[gershy]

Israeli culture is roughly jewish + middle-eastern culture. American jews have jewish + american culture. American jews would find they read the exact same prayers as israeli jews, can immediately feel comfortable in synagogue; relate to israeli jews in terms of values and religion and desire for a homeland on the mediterranean coast, but would be shocked by, e.g., the middle-eastern-style haggling in israeli markets, the directness of israelis, etc. The judaism is the overlap, otherwise very different.

[hardbass]

Yes without doubt, obviously a person from NY would have a different culture than a person from Haifa or whatever. I think I misread you on that.