I think it would be fair to the OP to at least sort of answer your question (instead of all the opinion posts we have all made. You asked how is EL AL security vs TSA. Well, as was acurately said, they are "apples and oranges" to each other.

In the US we are very "things" focused when it comes to security. We look for things people could do harm with. Knives, sharp objects, bombs, lighters. For the most part the airport security folks would rather if we did not speak to them AT ALL, heck they would take our stuff and separate us into seclusion and search it without having to bother with us if they could. They also have no pre-knowledge of who is flying, where they are going or anything about them. The only check they do on us is if our id matches our boarding pass.

El Al is 180 degrees of that. They take the approach that a sharp object is only dangerous in the hands of a dangerous person, so lets look at the people. Yes they limit some items dont get me wrong. But when you go through security at El Al they want to know about YOU. 99% of the security time is spent talking to the passenger. Asking them where they are going, why they are going there, what they are going to do there. And a lot of other questions that often seem very out of place (what is your favorite color, do you like tennis I have been asked). They are asking them for a very set purpose. They want to know 1) does your story make sense and stay consistent and 2) How do you react to them talking to you. Do you get really nervous and freaked out or do you just answer away? They are trained to read the psychology of people.

Also long before you show up at security El Al has given security a list of those booked on a flight. they have already been able to run it through the do not fly and high risk databases (vs the US where we run it mid air and divert). They will have done some background checks on people who have sent up flags.

Simply put El Al looks for Terrorists, TSA looks for the terrorists toys (tools)!!! THAT is the difference!