The ‘symbolic homeland’ in the Jewish Italian Diaspora: the celebration of civil religion in Italy

In this article, the attitudes of the Italian Jewish diaspora towards Israel, seen as a symbolic homeland, are analyzed. This analysis is based on the theoretical discourse on diaspora. Attitudes are explored through the participation of Italian Jews in the celebration of Yom ha atzma’ut. Given the significance of Israel’s Independence Day in the sequence of the three-day civil religious commemoration in Israel – which constitutes a sort of national narrative – the entire sequence is also considered in the analysis of the Italian diaspora