Israel is the only nation with a Jewish majority. But within that majority it is mainly secular. (Rosenthal, 222) This may seem paradoxical, and on some levels it is. But what can be said is that even with this seemingly strange setup, they are still Jews, and depending on their level of religiosity, act accordingly.
A few questions pop up. Why are they secular, and how can they still be Jews? Is being secular in a Jewish state against what Israel stands for? It is an odd situation, but for Israelis, it almost makes perfect sense.
The reason for the majority of Jewish Israelis being secular has much to do with its history. A large number of secular Jews emigrated before the foundation of the State, and with their socialist attitudes, helped found the modern state. They were more concerned with things like building cities than maintaining the Sabbath. It is their legacy (and sheer numbers) and helps continue this trend in Israel.
But how can they still be Jews? Where is the line drawn? Can you be "more Jewish" than others? To be Jewish, one must perform the rituals and commandments of the Bible. You do not need to actually believe in God and still be Jewish. So while they may not actively do these deeds, it is almost like the state subsidizes it for them. You cannot be in Israel and not see how it is Jewish. From Biblical symbols in the government to the presence of Hebrew, it's everywhere. (Rosenthal, 222) Religious men walking down the street, bus ads wishing people a happy (Jewish) holiday, or encounters with synagogues. It's obvious.
Apart from simply seeing it, one can feel Jewish and almost do nothing. (Rosenthal, 223) In the USA, if one is not actively Jewish, you risk assimilating for good. No one will prompt you about it, remind you a holiday is coming up, or invite you to go to temple on Saturday morning. But we cannot assume all secular Jews are passive to Judaism.
There are different "levels" of Judaism, just as there are divides in almost any religion (Catholics vs Protestants, Lutherans vs Baptists, Sunnis vs Sufi). It ranges from the most lenient Reform, moves onto the more Conservative movement, and finally enters the Orthodox. Yet even within the Orthodox there are many layers. And seemingly the deeper you enter Orthodoxy the more Jewish one is. If there is any way to "measure" one's Jewishness, consult how much they perform their rituals and commandments.
Yet many try to remain Jewish in creative ways. Communities organize reenactments for their children, not only to have fun but to teach them of their history and holidays. Another more common activity is a sort of "alternative service". In an age when it is too easy to lose track of many things, including one's religion, it is important to be ever more active, even if not in the traditional ways. Many of those who partake in the very loosely acted reenactments (we're not expecting the sets for "The Ten Commandments") and services feel that they are the in the middle of Judaism, and that the traditional ways of dividing the Jews (aside from backgrounds) do not apply. And their voice is spreading.
I used the Rosenthal book and a news article to help articulate my thoughts on Israel's secular majority. The book is very useful in giving a large general picture. The news article, although speaking about a particular event and thing, helps demonstrate how a particular group of secular Jews in Israel keep the religion. I find the article trustworthy and reliable since it deals with the material in the book well and only helps my point of view on the issue.
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