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We examine the effects of an adult member's religious difference and geographic distance on intergenerational family continuity, using the case example of American Jewish mothers with daughters who became Orthodox and moved to Israel. Using qualitative data from a focus group with 6 women who became Orthodox and moved to Israel and separate interviews with 14 Israeli American daughters and their 14 respective American mothers, we found that initially mothers were negative about their daughters' religiosity but positive about their moves to Israel. Over time, mothers became more positive or ambivalent about their daughters' religiosity but more negative or ambivalent about their immigration. The religious difference and distance helped daughters separate and individuate. Despite feelings of loss, mothers maintained intergenerational family continuity.
Key Words: Family, immigration, intergenerational continuity, mother-daughter relationships, religion.
Although families are inclined to maintain intergenerational solidarity and continuity (Harootyan & Bengtston, 1994), under some circumstances, linkages between parents and their adult children are threatened. For instance, young adults who make lifestyle decisions that increase the ideological or geographic distance between themselves and their parents are likely to arouse tension in the family (e.g., Grinberg & Grinberg, 1989; Kaufman, 1991). Using the strategic case example of mothers and daughters where the daughters intensify their commitment to Judaism and move from the United States to Israel, we explored the effects of religious and geographic divisions on intergenerational family continuity and describe how families cope with the associated tension.
We use the term intergenerational family continuity to refer to sustained emotional involvement and contact and the perpetuation of values and traditions passed on by the older generation to younger ones. The desire to maintain consistency and connection with patterns of the past is fundamental to individual adult development (Atchley, 1999), as well as to the maintenance of ties between generations. During less mobile eras, families maintained continuity by living in the same neighborhood or vicinity, retaining the family's farm, business, or residence, and remaining in the same religion or religious tradition (cf. Elder, Rudkin, & Conger, 1995). Intergenerational continuity also can be viewed in relation to a cultural group. Accordingly, the term "Jewish continuity" refers to the perpetuation of the Jewish religion, people, and values and is exemplified by affiliation with Jewish religious...