The Role of Community and Social Responsibility in Bridging the Digital Divide: From a Diasporic Perspective

This study aims to explore the role and social responsibility of communities in bridging the digital divide in a rapidly evolving digital era.To this end, it examines the characteristics and roles of digital communities from a traditional diasporic perspective.It analyzes how communities experience exclusion or new forms of connection within digital society.The findings reveal that digital communities are evolving into networked communities that transcend physical boundaries and engage people with diverse backgrounds and interests.Beyond simply receiving information, they function as active agents that reinterpret and reconstruct technology, and create new social relationships and solidarity through interaction and collaboration.These characteristics parallel the historical Jewish diaspora experience in terms of identity preservation, social responsibility, solidarity, and ethical practice.Ethical principles such as tzedakah (the practice of justice) and tikkun olam (restoration and responsibility) provide a foundation for modern digital communities to fulfill roles such as supporting vulnerable populations, protecting the environment, upholding human rights, promoting intergenerational solidarity, and passing down community values.The study suggests that digital communities can serve as active agents, not only consuming information but also embracing cultural diversity and generational differences, building trust and cooperation through emotional empathy and ethical leadership.This provides a practical and theoretical basis for bridging the digital divide, creating an inclusive society, and strengthening community resilience.Future research should focus on how this diasporic community model can be implemented and institutionalized across fields such as social welfare, education, faith, and culture to develop practical strategies for building sustainable communities.