The Place of Elites and Primary Groups in the Absorption of New Immigrants in Israel

The tempo and direction of adaptation of new immigrants in Israel is to a large extent dependent on the transformation of their primary groups. The relations between the primary groups and the new social and cultural system are mediated by elites which combine in their positions authority and (extended) primary relations. The elites interpret and communicate the ultimate social values and serve as symbols of security and identification with th social system. The extent of the immigrants' identification and participation within the new society is dependent on the degree of their attachment to the elites and the elites' compatibility with the general orientations of the social system.