There is a huge divide between religious and secular Israelis. There is no news there. However, there is something special about being a secular Jew in Israel that I think is unappreciated by both the secular Israelis and Jews around the world.
In the United States, if I Jewish child is not raised to have a Jewish identity, that child will be a lost cause as far as religion is concerned. I grew up in a very Reform Jewish home, but being Jewish was always a big part of my life. In that atmosphere, it was easy to find the deeper meaning in religious observance. My friends who grew up as Jews without religion, however, are a different story. I have many Jewish friends who do no Jewish observance (including high holidays). They will undoubtedly marry a non-Jew. They will have non-Jewish children. That part of the Jewish world is dying out. The only thing that has brought some of them back is a combination of Birthright and Chabad on Campus.
What makes secular Israelis different? They still feel Jewish. They still, without realizing it, have Jewish observance in their lives. While they might not be in shul on Yom Kippur, they are still honoring the holiday. While they might go out for drinks on Friday night, they are generally taking Shabbos off from work. While it might not be a big priority in their mind, they will most likely marry Jewish. They will have Jewish kids. They will grow up in a Jewish society.
So, the next time you look down on a non-religious Israeli for not fasting on Yom Kippur, remember that they are still keeping it Jewish. Roller blading down an empty street might not seem religious, but there is something special about it.
