Masortim and Masortiyut in Israel Worldviews, Discourse, and Cultural Trends

Key Findings:

This study focuses on the concept of Masorti (traditionalist) identity in contemporary Israel. It has recently become customary to speak of the four “tribes” that make up the entirety of Israeli society – the secular, the national religious, the ultra-Orthodox, and the Arab. This is a common oversight because Israeli Masortiyut is not organized as a group: it has no political representation, no educational stream, no recognized leadership, no declared vision, or other attributes that could define it as a sociological group in its own right. But ignoring Masortiyut and the Masortim causes us to overlook worthwhile options for strengthening the shared society in Israel. 

Although recent decades have seen a decline in the share of those who unequivocally define themselves as Masortim (only 19% of Israeli Jews), Masortiyut is flourishing as a secondary identity: the study shows that 45% of Israeli Jews self-identify as Masorti-secular, Masortireligious, and the like.

The study differentiates between Masortiyut as a new cultural-Jewish discourse and Masortim as people living traditional lifestyles without necessarily engaging in the intellectual discussions surrounding Masortiyut. The research is divided into two parts.

Part 1:

This section analyzes data on the Israeli Masortim, obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics and various surveys conducted by different organizations over the past decade. The findings reveal several important insights:

Declining Primary Identity: The percentage of Israelis who primarily identify themselves as "Masorti" has been decreasing over time. However, a significant number of Israelis are willing to identify as "Masorti" in its adjectival form (e.g., "Masorti-secular" or "Masorti-religious") when given the option.

Expanding Secondary Identity: While only 19% of Israeli Jews identify as "Masortim" (as a noun), approximately 45% are willing to identify with Masortiyut in its adjectival form as a secondary identity.

Changing Demographics: Initially associated with Mizrahiyut (Orientalness), Masorti identity is now embraced by non-Mizrahim, including Ashkenazim, Jews with mixed backgrounds, and those with roots in the Former Soviet Union, particularly when it is a secondary identity.

Diverse Religious Practices: Masortim exhibit significant heterogeneity in religious practice, with some aligning more with Orthodoxy and others towards secularism.

Jewish and Democratic State: Masortim strongly support the notion of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. For them, Judaism is not merely a religious category but also encompasses culture and heritage.

Pluralism and Freedom: Masortim demonstrate a pluralistic outlook, opposing coercion in religious matters and supporting both freedom of religion and freedom from religion for all citizens, including the secular and ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) communities.

Pragmatic Compromise: In situations of conflict, Masortim tend to prioritize pragmatic compromise over taking rigid, uncompromising stances.

Part 2:

This section explores Masortiyut as a cultural-ideological discourse for Israeli society as a whole, extending beyond the Mizrahi-Masorti discourse. It identifies three additional Masorti discourses that are emerging within the secular and Religious Zionist sectors. Together, these discourses create a complex web of Masorti discourse, influencing one another and contributing to the growth of Israel's Masorti sector. The study proposes four shared foundations underlying these Masorti discourses:

Porous Identity: Masorti identity is characterized by openness to new ideas and an ability to adapt and expand its boundaries, in contrast to the more rigid identities of strict secularism and Haredism.

Loyalty to Tradition: Masortim aspire to shape Jewish life in Israel through an ongoing dialogue with tradition.

Autonomy and Interpretation: Masorti individuals demonstrate loyalty to tradition while maintaining an autonomous approach, allowing them to choose elements of tradition relevant to contemporary times. They also engage in interpretation, enabling the extension of Jewish practices in a non-anachronistic manner.

Moderate Jewish Nationalism: Masorti discourse embraces Jewish nationalism and seeks to reconstruct the relationship between religion and nationality without subjugating one to the other.

The study concludes by discussing how this new Masortiyut could potentially strengthen Israel's shared society and rebuild relationships among its diverse tribes and sectors. The researchers express gratitude to various individuals and organizations that contributed to the study, enhancing its comprehensiveness and depth.