Israeli Jews and tradition

There is a God! At least that is what about 80 percent of Israeli respondents to a recent study by the Guttman Center believe. Nearly half of Israeli Jews, 46%, define themselves as secular; a third, 32%, define themselves as traditional; and almost one quarter, 23%, as Orthodox or haredi (ultra-Orthodox). Seventy-six percent of Israelis keep kosher at home, while 70% believe that the Jews are the chosen people.

These are just some of the findings included in the new research report on the Jewish character of Israeli society with respect to religion and tradition. The report, based on a public opinion survey conducted in 2009 and involving 2,803 respondents, was conducted by the Guttman Center of the Israel Democracy Institute for the Avi Chai Foundation. It is the third in a series of reports researching this topic; the previous reports were published in 1991 and 1999. The study was designed by the late Professor Asher Arian and (full disclosure) I wrote the report.

The latest survey findings confirm previous reports that Judaism has a strong and on-going presence in the lives of many Jewish Israelis, even if the forms and doses vary. They also show, as to be expected by anyone familiar with Jewish Israeli society, that one's secular or religious existence is part of a "package deal," which also includes a person's origin, education level and income, as well as their positions on "civil" matters such as democratic values and the status of women.

So what main trends emerged in the new poll? First, it appears that Israeli society is more religious and observant today than it was in 1999. That year, as opposed to 1991, registered greater movement toward secularism following the large wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union. In 1991, for example, 24% of respondents said they observed religious tradition to "a large extent," while in 1999, 19% offered that response. In 2009, 26% of respondents said they adhered to religious tradition to a great extent – or, in other words, over the past decade, Jewish Israeli society has returned to where it was about 20 years ago in terms of the aspects that were studied. This is in part due to increased demographics in the haredi and religious sectors and the "assimilation" of immigrants who arrived in the '90s into the local environment.

Second, the data shows that most Israeli Jews, 85%, believe it is important to celebrate Jewish holidays in a traditional manner, although they do so selectively: The vast majority, 90%, believe in celebrating Passover with a traditional seder, and 82% light candles for Hannukah. However, only 67% of Israeli Jews refrain from eating hametz [leavened bread] during Passover, 68% fast on Yom Kippur, 36% hear the reading of Megillat Esther on Purim, and only 20% attend a Tikkun [traditional all-night study session] on Shavuot. Another example relates to Halachot [Jewish laws] for Shabbat: Most Jewish Israelis do observe Shabbat in some way or another, mostly by spending time with their families (80%) and 70% have a Shabbat dinner on Friday. Only a third of respondents, however, observe Shabbat according to Halachah [Jewish law].

Another trend that emerged from the recent report was that in 2009, many Israeli Jews expressed interest in the role of religion in Israel, in the significance of Israel as a "Jewish state" and were supportive of public expressions about religion and tradition. An overwhelming majority, 87%, believe food served in public institutions should be kosher and most, 61%, believe Israeli public life should be conducted in accordance with Jewish religious traditions. At the same time, 60% of respondents support opening movie theaters, restaurants and shopping malls on Saturdays and holding sporting events. Similarly, the vast majority, 80%, believe it is important to marry in a traditional Jewish service with a rabbi; but about half of the respondents believe civil marriage should be available as well.

Finally, the survey data reveals that most Israeli Jews believe Israel can maintain its character as a Jewish state that observes Jewish law and be democratic at the same time. However, they disagree about how to reconcile the two in the event of conflict: Nearly half of respondents believe democracy should always take precedence over religious law; some believe it depends on the situation; and very few believe that religious law must take precedence in all cases. As expected, the preference for religious law over democracy was greater among ultra-Orthodox, Modern Orthodox and traditional respondents.

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