the number of people born in the UK who made the top 50. They include Sammy
and Eyal Ofer
, who were listed as 15th with a total worth of £3.4 billion; Lev Leviev
(worth £2.5 billion); Benny Steinmetz; and brothers Eddie and Saul Zakai.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
who were originally from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Demographics
In 2001 Israel was the 68th most common birthplace for British residents; some 11,892 Israeli natives called the UK home. It is unknown how many British-born people are of Israeli descent, as this was not listed as a separate ethnic group in the 2001 Census (estimates vary from 7,000 to 70,000). The majority of Israelis in the UK live in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and, in particular, the densely populated Jewish area of Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...
. The vast majority of Israeli Britons follow the Jewish faith. The most common languages amongst the Israeli British community are Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and British English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
.
Contemporary Issues
Some Israelis expatriates in Europe complain of being excluded from the rest of the Jewish community. Only two percent of expats in Britain and France who responded to a survey said that they feel like part of the local Jewish community. Despite many Israelis claiming not to feel connected to other Jewish groups in the country, around 33% of those interviewed feel more attached to their faith than to the identity of Israeli, compared to 11% who identify less as Jews. A survey by JTA reported that the Israeli community in the UK had little involvement in the local Jewish community, even though they chose to live in predominantly Jewish areas. Israeli immigrants in the UK often complain of being discouraged by the "frosty" attitude of British Jews toward them. Yet at the same time, many Israelis in Britain are indifferent to the local Jewish community and reluctant to become part of it.Media
Alondon is London's main Hebrew-language magazine that caters primarily to the Israeli British community.Notables
One of the most notable British people of Israeli descent is Sacha Baron CohenSacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
, a comedian, writer and Golden Globe-winning actor. His mother came from Israel.
cIn 2008, six Israelis were counted amongst the top 50 richest people in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List
Sunday Times Rich List
The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement by British national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times since 1989...
, equal to the number of people born in the UK who made the top 50. They include Sammy
Sammy Ofer
Sammy Ofer KBE was a businessman, shipping tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in Israel, although most of his time he spent abroad, and managed his businesses from Monte Carlo in Monaco...
and Eyal Ofer
Ofer Brothers Group
The Ofer Group is an Israeli family shipping business owned by the Ofer family. The Ofer family owns one of the largest private shipping companies in the world....
, who were listed as 15th with a total worth of £3.4 billion; Lev Leviev
Lev Leviev
Lev Avnerovich Leviev is a Bukharian-Israeli billionaire businessman, with a net worth of roughly $1.5 billion following the 2008 global financial crisis. Leviev is one of the most prominent Mizrahi Jewish individuals in the world and has been a major philanthropist for Jewish causes in Eastern...
(worth £2.5 billion); Benny Steinmetz; and brothers Eddie and Saul Zakai.