Without judging any modern group of people, I'm really kind of curious as to how similar modern Judaism is to what was practiced in Israel circa the the time of Christ.

Here is a minor example, the Star of David:

LINK

"The symbol became representative of the worldwide Zionist community, and later the broader Jewish community, after it was chosen as the central symbol on a flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897.[3][4] The earliest Jewish usage of the symbol was inherited from medieval Arabic literature by Kabbalists for use in talismanic protective amulets (segulot) where it was known as the Seal of Solomon among Muslims.[5][6] The symbol was also used in Christian churches as a decorative motif many centuries before its first known use in a Jewish synagogue.[7]

During the 19th century the symbol began to proliferate among the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, ultimately being used among the Jewish communities in the Pale of Settlement. A significant motivating factor, according to scholar Gershom Sholem, was the desire to represent Jewish religion and/or identity in the same manner the Christian cross identified that religion's believers.[8] Before the 19th century, official use in Jewish communities was generally known only in the region of today's Czech Republic, Austria and possibly parts of Southern Germany, having begun in medieval Prague.[9]"

Then we have the Torah:

LINK

"Torah (/'t??r?, 'to?r?/; Hebrew: ????????, "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") has a range of meanings. It can most specifically mean the first five books (Pentateuch) of the 24 books of the Tanakh, and is usually printed with the rabbinic commentaries (perushim). It can mean the continued narrative from the Book of Genesis to the end of the Tanakh ( Malachi ), and it can even mean the totality of Jewish teaching, culture and practice, whether derived from biblical texts or later rabbinic writings.[1] "

The part about

"and is usually printed with the rabbinic commentaries (perushim). It can mean the continued narrative from the Book of Genesis to the end of the Tanakh ( Malachi ), and it can even mean the totality of Jewish teaching, culture and practice, whether derived from biblical texts or later rabbinic writings.[1] "

I kind of wonder after 2000 years or so how much of modern Judaism would be recognizable to a Sadduccee or Pharisee.

Then we have the Kabbalah. Apparently that collection of things borrows from LOTS of places, but the key features are straight out of Babylon.

But my understanding is Kabbalists were unsavory at best when Jesus walked the earth. Moloch wasn't very popular in Jerusalem at that time.