Together Yet Different: Characteristics and Current Issues of Israel’s Religious and Ethnic Communities

The Coexistence of Diversity and Tension in Today’s Israeli Society

Joseph Kwon (Editorial Board Member)

Israel is a mosaic society formed by diverse ethnic and religious communities from all over the world.

Each group has its own history, language, faith, and culture, and although they live within the same country, they maintain different identities, different worldviews, and different frameworks of life.

Therefore, understanding Israeli society—and discerning the gospel needs of each people group and community—requires an accurate understanding of these “people who live together yet remain different.”

Religious Jews

The category of Jews who can be considered “religious” is extremely broad—from loosely traditional Jews (who wear a kippah) to the strictest ultra-Orthodox communities (who wear black suits and hats).Judaism is not a single stream but a collection of many traditions—Breslov, Chabad, Karaites, and more—each with its own customs and dress.

Numbers shift after the recent war, but according to recent surveys, among Israeli Jews aged 20 and above, about 20–30% are traditional, 13% are religious, and 13–14% are ultra-Orthodox (Israel Democracy Institute, 2024).

In other words, about 50% of Israel’s Jewish population is Orthodox or religious.Because of their high birthrate, their influence on society is even greater.

They live according to rabbinic tradition (the Oral Law, Mishnah, and Gemara), but interpretations and customs vary sharply by group. Many sincerely desire to love God and His Word, yet in practice they study the Talmud more than the Bible and often follow rabbinic tradition blindly, even when it has little connection to the teachings of Scripture.This Oral Law becomes a major stumbling block, and many rabbis view the Talmud as having greater authority than the Bible.

In this community, Yeshua (Jesus) is considered a cursed name, and following Him is viewed as a severe betrayal.Those from Orthodox backgrounds who come to faith in Yeshua often face deep rejection and separation from family and community.

Most ultra-Orthodox Jews receive welfare benefits and exemption from military service. Many secular and traditional Jews feel they are carrying the economic and military burden of the nation, leading to rising resentment.Ultra-Orthodox groups also wield significant political power, influencing many areas of national life according to rabbinic regulations.

Secular Jews (Lesage, K., & Smerkovich, M. 2025, March 26)

For most of modern Israeli history, secular Jews made up the overwhelming majority. Thus, Israeli society, politics, and economy began largely from secular, socialist values.However, birthrates and demographic shifts have gradually changed the population balance. In some surveys, fully secular Jews now account for around 40% (Ynet News, 2010, May 12).

In Hebrew, becoming religious after being secular is described as “returning to the answers,” a phrase equivalent to “repenting.”Conversely, leaving a religious community is called “returning to the questions.”

Many secular Jews are strongly atheistic.The Holocaust left entire generations with deep doubt and confusion about God’s existence.Many kibbutzim and collective farms across Israel were founded on atheistic, socialist ideals, with some banning references to God entirely.

Passover may be observed merely as a spring festival or family tradition, with no belief in God’s act of salvation.With the rise of high-tech and scientific culture, many hold a position of intellectual skepticism rather than active hostility toward God. Others are simply agnostic.

Tel Aviv, in particular, is known as Israel’s economic hub, a global center of leisure, and an LGBT capital.Many in this group are drawn to New Age spirituality—reincarnation, karma, and various “spiritual paths.”A large portion of Israel’s secular middle class falls into this category.

Most secular Jews still practice Jewish holidays and the Friday Shabbat meal.But much like Westerners celebrating Christmas culturally, these traditions do not necessarily involve belief in God.Even though the public education system includes the Bible and Israel’s history, God remains a distant figure to most secular Jews.

Nevertheless, hostility toward Jewish believers in Jesus still exists even in highly secular families.It is not uncommon for atheist parents to call a rabbi to persuade their child to stop believing in Yeshua.

Immigrant Jews

Israel is, in essence, a nation of immigrants.The largest immigrant group is Russian-speaking Jews from the former Soviet Union.After the USSR collapsed in 1991, more than one million Russian-speaking Jews immigrated to Israel. Earlier waves from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union had already shaped Israeli society.Many Hebrew loanwords have Russian origins.

These immigrants include those with a Christian cultural background as well as Jews whose traditions had weakened due to Communist oppression.Russian Jews tend to be less religious, and many families are mixed or multi-ethnic due to intermarriage in the former Soviet states.

A large portion of Israel’s Jewish believers in Jesus come from Russian-speaking congregations.However, many Russian immigrant families struggle with generational gaps—parents speaking Russian, children speaking Hebrew—and issues of youth drifting into drugs or a lifestyle of searching.

The second-largest immigrant group is Ethiopian Jews.Through secret operations (Operation Moses, Operation Solomon), thousands of Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel.But cultural differences, lifestyle gaps, and racism made their integration extremely challenging.

In particular, some Orthodox groups discriminate against Ethiopian Jews, claiming they lack knowledge of major medieval rabbinic traditions and requiring “re-education.”Nevertheless, there is a growing Ethiopian Messianic Jewish community. Most first-generation believers worship in Amharic, while second and third generations worship in Hebrew and are beginning to take on strong leadership roles in Israeli Jewish-Christian circles.

Jews from Other Countries

There are also Jews from India, Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia.Interestingly, more than half of Israelis are of Middle Eastern or Muslim-country origin (Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, etc.).They retain cultural traditions from their regions of origin and often speak both Hebrew and their original languages.

Arab Christians

About 20% of Israel’s population is Arab.Of these, around 80% are Muslim and 20% are Christian.But it is more accurate to describe them as a collection of various ethnic groups who speak Arabic as their primary language.

DNA studies show that many Palestinians share significant genetic overlap with Jews—likely due to Jewish populations who converted to Islam during the medieval Arab conquests.

Legally, Arabs in Israel have equal citizenship, but there are still disparities—Arabic was recently downgraded from an official language to a “special status” language, and Arab schools often receive lower budgets.

Nazareth is almost entirely Arab, and most Arab citizens live in northern Israel.In cities like Haifa, Jaffa, and Akko, Jews and Arabs live intermingled.In hospitals, universities, and buses, they interact daily.Many Arabs prefer a Palestinian identity, yet at the same time many appreciate the freedoms and quality of life that come with Israeli citizenship.

Most Arab Christians are cultural Christians—Catholic, Maronite, Armenian, and other traditional churches.Those who read the Bible and follow Jesus in faith are a very small minority.

Across Israel and Palestine combined, it is estimated that only about 5,000 evangelical Arab Christians exist.Arab Christians in Israel are a minority (Arabs) within a minority (Christians) within a minority (evangelicals), making it extremely difficult to maintain their faith.

Muslims and Other Groups

Muslims in Israel are highly diverse, ranging from extremists to very liberal Muslims.There are peaceful communities such as Circassians and Ahmadis, as well as formal, traditional, and culturally Muslim groups.Most Muslims report being content living within the State of Israel.They are concentrated mainly in the northern region, with Nazareth known as the “capital of Arab Israelis.”

East Jerusalem Arabs

Before the 1967 war, they were part of Palestine under Jordanian rule. After the war, their territory came under Israeli administration.They are not Israeli citizens but permanent residents, usually without citizenship in any state. They hold Israeli residency cards, and their passports list them as residents of Jerusalem.They number around 350,000, and most are Muslim (Institute for Middle East Understanding, IMEU).

For them, the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock are central to their religious identity.They see themselves as guardians of the Islamic holy sites and have long been involved in the religious and political tensions surrounding Jerusalem (The iCenter, 2023, December).

Bedouin

The Bedouin are traditional nomads known for tents, camels, and hospitality.They are generally poor and have had very little exposure to the gospel.Most live in the southern desert. Although Israel offers urban settlement programs, many Bedouin still live in tents without electricity or running water.They maintain both Islamic culture and traditional Bedouin customs.Reaching Bedouin communities requires a completely different model of gospel ministry.

Druze

They speak Arabic but follow a unique religion that regards Jethro (the father-in-law of Moses) as a central figure. Their community is closed and secretive, and their sacred texts mix elements from the three major religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Interestingly, the Druze believe in reincarnation, and their writings reveal a worldview that blends ancient religions and philosophies.A distinctive characteristic of the Druze in Israel is their strong loyalty to the state. Many voluntarily serve in the Israeli military, and it is not uncommon for them to rise to high ranks. Although they traditionally live in Druze-majority villages, increasing numbers are studying and working in cities, participating in many spheres of Israeli society.Attempts have been made to share the gospel with the Druze, but visible fruit has been very limited.

Domari (Dom) Gypsies

Although they speak Arabic, they are neither Jewish nor Arab. They are believed to have originated in northwestern India and migrated to the Middle East during the medieval period as part of a larger Gypsy movement. Their language and culture preserve clear traces of their Indian roots.Domari communities exist in East Jerusalem and in several towns in northern Israel. Most live in poverty and marginalization, and they have a deep need for practical support and the love of Jesus.

Samaritans

This is a small and closed community of about 800 people living around Mount Gerizim.They follow only the Pentateuch and observe festivals such as Passover in ways very different from Jewish tradition.The gospel has had almost no exposure among them.

In this way, Israel contains an extraordinary variety of religious, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic groups. These communities remain distinct, yet they interact and influence one another within a dynamic social mosaic.Understanding, caring for, and praying for these groups is essential for the true spiritual restoration of Israel.

References

Israel Democracy Institute. (2024). Israel Democracy Institute. (https://en.idi.org.il/media/27532/idi-annual-statistical-report-on-haredi-society-2024.pdf)

Lesage, K., & Smerkovich, M. (2025, March 26). Pew Research Center. (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/26/4-facts-about-religious-switching-within-judaism-in-israel/)

Ynet News. (2010, May 12). Ynet News. (https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/3890330)

The iCenter. (2023, December). The iCenter. (https://theicenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Who-Are-The-Palestinians-1.pdf)

Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU). (n.d.) IMEU. (https://imeu.org/resources/palestine-101/quick-facts-east-jerusalem/107)