American Jews live a profound paradox: simultaneous devotion to two fundamentally incompatible belief systems - Judaism and Americanism. At their cores, these worldviews advance opposing models of authority and human worth - Judaism's hierarchical, divine mandate versus America's individualistic, contractual democracy rooted in natural law. Through comparative analysis of halakhic principles and American democratic ideals, this research reveals how this tension manifests in contemporary Jewish life, particularly around contentious issues like women's ordination, homosexuality, abortion rights, and religious observance. When religious obligations clash with egalitarian American principles, halakhic Jews face wrenching dilemmas, while non-halakhic Jews tend to resolve conflicts by redefining Judaism to exclude problematic elements, effectively choosing Americanism. Rather than confronting these genuine contradictions, most American Jews manufacture an artificial compatibility between the systems. The methodology combines theoretical analysis of political authority structures and social values with examination of historical foundations and modern applications. Evidence suggests this dual allegiance represents an unsustainable condition threatening Jewish continuity, as non-halakhic approaches lack sufficient substance for transmission across generations. These findings illuminate both contemporary Jewish identity formation and broader challenges facing religious minorities in pluralistic democracies, with implications for Jewish institutional policy, religious education, and ongoing debates about multiculturalism versus assimilation in American society.