Published: 12 November 2025
Last updated: 12 November 2025
The language of decolonisation has become central to contemporary debates about identity and power. In activist and academic circles, it is invoked to dismantle colonial narratives and restore indigenous voices.
Yet it is often applied through a binary lens of oppressor versus oppressed which is a problematic framework when applied to the Jewish people. The Jewish return to our ancestral homeland is frequently mischaracterised as colonial, rather than recognised as the restoration of a people to their historic home.
To address this distortion, as Jews we must decolonise our own identity, reclaiming who we are at the deepest level. For centuries, Diaspora Jews have been described through compound or national identifiers: Australian Jews, Polish Jews, Moroccan Jews, American Jews. These descriptors tell the story of migration, but they also reinforce the idea that Jewish identity is disconnected from Israel.
Our truest identity is not Polish, Russian, or Moroccan. It is Israelite. We are the descendants of those who spoke Hebrew in Judea, built the Temple in Jerusalem, and carried the covenant across millennia of exile. Every dispersion since has been displacement, often caused by external forces or colonial conquest.
While the term “Israelite” captures our historical and ancestral roots, the modern term “Israeli” is commonly understood as a citizen of the modern State of Israel. We propose that Diaspora Jews can also adopt it culturally in order to assert continuity with our ancestors, even if we do not hold citizenship. This distinction allows for a dual recognition; Indigenous Israeli as heritage, Israeli citizen as a legal status.
Saying “I am Israeli” reclaims continuity and recentres the Jewish story in the place where it began
Comments7
Nerrida19 November at 11:13 pm
Beautiful argument. However, for those of us who are proud of Jewish Ancestors who fought for Australia since the 1880s, I would be ashamed to drop that connection. There is pride in telling how disproportionately Australian Jews aquitted themselves and how well we integrate when we migrate. We lay wreaths on Rememberance Day, not as Israeli’s. We still celebrate Jewish yomtovim and not all Israeli’s do.
Abraham Mizrahi18 November at 07:26 am
Perhaps the term HEBREW עברי Would be a better term to use. After all we were Hebrews before we became Jewish.
Excellent article.כול הכבוד
Dan18 November at 12:47 am
A significant amount of practicing Jews are converts or children/grandchildren of converts. Obviously these people are not “indigenous to Israel” even if the religion that they practice originated there.
After all you don’t seriously believe Ivanka Trump is indigenous to Israel do you?
This kind of argument only appeals to the most ardent Zionists.
David Jackson15 November at 04:15 am
Thought provoking. Personally I identify as Australian, atheist Jew, who believes in Israel as a Jewish homeland. If antisemitism/zionism became intolerable I have considered relocation to Israel. I don’t identify as a displaced Israeli, but your concept, argument has merit. It requires further consideration.
Cathie15 November at 12:55 am
I found this clear, well-written article very useful for my continuing education, as a non-Jewish Australian, in the incredible richness of Jewish self-understanding, especially in the context of historical, religious and ideological framings. I appreciate this use of the term “decolonization”, in this particular project, considering the often ahistorical and inaccurate ways in which it has been pressed into questionable service elsewhere. Thanks for this helpful article.
Delwyn Cameron14 November at 01:40 pm
A really interesting angle on Jewish identity and the notion that it is our Homeland whether born there or not. I love this reframing Hava.
Ayelet Rinon13 November at 04:26 am
What a refreshing, thoughtful and well written article, this kind of self reflection is so important and inspiring, thank you and yeshar koach!