What do you mean Israelis don't come from a western traditon? half the population emigrated from western Europe. Plus, israeli law is half based on British and American law.what does this mean?
My apologies for my lack of clarity. Israelis have a Middle Eastern culture and approach to life, which lacks the separation and classification that we are used to in the United States.
Ya, the tradition aspect is very important. More than half of the country is sephardic, who, though are not orthodox, tend to be very traditional with Judaism.
I think that #3 is an element of #2 for sephardim. They care about tradition and many today don't necessarily practice the halakhic strictures, yet attend Orthodox synagogues because of #3. (And perhaps a strong feeling of community and unity. Minority groups within minority groups don't have room for separation.)
If you're in Israel why do need Conservative and Reform? To meet other Jews?
Jacob,
Putting aside our differences, I think you would agree that there are many Jews in Israel who ideologically fit much better with Conservative or Reform Judaism than Orthodoxy. The paradox is that neither CJ or RJ have made significant inroads with those populations in Israel.
It's not just Israel. You can ask why the non-Orthodox streams haven't made major in-roads anywhere outside North America. In most of the world, just like in Israel, the majority of Jews are either secular or traditional/selectively practicing, but inasmuch as they affiliate, it is to Orthodoxy, and when they go to shul it's an Orthodox shul.
I think the answer is related to the "tradition" argument, but is less of a positive "caring about tradition" and more a negative "uncomfortable with something unfamiliar."
By default, most Jews (whether Israeli or American or whatever) go to the same kind of shul their parents went to, regardless of what they believe. They choose a shul based on what practice "feels authentic," not theology or ideology. And very few Israelis have Reform or Conservative Judaism in their backgrounds.
Conservative Judaism started in North America, and the vast majority of Israelis are of European or Middle Eastern background.
Reform Judaism was in Europe for decades before the founding of Israel, but it was anti-zionist. Therefore, those Reformniks who were serious about Reform ideology wouldn't have moved to Israel. And those who chose Reform because they wanted a way to fit into mainstream society while keeping their Jewish identities no longer needed Reform Judaism once they moved to Israel--their Israeli citizenship served that purpose.
Of course not everybody goes to the shul their parents attended, and for that reason both the Masorti and Reform movements (especially Reform) are growing.
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