Ontological Bubbles in Israel

ONTOLOGICAL BUBBLES: HOW ISRAEL TRIES TO AVOID THE “UKRAINIAN VIRUS”

Over the past year, I’ve been closely following an intriguing societal experiment – the Haifa Format project. My observations of Dor Moria NGO’s sociological research, participation in expert discussions, and analysis of these findings reveal a fascinating pattern in Israeli society.

Igor Kaminnik, Executive Director of Dor Moria NGO, emphasizes: “When we launched the Haifa Format project in 2017, our primary goal was to prevent Ukraine’s scenario of controlled chaos from repeating in Israel. Unfortunately, our research shows that technologies for creating and amplifying social divisions are actively being deployed in Israel. Our mission became stopping the spread of this ‘Ukrainian virus’ that destroys both society and state.”

“Ukraine disregarded its geography, history, and demographics, leading to the destruction of both society and state. This serves as a crucial lesson for Israel,” Kaminnik notes.

Rabbi Michael Finkel and Igor Kaminik in the Expert Discussion (Photo courtesy of Dor Moriah organization and allowed for publication)

In response, Dor Moria conducted 12 sociological studies during 2023-2024, partnering with Israel’s leading sociological institutes, Maagar Mochot and Geocartography, to examine critical issues dividing Israeli society.

Scientific Hypothesis in Plain English

Lola Kolpina, PhD a sociologist at Haifa University and Dor Moria’s research director, explains their work through the “Ontological Bubble” hypothesis: “This model helps understand the dynamics and root causes of hate speech, societal polarization, and the consequences of such bubbles forming in society.”

In modern Israel, as in many societies, we observe a compelling phenomenon: complex founding ideas suddenly transform into simplified confrontations. This process, termed the “ontological bubble,” demands attention.

Consider Israel’s founding story: originally a complex interweaving of secular Zionism and religious tradition. Today, we hear only extremes: “Israel must be completely secular” or “Israel must become a theocracy.” Where did the nuances go?

The mechanism is both simple and complex: People first isolate themselves in information cocoons, hearing only agreeable opinions. Simplified fragments of complex narratives form simplified worldviews. Their adherents begin seeing opponents not as fellow citizens with different views but as existential enemies. The world divides into “us” and “them,” with all shades of gray disappearing.

The most dangerous aspect is emotional dependency. People start deriving pleasure not from seeking truth but from confirming their rightness and others’ wrongness. “It’s like an addiction: the more you take, the stronger the dependency becomes,” Kaminnik explains.

“Understanding this mechanism is the first step toward overcoming it. The challenge is that existing information technologies can’t stop the ontological bubble’s development. Any information, even peaceful, only intensifies confrontation between these simplified worldviews,” Kaminnik emphasizes.

In October 2024, a comprehensive study confirmed their hypothesis about the formation of an ontological bubble in Israel.

ANATOMY OF DIVISION: SIX DIMENSIONS OF ISRAELI SOCIETY

To understand the depth of social rifts in Israel, researchers developed a unique measurement methodology. Instead of simple “yes/no” polls, they asked respondents to rate their positions on a ten-point scale across six key dimensions:

1. State Character: Halachic State ↔ Secular State
2. State Structure: One State-Two Peoples ↔ Two States-Two Peoples
3. Geopolitical Orientation: Collective West ↔ Global South
4. State Mission: Unique Global Mission ↔ No Special Mission
5. Ideological Foundation: Religious Zionism ↔ Secular Zionism
6. National Identity: Chosen People ↔ One of Ancient Peoples

Roy Jankelowitz and Sonya Gogolev (Photo Courtesy Dor Moriah)

CHOSEN PEOPLE WITH A SPECIAL MISSION

On October 30, 2024, Dor Moria experts, including myself, gathered in Tel Aviv to discuss the study’s findings. The results were striking:

The concept of “chosenness” emerged as the cornerstone of Israeli self-identification:

– 42.4% strongly support the “chosen people” concept

– Over 60% support it to varying degrees

– Only 16.5% strongly favor the “one of many ancient peoples” position

– The topic shows the highest emotional engagement at 58.9%

Israel’s unique mission emerged as the second pillar of Israeli self-identification:

– 45.8% emotional engagement level

– 38.1% fully agree with Israel’s unique mission

– 7.6% categorically deny it

The Roundatable (Courtesy Dor Moriah)

TWO WORLDS IN ONE COUNTRY

The study employed comprehensive analysis of the data, breaking six dichotomies into 12 narratives and conducting:

– Factor analysis for hidden variables

– Correlation analysis for interconnections

– Regression analysis for socio-demographic influences

Two opposing narrative sets emerged:

Religious Narrative:

Religious Israelis see their country primarily as a Halachic state – not just a country but the embodiment of divine will. Research shows strong correlations: stronger belief in chosenness correlates with stronger support for Torah-based governance.

Secular Narrative:

Secular Israelis envision a modern democratic state with separation of religion and politics, supporting two states for two peoples and viewing Jewish identity as historical rather than religious.

Participant Insights

Aaron Cohen, Executive Director of Support Israel, sees positive potential: “The report unites people. While showing divisions, it proposes unifying Israel through economics and technology.”

Aaron Cohen and Sonya Gogolev (Courtesy Dor Moriah)

Rabbi Michael Finkel, Chairman of the Shalom Schwarzbard Foundation, notes: “Recognizing social division risks is the first step toward prevention. Israel is learning from others’ mistakes to avoid repeating them.”

Israel’s Geopolitical Positioning: Survey Results and Expert Analysis

Key Survey Findings:

– 54.7% of Israelis acknowledge the ongoing conflict between the West and Global South

– 40% believe in Israel’s potential as a bridge between Western and Southern hemispheres

– 70% recognize a connection between the Russia-Ukraine conflict and West-South tensions

– 42% see links between the Hamas war and global West-South confrontation, while 35% disagree

Discussing the research findings at the roundtable (Courtesy :Dor Moriah)

Expert Commentary by Aaron Cohen:

“Today’s economic landscape is rapidly evolving toward a monopolistic model, with three major corporations controlling 90% of American wealth. We’re approaching a pivotal transition to a digital currency system, which will likely intensify this monopolization.

Aaron Cohen (Courtesy : Dor Moriah)

Israel’s potential as a bridge between civilizations is evident. My international experience across Europe, the United States, and Latin America reveals varying global perceptions of Israel. However, monopolistic capitalism, which maintains control over both U.S. and Israeli media, will likely resist this bridging role.

The concept of uniting Abrahamic covenant nations to forge a peaceful economic future holds promise. Yet, this initiative requires careful strategic planning, considering the resistance from global monopolies and their ‘divide and conquer’ tactics.”