Jewish religious parties in Israel: Ideology, electorate, organization

After tracing a brief historical genealogy of Jewish Orthodoxy, this article focuses on the Jewish religious parties that currently account for about one-fifth of parliamentary representation in the Knesset. These parties, which differ from each other in certain ways, are nevertheless characterized by three features: an ideological aim of Judaization of society or the state; a specific electorate; and a particular mode of organization with an important role played by rabbis. Defending a holistic vision of religion, the supporters of these parties do not fully accept the pluralism inherent in democracy.