Tehila Kalagy

This article examines the relationships between religious groups in Israel, focusing on the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) and religious Zionist communities, by analyzing their perceptions of collective narratives and social identities. The study seeks to frame how religious groups with a common foundation develop mechanisms of exclusion and separation. The qualitative methodology was based on 11 focus groups including 128 participants from both streams, with participants recruited using the “snowball” method due to challenges in accessing closed communities. The findings reveal a unique relationship pattern defined as “restrained mutual demonization,” in which both groups develop mechanisms of exclusion and distance while granting minimal legitimacy to each other. Three central points of contention emerged between the groups: the relationship to the state and its institutions, the attitude towards Torah study versus military service, and the relationship to modernity. The study sheds new light on the complex relationships between the two societies and offers important insights into the dynamics between religious groups with a partially shared foundation but competing cultural identities.