How Jews Populated Spain After 70 CE

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                      

                Sea Traders During King Solomon Days

• Trade routes: The Iberian Peninsula was a key destination on Phoenician trade routes, and there's a belief that Judeans, particularly under the reign of King Solomon (961-920 BCE) , were involved in some capacity with Iberian trade, potentially through Phoenician connections.

The Roman Republic began its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, later known as Hispania, in 218 BCE during the Second Punic War against Carthage. While the Romans had some prior knowledge of the peninsula, their formal involvement and territorial expansion began with the landing of Roman troops in Emporion (modern Empúries). A few Israelites (Judeans) may have been included with the soldiers.

• The earliest documented presence of Jewish communities in Iberia (Spain and Portugal) dates back to the Roman period, starting in the first centuries CE, possibly including some who came after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Josephus goes on to report that after the Romans killed the armed and elderly Jewish people of Jerusalem, 97,000 were enslaved.

The dispersal of Jews to Spain after 70 CE wasn't a single deciding factor or organized migration but rather a combination of circumstances, including:  Enslavement and deportation: Roman forces, under Vespasian (69-79 CE)  and is son, Titus (79-81 CE), after the defeat of Judea, enslaved thousands of Jews and transported them to various parts of the Roman Empire, with some ending up in Hispania.  Spain, as a part of the Roman Empire, offered a potential destination for resettlement.Existing Jewish Communities: There is evidence of a Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula even before 70 CE, likely due to trade and earlier migrations. These existing communities could have provided support and a destination for those displaced after the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, the movement of Jews from Jerusalem to Spain after 70 CE was a result of the traumatic events of the Jewish-Roman wars, including forced displacement and voluntary migration, and the existence of established Jewish communities in the Iberian Peninsula that offered a potential haven for those seeking a new home in the diaspora.  

But the Jews aren’t done. The Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE)  had enough of the Jews’ stubborn refusal to maintain a distinct identity. So he turned the screws, passing laws suppressing various religious expressions. (There are Christian martyrs who were killed in this period as the law considered Christianity a sect of Judaism.) Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem as the colony Aelia Capitolina, and banned Jews from entering. (This ban is continued through the Byzantine period.)

The year 711 was most important.  (Is that why gamblers call for come on-7/11?)  In 711 CE, the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula marked a significant turning point for the Jewish population of the region. Far from causing problems, this event brought about a period of relative relief and opportunity for Jews living under the harsh rule of the Visigoths. 

Before the Muslim conquest, Jews in the Iberian Peninsula faced increasing persecution under the Visigothic kings who had converted to Catholicism. This persecution included: Forced conversions and expulsions: Jews were mandated to either accept baptism or be expelled from the kingdom, with many choosing to leave for North Africa or Gaul.  Restrictions and discriminatory laws: The Visigothic code placed limitations on Jewish life, including prohibitions on intermarriage, owning Christian slaves, and holding public office.Confiscation of property and enslavement: At one point, all Jews were condemned to slavery, their possessions confiscated, and their children were taken from them to be raised as Christians. 

The arrival of the Muslims was seen by many Jews as a liberation from this oppressive environment. They actively supported the Muslim invaders, providing assistance in administering conquered territories and even garrisoning captured cities. Under Muslim rule, which became known as al-Andalus, Jews were granted the status of "dhimmis," or protected people. While this status meant they were still considered secondary to Muslims, it guaranteed them the freedom to practice their religion, manage their own affairs, and participate in various occupations, including trade, finance, and scholarship. 

This period is often referred to as a "Golden Age" for Jews in Spain, characterized by a flourishing of Jewish culture, intellectual life, and economic prosperity. Why Islam notes notes that this period brought Jews "nearly instant relief from the persecutions, harassment, and humiliation that they endured under hostile Christian rule". Many Jews from other parts of Europe and the Middle East migrated to al-Andalus, contributing to a vibrant and diverse Jewish community.  

Therefore, the year 711 and the subsequent Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula did not cause problems for Jews in living in Iberia; rather, it ushered in a period of relative tolerance and opportunity, especially compared to the preceding Visigothic rule.                                         

Rambam is the acronym for Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides. He was a prominent 12th-century Jewish philosopher, legal scholar, and physician. He lived from 1138 to 1204 and is considered one of the most influential figures in Jewish history. 

He left Cordova where he was born at age 13 (1151)  to escape the Almohade Persecutions and went to North Africa where he wandered and reached Palestine in1165, all the time writing, such as technical terms of logic as well as establishing thelist of 613 Precepts or Laws, as I call it.  He found Palestine in a mess, still recoveringfrom the Crusades, so his family went to Egypt.  At first he lived by trading in jewels together with his brother, David, but after David died in1170, he became the physicianto the viceroy of Egypt.  Moses Maimon died at 70 and was buried in Tiberias.  

• After 1492's Spanish ban on Jews, they moved to Portugal and were allowed there for a few more year before they were banned by the Pope.  

 Archaeological finds like a 1st-century amphora in Ibiza with Hebrew characters indicate potential trade between Judea and the Balearic Islands.  Ibiza is a Spanish island located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is part of the Balearic Islands archipelago, and is situated to the west of the other main Balearic islands, Mallorca and Menorca, according to Tickets Ibiza. Specifically, Ibiza lies approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) off the coast of Valencia, Spain.  

Literary sources, such as Paul the Apostle's stated intention to travel to Spain, hint at the possibility of existing Jewish communities in the region during the mid-1st century CE.                                                     

                                             Sephardi Jew in Israel of Today

                                                               

Sephardic Jews:The Jewish communities in Spain, known as Sephardic Jews, later flourished, particularly during the period of Al-Andalus (Muslim-ruled Iberia). The era of Al-Andalus, especially the period under the Umayyad caliphate of Cordoba, is considered the Golden Age of Judaism in Spain.  (During 10th Century it was the capital of the Western Caliphate and was the center of activity of Hasdai Ibn Shaprut. Hasdai ibn Shaprut, also known as Abu Yusuf ben Yitzhak ben Ezra, was a Jewish scholar, physician, diplomat, and patron of science in medieval al-Andalus. He served as a minister at the court of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III of Córdoba, where he was responsible for foreign affairs and diplomacy.   Moses ben Enoch established there the 1st talmudic college in Spain in 972 CE.  

     Jews leaving Spain in 1492

During this time, Jewish communities in Spain achieved significant social, economic, and cultural prominence, producing notable scholars, poets, and thinkers. Despite their contributions, Spanish Jews faced expulsion due to the Pope in 1492, marking a tragic end to their flourishing in Spain. 

• Al-Andalus refers to the historical period and territory of Muslim-ruled Iberia, spanning from 711 to 1492. It was a significant cultural and intellectual center during the Middle Ages, known for its unique blend of Islamic and Iberian cultures.     Middle aged Jews found it hard to leave their homes, businesses, and some Jews became  Marranos, or hidden Jews.  Today we call them Anusim, as theother word means "pig".  Many have returned to Judaism.                                   
• 

                                          Sephardic Jews in 1875

Spain has indeed taken steps to acknowledge and address the expulsion of Jews from its territory in 1492. In 2015, the Spanish Parliament passed a law offering a pathway to Spanish citizenship for descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled during the Spanish Inquisition. This law was enacted to compensate for the historical injustices faced by this community.  However, the application period for this specific law ended on October 1, 2019.

 Requirements and Process for Spanish citizenship (under the expired law)Applicants under the original law were required to meet certain criteria, including:

• Demonstrating their Sephardic status through various means, such as certificates from recognized Jewish communities or rabbinical authorities, proof of using Ladino or Haketia (Judeo-Spanish languages), and evidence linking their surnames to Sephardic lineage.
• Showing a special connection to Spain, which could include certificates of Spanish history and culture studies, knowledge of Ladino or Haketia, inclusion in lists of Sephardic families historically protected by Spain, or engaging in activities benefiting Spanish persons or institutions.
• Passing tests on basic Spanish language (DELE A2 or higher) and knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and social and cultural reality (CCSE). There were exceptions for those from Spanish-speaking countries, minors, and those with modified legal capacity.
• Presenting a birth certificate and a criminal record check.
• Paying an application fee, initially 100 Euros. 

The application process involved online registration, document submission, a notary act, and a final resolution by the General Directorate of Registries and Notary Services. 

Challenges and criticisms

While the law aimed to rectify historical injustices, it faced some criticism:

• The requirement for applicants to demonstrate a special connection to Spain was sometimes seen as difficult for those who had been disconnected from their heritage for centuries.
• The comparison between the expulsion of Jews and Muslims during the Inquisition was also a point of debate, with some historians noting key differences.
• Fraudulent applications have also emerged as an issue, leading to investigations and rejection of suspicious cases. 

• Resource:

https://www.hotels.com/go/spain/salinas-beach-ibiza

https://balcellsgroup.com/requirements-sephardic-jew-citizenship/#:~:text=First%20of%20all%2C%20the%20applicant,recognized%20in%20the%20residence%20country.

The Era of the Sanhedrin and Its Rabbis In Updated Judaism, Part II

 Nadene Goldfoot

Judea:  47 BCE                     

• Battle at Mount Tabor in Judea: Roman troops, commanded by Gabinius, defeat the forces of Alexander, son of Aristobulus II of Judea, who is attempting to re-establish Judean independence. Some 10,000 Jews die at the hands of the Romans. 
• 
  
• Ever making improvements in keeping up with time, Rabbi Hillel the Elder was born in the 1st century BCE but some time before Jesus.  He was a scholar and founder of the school known as the "House of Hillel" and ancestor of a dynasty of patriarchs which held office until the 5th century.  Hillel was born in Babylonia in a family that was taken as slaves there in 597 and again in 586 BCE from Judah by King Nebuchadnezzer.  He was able to move to Palestine and was a manual labor worker while a student with the famous teachers, Shemaiah and Avialyon or Avtalion.
  
• The basic form of the rabbi developed in the Pharisaic (167 BCE – 73 CE) and Talmudic (70–640 CE) eras, when learned teachers assembled to codify Judaism's written and oral laws (Sanhedrin). The title "rabbi" was first used in the first century CE.
• 
               King Herod the Great (73 BCE-4 BCE), killer of his own family...killer of many.... 
• King of Judea, son of Antipater the Idumean by his Nabatean wife, Cypros, appointed governor of Galilee by his father, and immediately executed dissidents.
  
  As to Herod's family line, Idumea was also on the land that Simeon was given by Joshua. Simeon was surrounded by Judah.   Nabatea was on the land of Moab. Moab was on the eastern side of the Dead Sea.  So Herod was not Jewish by birth but by living in Judah.  No doubt he lacked any preliminary education on Jewish thought.   He was a product of Rome.  
• 
  
•  For this Herod was brought up by the Sanhedrin and saved from a death decree himself by Hyrcanus and Sextus Caesar, governor of Syria.  During his escapades he had fled to Rome and was appointed king of Judea by the Roman Senate. 
• 
  
•  He captured Jerusalem in 37 CE with the help of a large Roman force.  Earlier that year he had married Mariamne, granddaughter of the high priest, a Cohen, Hyrcanus.  Herod received a free hand in internal affairs, but was stopped from conducting an independent foreign policy.  The people were attached to the Hasmonean rulers, their own people and dynasty, so he did a lot of suppressing his opposition, most likely a lot of killing, his style in solving issues. 
• Because of Palace intrigues, he put to death his wife, Mariamne, their 2 sons Alexander and Aristobulus, and in the end, his firstborn, Antipater, who was his son by his 1st wife, Doris in 5 BCE.  Herod killed his own sons Alexander and Aristobulus in 7 BCE  and Antipater was to succeed him but on discovering a plot to poison him, Herod ordered Antipater's execution 5 days before his own death.     
    
• They lived in the troubled times of Herod's reign.  Shammai foresaw the dangers of Roman hegemony and therefore enacted many rules intended to keep the Jews from mixing with the heathen.  He took a rigorous point of view in moral and religious matters, while at the same time,  being of a friendly nature, teaching "receive everyone graciously."

His school of Shemaiah/Shammai was famous for its disputes with the School of Hillel.  Shammai himself differed on only 3 points with Hillel.  Very few halakhic teachings have survived in his name.  Shammai is possibly identical with the Pharisee Sameas who rallied the Sanhedrin against Herod's attempt at intimidation in 47 BCE.

                      Hillel, born in Babylonia in 1st century BCE

Hillel became a great scholar, working his way with  his school upward and was appointed president of the Sanhedrin, a body of 71 scholars who were the Supreme Court of their day.  At the same time, he had made a friend who was his ideological opponent named Shammai who was his debate partner.  They were the last of the pairs, called Zugot, of scholars in Debate, which was very popular at the time.  As partners, Hillel was noted for his humility and tendency to leniency.  What did they debate about?  Points in the Torah and the extended additional pages making up the Tanakh or Bible. The Sanhedrin ended before the end of the 4th century CE.  The thought was there to revive it in 1948, but dismissed.  

 The two men differed in their decisions only on a few halakhot;  their schools ("House of Hillel) and "House of Shammai") diverged in many instances, but legal practice ultimately went in almost all cases according to the decision of the House of Hillel who laid down 7 rules of bible interpretation.  Many stories illustrate his virtues and he is credited with the authorship in its negative form of the so-called GOLDEN  RULE which is:  "Do not do unto others that which you would not have them do unto you."    Today on many campuses, we have a Hillel House for Jewish students.  It was said to many people who wanted to know about Judaism while standing on one foot; who wanted a very short synopsis about our religion in how it was different from other religions like Christianity.  Added to this quip was "and all the rest is commentary."  It is the heart of Judaism. Hillel may have been called Rabbi Hillel.  

Aluf (General) Simeon Bar Kokhba, born  in Modiin, home of the Hashmoneans and 1st scene of Mattathias's rebellion against the officials of Antiochus Epiphanes.  Today, a burning torch is carried to Jerusalem from Modiin each Hannukah by relay runners. They are 22 miles apart.   

By the year 132-135, Aluf Bar Kokhba (Simeon ben Kokhba) had stepped up with his army to take back Jerusalem which he did for these 3 years, then was killed in battle.  He was the nephew of Rabbi Eleazar of Modiin and of Davidic descent, meaning he was a Cohen.  He led the revolt against Hadrian, said to be the Messiah for doing this, but not taken seriously.  The revolt came about because Romans were rebuilding Jerusalem differently as a Roman colony;  the prohibition of circumcision, with feelings against the Romans fermenting for a long time.  Romans came after them with army of 35,000 under Hadrian and Julius Severus.  Judaea fell into desolation;  population was annihilated, Jerusalem became a heathen city, barred to Jews.  Bar Kokhba had fought for 3 years against the best and largest army in the world.  

Rabbi Rashi (Rabbi Solomon Yitzhaki ben Isaac (1040-1105) came along over a thousand years later in France with new insights. He had to do his studying in the Rhineland but returned to his native Troyes where his school rapidly achieved a wide reputation.  He earned his livelihood from his vineyard while teaching in his school.  His chief contribution to Judaism was his lucid commentary on the Bible and Babylonian talmud.  The commentary on the bible, particularly the Torah (5 books of Moses)  became universally popular, while his notes on the Babylonian Talmud were responsible for making that writing like  an open book.  

His style was simple and concise, and his object, to present the direct rational meaning of the text, nevertheless the popularity of his commentary on the Torah can be partly attributed to the admixture of Midrash.  His commentary on the entire Talmud  made several outstanding contributions.  His commentaries served as the basis for later scholars such as Nahmanides and Ibn Ezra in their interpretation of the Torah.  

Rabbis of the 1st century CE

• Shimon ben Gamliel (Gamaliel) (the Elder), was a sage and served as the nasi of the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. (c. 10 BCE–70 CE), was grandson of Hillel.  He corresponded with Jewish communities in Palestine and the Diaspora and framed several regulations at social improvements.  He wanted a better legal position for women.  

Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1164) scholar and poet, born in Spain, until 1140, journeyed visiting Italy, France, England, and maybe even Palestine; wrote in Hebrew, biblical commentary, close to biblical criticism.  A Hebrew grammarian of importance, translated works from Arabic.  A scientist and author of several studies on astrology in which he firmly believed. 

Maimonides (Maimon ben Joseph)(1110-1165) scholar, father of of Maimonides, born in Cordova, Spain, author of Arabic commentary on the Bible, left Spain in 1148 because of persecution.

Abraham ben Moses ben Maimon (1186-1237) son of Moses Maimonides,  Court physician to Sultan Alkamil, wrote encyclopedic work on Judaism--and commentaries on the Torah, the Talmud and his father's books.  Acted as Nagid of Egyptian Jewry, in succession to his father, he issued ordinances to strengthen the community.  

Nahmanides (Moses ben Nahman) (Rambam)  very well known Rabbi, (1194-1270) a Rabbi in Gerona -Aragon, Spain; his range of knowldge was unrivaled in his day. Known as the foremost Spanish talmudist.  He was opposed to the study of philosophy, athough not to Maimonides.

• Yohanan ben Zakkai (1st century CE) 1st-century sage in Judea, key to the development of the Mishnah, the first Jewish sage attributed the title of rabbi in the Mishnah.The Mishnah was the legal codification containing the core of the Oral 
• Law.  It was compiled by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi on the basis of previous 
• collections and arranged logically, divided into 6 Orders dealing primarily
• with 1. the religious laws pertaining to agricultures and  2.  dealing 
• with the laws of Sabbath, festivals, etc and 3. dealing with the laws of 
• marriage and divorce and vows; 4.  treating of civil and criminal 
• legislation, 5. describing the laws regulating ritual slaughter, sacrifices 
• and consecrated objects, and the 6th laws of ceremonial purity.  Orders 
• are divided into tractates, and tractates are divided into chapters, that are 
• divided into mishnayyot.  It's amazingly well-organized.  
• 
  
• 
  

How A Religious Jew Differs From A Religious Christian

 Nadene Goldfoot                                          

 Today's religious Jew, caught in the middle of prayer in the war, already wearing his tefillin (phylacterics)-2 small black boxes containing small scrolls of parchment upon which are written 4 Biblical passages.  The leather straps, the boxes and the parchment are all made from kosher animals.  The writing must be handwritten by a scribe.  Tefillin is not worn on the Sabbath.  He's managing.    

The word "religious" is the crux of what I'm talking about.  Of course we know that Judaism differs from Christianity in that Christianity is about Jesus and Judaism isn't.

To begin with, Judaism broke away from all people's faiths in the very beginning of time when Abraham devoted himself to One G-d, whereas the world was full of the polytheistic faiths, gods imitating people living in their own space and time. There were temples to all sorts of gods, even in India, and still are.

To enter into the Jewish family, and it did start with a family, the family of Jacob whose name was changed eventually to Israel, a boy baby is circumcized on its 8th day.  When that same boy is 13, he is bar mitzvahed.  A bar mitzvah is the compilation of several years of study of Hebrew reading that may even include writing as well, and the study of their religious history.  It is recognized with a performance on a Saturday (Shabbat) morning with a party that includes a lot of treats.  Girls have now entered into this since females are pushing to be equals in the whole world these days, even as soldiers, and they have what is called at bat mitzvah;  bar meaning male and bat meaning female.  We have become an Endogamous people, marrying people that carry some of our own genes from hundreds of years earlier being from the same genetic line.   Marrying outside the faith is, however, becoming more common, a reflection on the whole change of social attitudes for all.    As a rule, it is not strengthening Judaism. 

We noted when I grew up in Portland,  that our Jewish boys would leave their public school and board a bus to go to their Hebrew school at 3:30pm while the Chinese boys would do the same and go to their Chinese school.  Both were conditioned to learning.  

                                In prayer outside, soldier in Israel

They have practiced ritual acts of wearing tefillin and tzitzit, having a mezuzah near their door and why, what that stands for.  Since ancient days, they pronounce passages from the Torah-specifically from Deuteronomy (5 books of Moses found in Old testament) which are the basis for the observance of the 2 unique Jewish symbols that testify to the eternal Covenant between G-d and Israel. 

Both capsule-sized reminders of the entire Torah which the Jew is bidden to observe.   The mezuzah is placed on the doorpost, and the religious Jew may have one posted on all their doorposts inside as well as outside the house.                                        

  Hear O Israel the Lord is our God the Lord is One.  And you shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might....And these words which I command you this day...bind them as a sign on your hand and as a symbol (frontlets) between your eyes, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.                

According to Maimonides/ Rambam (1135-1204) , born in Cordova, Spain, a great teacher of ours, said that those who look upon the mezuzah as an amulet, a lucky charm for the household, are ignorant.  "Those fools not only fail to fulfill the mitzvah itself, but they have taken a great mitzvah, which involves the Oneness of g-d and the reminder to love Him and worship Him, and treat it as though it were an amulet designed to benefit them personally...."  (Hil.Mezuzah: 5:4)  The Rambam was escaping with his family at age 13 from Spain during the Almohade Persecutions, wandering in North Africa till they reached Palestine in 1165. 

Because of the persecutions that Rambam saw or was in, in the words of Maimonides, who is seen as the most successful synthesizer of medieval Judaism and the Islamic world, “God has entangled us with this people, the nation of Ishmael, who treat us so prejudicially and who legislate our harm and hatred…. No nation has ever arisen more harmful than they, nor has anyone done more to humiliate us, degrade us, and consolidate hatred against us.”  Actually later, Muslim countries treated Jews better than the Western countries did, though placing us as 2nd class citizens or Dhimmis with rules and regulations.  

                           Chassidic rabbi praying in Ukraine

 You can also add that our religious Jews have either suffered because of being Jewish or had ancestors who did and somehow have felt their pain.  Rambam did a great deal of writing throughout his life, establishing our 613 precepts or laws of Judaism.  That's why we know there were more than the first 10 that Moses brought to his awaiting people, that he would keep on writing more.  At least most of the 613 are things we normally do anyway without any prodding.  

The purpose of being a Christian is mainly to be saved when they die .  They expect the saying that they believe in Jesus to be saving them so that they will go to heaven.  They have elevated this son of Joseph, the carpenter in Bethlehem as the son of G-d.  Jews believe that we all, all people are sons of G-d.  

The Jew has no such worries such as placing their sins on another's back.  They know each of them is responsible for themselves and so throughout their life, try their best to accumulate mitzvot, good deeds.  They can be thought of as being weighed on a scale and hope they outweigh their sins.  Whatever g-d plans for as to their after they die is up to G-d.  We Jews have enough to worry about while living and how we behave.  

      Bethlehem, skyline is Judea-Samaria

Today we have many orthodox or religious Jews moving into Judea and Samaria.  Why?  Actually there can be 2 reasons.  

1. Finding a dwelling in Israel proper is difficult; a home such as a westerner knows does not exist except in Judea and Samaria in some sections.  

2.  Israel started in Judah.  This is history with Jacob and the family where he had 12 sons, each one claiming territory through Joshua in Eretz Yisrael.  Jerusalem was built by king David in Judah.  The other 11 tribes were spread out throughout the rest.  When king Solomon-David's son died, Jeroboam stepped forward and was pronounced king-so the land was then divided into a Civil War.  Samaria became their capital.  The land around it was also called Samaria later.  So we have today, Judea and Samaria which are called by Jordan as the West Bank.  

Orthodox Jews should be very much into our Jewish history as well as our holidays created for remembering so many of our near-deaths as well as what G-d decreed.  They've been raised since birth to be participants with the Jewish people.  I find that most are raised in a home with the highest expectations of education.  

Today, with some groups, not enough of that education is spreading out to what our history has been in the past 100 years or so.  When I hear of religious Jews not participating in the IDF, I feel most disappointed.  Our religious historically did a lot of soldiering.  Our numbers call for it.  How can any man feel they can allow another to take the risks they deny themselves?  On the other hand, we don't want to see our smartest young men wasted in war, either, when they are so capable of doing such important things other than fighting.   I wish no one had to go into the service.  There are many orthodox or religious Jews in the IDF today.   

In the USA, we have 3 political parties;  Republicans, Democrats and Independents.   Religious should not be involved according to the  constitution.            

Israel was created for Jews who had been the scapegoat of the world long enough; causing the explosion of Zionism and what prayers 3 times a day were saying;  the return to their own land of Israel.  

In Israel, there are even the Political -Religious parties of conservative Sephardi (Ladino)and Mizrahi(Middle Eastern) and Haredi (consists of groups within Orthodox Judaism that are characterized by their strict adherence to halakha (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to modern values and practices. Its members are usually referred to as ultra-Orthodox in English; however, the term "ultra-Orthodox" is considered pejorative by many of its adherents, who prefer terms like strictly Orthodox or Haredi    interests;  After all, the country is created as a Jewish country/haven, just as it was thousands of years ago only updated today to meet modern needs.  Jews have been returning from all over the world and come with their particular language and style of devotion to Judaism.  There's also religious zionism, conservatism, Ashkenazi haredi and haredi non-zionism.

Judaism differs from Christianity in so many ways anyway, like the Sabbath "Shabbat" being from sunset Friday night to Saturday night at the appearance of 3 stars; a special meal on a Friday night in honor of the Sabbath, lighting candles and saying a special prayer before that;  things many of Jews do without feeling they are orthodox;  just Jews; but the more orthodox do eat Kosher food, for sure, meaning only certain meats are allowed, specific qualifications for the food.  

Resource:

Edit: 1/6/23

To Be a Jew, by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Israel