Unity and diversity: Jewish identification in America and Israel 1990-2000

Introduced within a background of literature on Diaspora and majority society, this study compares Jewish identification in the United States and Israel and how differences and similarities evolved over the period 1990-2000. Four databases are used, two for American Jews and two for Israeli Jews, which were given common denominators and merged into one file. American and Israeli Jews perceive very similarly the structure of Jewish identification. However, there are substantial differences in the levels of Jewish identification. These are mainly salient in ongoing observances and religious belief but are less meaningful for intermittent rituals and voluntary work. Over time, and more significandy after controlling for ethnic composition and education, these differences have narrowed or even totally disappeared. This is further supported by logistic regression according to which the United States and Israel are alternately associated with higher and lower levels of Jewish identification.