[jjotto]

The author is misleading in his portrayal of how welcome religious Jews were in the State of Israel. The founders of the State of Israel were mostly socialists and communists who were anti-religious, so much so that the Soviet Union endorsed the new state, assuming it would be a Soviet ally.

[SJackson]

The Soviets were wrong, and Orthodox Jews were welcome.

[SJackson]

Leaving aside those Orthodox who were opposed to the creation of the State of Israel, I think a major factor was ones comfort level winthin the community. While not insulated from the growing antisemitic tendency of late 19th and early 20th century, Observant Jews may well have felt a greater sense of community, coupled with a sense of isolation, than many secular Jews. Many of the wealthy and politically connected were late to the party too, those that could fleeing to the west.

[rmlew]

You are falling for leftist propoganda. Labour Zionists sought to write Liberal/General Zionism, Revisionist Zionism, and Religious Zionism out of existence
. Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer preceded modern liberal Zionism by 2 generations.