Judaism in Israel Israel is the birthplace of Judaism, the most ancient of the world’s three predominant monotheistic faiths. Israel is the place of all of Judaism’s myriad holy and historic sites, including Jerusalem, the Temple Mount (the site of Judaism’s First and Second Temples as documented in the Bible), and Hebron. In particular, Jerusalem is historically the heart of Jewish life, having been the religious center and capitol city of the Jewish people singularly, extending from the present all the way back to the times of King David. As such, Israel and Judaism are eternally and inexorably bound and inseparable. Today, Jewish society in Israel is made up of observant and non-observant Jews, ranging from the ultra-Orthodox to those who regard themselves as secular. However, the differences between them are not necessarily clear-cut. If Orthodoxy is determined by the degree of adherence to Jewish religious laws and practices, then 20% of Israeli Jews fulfill all religious principles, while 60% follow some combination of the laws according to personal choices and ethnic traditions, and 20% are essentially non-observant. Israel was conceived as a Jewish state, and therefore the Sabbath (Saturday) and all Jewish festivals and holy days have been instituted as national holidays and are adhered to by all. For example, the Sabbath (the weekly day of rest) on Saturday is marked in Israel with most people spending the day with family and friends. Public transport is suspended, businesses are closed, essential services are at skeleton-staff strength, and leave is granted to as many soldiers as possible.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 02:01:22 +0000
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