Our Jewishness and the Jewishness of Israelis

Judaism PeoplehoodReligion

Jewish streams in Israel

Ultra- Orthodox ReligiousTraditionalSecular: non- anti-religion Secular: anti- religion

Not keeping at allKeeping some Mitzvot Keeping many MitzvotKeeping all the Mitzvot Secular: anti-religion Ultra-Orthodox How much do you keep Mitzvot?

Secular - חילוני Most of them don’t keep Mitzvot (Kashrut, Shabbat…) As seen before, the seculars can be divided to “anti-religion” (usually atheists), and “non- anti-religion”.

Excerpt from: "The New Discovery of the Secular Believer." (Daliah Shehori. Haaretz 12/9/02) When they took part in a study on Jewish identity, students at Ruppin College came up with a term to describe themselves: "secular believer." Most of them—91 percent— defined themselves as secular, and 10 percent of this group described themselves as "anti-religious secular." Just seven percent of those taking part in the study described themselves as traditional, and two percent as national religious. Nevertheless, the study indicated that beneath the secular veneer lies a craving for tradition and religion, if not exactly as Orthodox Jews would understand it. Instead they seek a traditional religious life that is open and liberal—a live-and-let-live Judaism, a post-modern approach that accepts any expression of Jewish identity....

The term "secular believer" may sound like an oxymoron. On the one hand secular, on the other believing in God, religion, tradition. Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz and Hadar Franco conducted the study and both are aware of the apparent contradiction. They emphasize that the concept was proposed by those taking part and must be further explored by additional research. Still, Kopelowitz and Franco say this is an authentic, correct category that has been lacking in public discourse. It is a category that responds to the needs of a very large population of educated secular young people. They want to define themselves as complete Jews with a world view of their own that is not derived from religious or ultra-Orthodox Judaism, and is independent of both. By this conception, tradition should serve as a source of strength, not a nuisance and not coercion.

The Reform and Conservative movements The Reform and conservative movements in Israel will usually consider themselves as seculars. The Reform movement has about 35 congregations. The Conservative movement has about 50 congregations.

US Jews for comparison: 37% consider themselves secular (“only cultural Jewish identity) 60% consider themselves religious (keeping the Torah and the Mitzvot). This number include most of the reform and conservative Jews, that although not keeping most of the Mitzvot still consider themselves religious.

Is being a secular Jew in Israel different than being a secular Jew in the US?

Traditional - מסורתי About half keep Mitzvot, and half don’t. Religious– דתי Keeps all the Mitzvot, but is not Ultra- Orthodox Similar to the Orthodox stream in US

Ultra-Orthodox - חרדי Part 1: Part 2: T7Q&feature=related

IsraeliJewishAshkenazi / SephardicThe way I keep the tradition (religious/ secular) What defines your identity in the best way?

Percentage of answering “important” and “very important” to the question how much it is important to follow the following traditions: Marriage with a Rabbi Bat Mitzva (for females) Bar Mitzva (for males) Burial by the Jewish tradition Saying Kadish when a parent dies Sitting Shiv’a Brit Mila

How much are the Jewish holidays important to you and you celebrate them? Celebrate Jewish holidays by the tradition Having a Passover Seder Celebrate Shavu’ot traditionally Read the Megilah in Purim Don’t eat Hametz in Passover Light candles on Chanukah Fast in Yom Kippur

“Strongly Believe” or “almost always believe” in: There is a God There is a reward for good deeds There is a higher power that guides the world There is punishment for bad deeds Prayer can help a person go out from a bad situation The Jewish people are the chosen people The Torah and Mitzvot are God’s will There is life after death The Messiah will come Jew who does not keep the Mitzvot endangers all the Jewish nation

Jewish connections in the US Percent Half or more of close friends are Jewish 52 Hold/attend Passover Seder 67 Light Chanukah candles 72 Fast on Yom Kippur 59 Light Shabbat candles 28 Keep kosher at home 21 Attend Jewish religious service monthly or more 27 Belong to synagogue 46 Belong to JCC21 Belong to other Jewish organization 28 Volunteer under Jewish auspices25 Participate in adult Jewish education24

Visited Israel 35 Visited Israel two or more times20 Contribute to federation campaign 30 Contribute to Jewish cause (not federation) 41 Read Jewish newspaper/magazine 65 Read books with Jewish content55 Listen to tape, CD, record with Jewish content 45 Watch movie with Jewish content 44 Use Internet for Jewish purposes 39 Regard being Jewish as very important 52

Is a man Jew if he is… Feels Jewish but his parents are not Jewish Was born to a Jewish father and a non- Jewish mother Converted with a non- Orthodox Rabbi Converted by the Rabbinate but doesn’t keep the Mitzvot

Relationship between Israel and the Diaspora Jews in Israel and the Diaspora have the same fate Feels part of the Jewish people of the world The Jewish people in Israel are a different people than the Jewish people abroad