Religion&PublicLife

M AR C H8,2016

IsraelsReligiouslyDividedSociety
DeepgulfsamongJews,aswellasbetweenJewsandArabs,overpolitical
valuesandreligionsroleinpubliclife

(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24654)Nearly70yearsaftertheestablishmentofthemodernStateof

Israel,itsJewishpopulationremainsunitedbehindtheideathatIsraelisahomelandfortheJewishpeopleanda
necessaryrefugefromrisingantiSemitismaroundtheglobe.Butalongsidethesesourcesofunity,amajornew
surveybyPewResearchCenteralsofindsdeepdivisions
inIsraelisociety(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?

url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=A%20major%20new%20study%20by%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20finds%20deep%20divisions%20in%20Israeli%20society.)

url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=A%20major%20new%20study%20by%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20finds%20deep%20divisions%20in%20Israeli%20society.)

notonlybetweenIsraeliJewsandthecountrysArabminority,butalsoamongthereligioussubgroupsthat
makeupIsraeliJewry.
NearlyallIsraeliJewsidentifywithoneoffour
categories:Haredi(commonlytranslatedasultra
Orthodox),Dati(religious),Masorti(traditional)or
Hiloni(secular).
Althoughtheyliveinthesamesmallcountryandshare
manytraditions,highlyreligiousandsecularJews
inhabitlargelyseparatesocialworlds,withrelativelyfew
closefriendsandlittleintermarriageoutsidetheirown
groups.Infact,thesurveyfindsthatsecularJewsin
Israelaremoreuncomfortablewiththenotionthata
childoftheirsmightsomedaymarryanultraOrthodoxJewthantheyarewiththeprospectoftheirchildmarryinga
Christian.(SeeChapter11 (http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/intergroupmarriageandfriendship)formore
information.)
Moreover,thesedivisionsarereflectedinstarklycontrastingpositionsonmanypublicpolicyquestions,
includingmarriage,divorce,religiousconversion,militaryconscription,gendersegregationandpublic
transportation.Overwhelmingly,HarediandDatiJews(bothgenerallyconsideredOrthodox)expresstheviewthat
Israelsgovernmentshouldpromotereligiousbeliefsandvalues,whilesecularJewsstronglyfavorseparationof
religionfromgovernmentpolicy.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0102/)

MostJewsacrossthereligiousspectrumagreeinprinciplethatIsraelcanbebothademocracyandaJewishstate.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Most%20Jews%20across%20the%20religious%20spectrum%20agree%20in%20principle%20that%20Israel%20can%20be%20both%20a%20democracy%20and%20a%20Jewish%20state)

Buttheyareatoddsaboutwhatshouldhappen,inpractice,ifdemocraticdecisionmakingcollideswithJewishlaw
(halakha).ThevastmajorityofsecularJewssaydemocraticprinciplesshouldtakeprecedenceoverreligiouslaw,
whileasimilarlylargeshareofultraOrthodoxJewssayreligiouslawshouldtakepriority.
Evenmorefundamentally,thesegroupsdisagreeonwhatJewishidentityismainlyabout:Mostoftheultra
OrthodoxsaybeingJewishismainlyamatterofreligion,whilesecularJewstendtosayitismainlyamatterof
ancestryand/orculture.
Tobesure,JewishidentityinIsraeliscomplex,spanningnotionsofreligion,ethnicity,nationalityandfamily.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Jewish%20identity%20in%20Israel%20is%20complex%2C%20spanning%20notions%20of%20religion%2C%20ethnicity%2C%20nationality%20and%20family.)

Whenasked,Whatisyourpresentreligion,ifany?virtuallyallIsraeliJewssaytheyareJewishandalmost
nonesaytheyhavenoreligioneventhoughroughlyhalfdescribethemselvesassecularandoneinfivedonot
believeinGod.Forsome,JewishidentityalsoisboundupwithIsraelinationalpride.MostsecularJewsinIsrael
saytheyseethemselvesasIsraelifirstandJewishsecond,whilemostOrthodoxJews(HaredimandDatiim)say
theyseethemselvesasJewishfirstandthenIsraeli.
ThesurveyalsolooksatdifferencesamongIsraeliJewsbasedonage,gender,education,ethnicity(Ashkenazior
Sephardi/Mizrahi)andotherdemographicfactors.Forexample,Sephardim/Mizrahimaregenerallymore
religiouslyobservantthanAshkenazim,andmenaresomewhatmorelikelythanwomentosayhalakhashouldtake
precedenceoverdemocraticprinciples.Butinmanyrespects,thesedemographicdifferencesaredwarfedbythe
majorgulfsseenamongthefourreligioussubgroupsthatmakeupIsraeliJewry.

SelfcategorizationofJewsinIsrael

WhilemostIsraelisareJewish,agrowingshare(currentlyaboutoneinfiveadults)belongtoothergroups.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Most%20Israelis%20are%20Jewish%2C%20but%20a%20growing%20share%20belong%20to%20other%20groups.)

MostnonJewishresidentsofIsraelareethnicallyArabandidentify,religiously,asMuslims,Christiansor
Druze.1
(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24656)ThesurveyshowsthatIsraeliArabsgenerallydonotthinkIsrael

canbeaJewishstateandademocracyatthesametime.ThisviewisexpressedbymajoritiesofMuslims,
ChristiansandDruze.Andoverwhelmingly,allthreeofthesegroupssaythatifthereisaconflictbetweenJewish
lawanddemocracy,democracyshouldtakeprecedence.
ButthisdoesnotmeanmostArabsinIsraelarecommittedsecularists.Infact,manyMuslimsandChristians
supporttheapplicationoftheirownreligiouslawtotheircommunities.Fully58%ofMuslimsfavorenshrining
shariaasofficiallawforMuslimsinIsrael,and55%of
ChristiansfavormakingtheBiblethelawofthelandfor
Christians.
RoughlyeightintenIsraeliArabs(79%)saythereisa
lotofdiscriminationinIsraelisocietyagainstMuslims
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Roughly%20eightin

ten%20Israeli%20Arabs%20say%20there%20is%20a%20lot%20of%20discrimination%20in%20Israeli%20society%20against%20Muslims.)

,whoarebyfarthebiggestofthereligiousminorities.Onthisissue,Jewstaketheoppositeviewthevastmajority
(74%)saytheydonotseemuchdiscriminationagainstMuslimsinIsrael.
Atthesametime,JewishpublicopinionisdividedonwhetherIsraelcanserveasahomelandforJewswhilealso
accommodatingthecountrysArabminority.NearlyhalfofIsraeliJewssayArabsshouldbeexpelledor
transferredfromIsrael,includingroughlyoneinfiveJewishadultswhostronglyagreewiththisposition.

(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24657)The

divisionsbetweenJewsandArabsarealsoreflectedin
theirviewsonthepeaceprocess.Inrecentyears,Arabs
inIsraelhavebecomeincreasinglydoubtfulthataway
canbefoundforIsraelandanindependentPalestinian
statetocoexistpeacefully.Asrecentlyas2013,roughly
threequartersofIsraeliArabs(74%)saidapeaceful
twostatesolutionwaspossible.Asofearly2015,50%
saysuchanoutcomeispossible.
IsraeliArabsarehighlyskepticalaboutthesincerityoftheIsraeligovernmentinseekingapeaceagreement,while
IsraeliJewsareequallyskepticalaboutthesincerityofPalestinianleaders.Butthereisplentyofdistrusttogo
around:Fully40%ofIsraeliJewssaytheirowngovernmentisnotmakingasincereefforttowardpeace,andan
equalshareofIsraeliArabssaythesameaboutPalestinianleaders.
Israelsmajorreligiousgroupsalsoareisolatedfromoneanothersocially.ThevastmajorityofJews(98%),
Muslims(85%),Christians(86%)andDruze(83%)sayallormostoftheirclosefriendsbelongtotheirown
religiouscommunity.
JewsaremorelikelythanArabstosayalltheirfriendsbelongtotheirreligiousgroup.Tosomeextent,thismay

reflectthefactthatthemajorityofIsraelspopulationisJewish.TwothirdsofIsraeliJews(67%)sayalloftheir
friendsareJewish.Bycomparison,38%ofMuslims,21%ofChristiansand22%ofDruzesayalltheirfriendsshare
theirreligion.
ThesearesomeofthekeyfindingsofPewResearchCenterscomprehensivesurveyofreligioninIsrael,whichwas
conductedthroughfacetofaceinterviewsinHebrew,ArabicandRussianamong5,601Israeliadults(ages18and
older)fromOctober2014throughMay2015.ThesurveyusestheIsraeliCentralBureauofStatisticsdefinitionof
theIsraelipopulation,whichincludesJewslivingintheWestBankaswellasArabresidentsofEastJerusalem.
Seesurveymethodology(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/methodology5)formoredetails.

Whoisincludedinthesurvey?
Thesurveyincludesoversamples(i.e.,additionalinterviews,overandabovethenumberthatwouldoccurina
purelyrandomsample)offivegroupsChristians,Druze,HarediJews,ArabslivinginEastJerusalemandIsraeli
settlersintheWestBankinordertobeabletoanalyzetheviewsofpeopleintheserelativelysmallgroups.
However,theoversamplesarestatisticallyadjustedinthesurveysfinalresultssothatChristians,Druze,Haredim,
ArabsinEastJerusalemandIsraelisettlersarerepresentedinproportiontotheiractualshareoftheIsraeliadult
population.

ThesurveyprobesIsraelisreligiousidentification,beliefsandpracticesviewsondemocracyandreligionsrole
inpubliclifemoralvaluesandlifegoalsperceptionsaboutdiscriminationviewsonintermarriageandattitudes
towardpoliticsandthepeaceprocess.
UsingdatafromPewResearchCenters2013studyAPortraitofJewishAmericans
(http://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/jewishamericanbeliefsattitudesculturesurvey/),thereportalsomakes

comparisonsbetweenJewsinIsraelandJewsintheUnitedStates.Therearedeepconnectionsbetweenthe
worldstwolargestJewishpopulations,butalsosomekeydifferences.(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=There%20are%20deep%20connections%20between%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20two%20largest%20Jewish%20populations%2C%20but%20also%20some%20key%20differences.)

Forinstance,IsraeliJewsoverallaremorereligiouslyobservantthanU.S.Jews.Politically,AmericanJewsare

moreoptimisticaboutthepossibilityofapeaceful
twostatesolutionandmorenegativeabout
JewishsettlementsintheWestBankthanareIsraeli
Jews.U.S.Israelicomparisonsarediscussedindetail
inChapter1
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/comparisons
betweenjewsinisraelandtheus).

Howreligiousgroupsaredefined
Together,thecurrentstudyandthepreviouslypublished
surveyofJewishAmericansprovideanindepthlookat
thereligiousbeliefs,values,andsocialandpolitical
viewsofanestimated80%oftheworldsJewish
population.Thesestudies,fundedbyThePewCharitable
TrustsandtheNeubauerFamilyFoundation,arepartof
alargereffortbyPewResearchCentertounderstand
religiouschangeanditsimpactonsocietiesaroundthe
world.
TherestofthisOverviewexploressomesourcesofboth
unityanddivisioninIsraelisociety,asrevealedbythe
survey.WhilethemajorsubgroupsofIsraeliJewsare
unitedintheirsupportofIsraelasaJewishhomeland,
theyaredeeplyatoddsovertherolethatreligionshould

theyaredeeplyatoddsovertherolethatreligionshould
playintheircountryspubliclife.AndalthoughJews,
Muslims,ChristiansandDruzeinIsraelsharemanylife
goalsplacinggreatemphasisonmaintainingstrong
familiesandobtainingagoodeducationfortheir
children,forexampletheylivereligiouslybalkanized
lives.

IsraeliJewsunitedonneedforJewishhomeland
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0105/)Israelisno

longerapredominantlyimmigrantsocietyatpresent,roughlythreequartersofIsraeliadultsarenatives,andjust
onequarterwerebornabroad.Yetwithvirtualunanimity,IsraeliJewsofeverykindnativebornandimmigrant,
youngandold,secularandhighlyreligiousagreethatallJews
everywhereshouldhavetherighttomakealiyah,ormovetoIsraeland
receiveimmediatecitizenship.2
ThisoverwhelmingsupportforJewishimmigrationmaybelinked,inpart,
toperceptionsaboutantiSemitism.FullythreequartersofIsraeliJews
(76%)thinkthatantiSemitismisbothcommonandincreasingaroundthe
world,androughlynineinten(91%)saythataJewishstateisnecessary
forthelongtermsurvivaloftheJewishpeople.
(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24659)
(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24660)
(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24661)MostIsraeliJews(79%)

sayJewsdeservepreferentialtreatmentinIsrael.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?

url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Most%20Israeli%20Jews%20%2879%25%29%20say%20Jews%20deserve%20preferential%20treatment%20in%20Israel.)

ButtheydonotseeaninherentcontradictionbetweenaJewishhomelandandafunctioningdemocracy.Asked
whetherIsraelcanbebothaJewishstateandademocraticone,majoritiesofallfourJewishsubgroupssayyes.
However,HaredimarelesscertainthanotherIsraeliJewsthatdemocracyiscompatiblewithJewishstatehood.
WhileaslimmajorityofHaredimsurveyed(58%)sayIsraelcanbebothaJewishstateandademocracy,about
onethird(36%)sayitcannot.
ThismaybebecausemanyHaredimbelievethatreligiouslaw(halakha)shouldtrumpdemocraticdecision
making.Totestthis,thesurveyposedahypotheticalquestion:Andifthereisacontradictionbetweenhalakhaand
democraticprinciples,shouldtheStateofIsraelgivepreferencetodemocraticprinciplesorhalakha?Insucha

situation,89%ofHaredimsayhalakhashouldbegivenpreference,andonly3%ofHaredirespondentswoulddefer
todemocraticideals.Bycontrast,amongHilonim,anequallylopsidedshare(89%)saythestateshouldgive

todemocraticideals.Bycontrast,amongHilonim,anequallylopsidedshare(89%)saythestateshouldgive
preferencetodemocraticprinciplesjust1%ofsecularJewishrespondentswouldyieldtohalakha.
WhenaskedwhetherhalakhashouldbemadetheofficiallawofthelandforJewsinIsrael,majoritiesofHaredim
(86%)andDatiim(69%)saytheywouldfavorthischange.Bycontrast,mostMasortim(57%)andan
overwhelmingmajorityofHilonim(90%)opposemakinghalakhathelawofthelandforJewsinIsrael.
ThedisagreementsoverwhatitmeanstoliveinaJewishstatearenotmerelyhypothetical.Thesurveyasksabout
numerousconcretepolicyissuesinIsraelincludingmarriage,divorce,conversion,militaryconscription,
transportation,publicprayerandgendersegregationandfindsdeepdivides.
Forexample,thevastmajorityofHaredimandDatiimsaypublictransportationshouldbeshutdownthroughout
theentirecountryontheJewishSabbath,whilethevastmajorityofHilonim(94%)opposeshuttingdownall
publictransportinobservanceoftheSabbath.Masortimaremoreevenlydividedbetweenthosewhofavorshutting
downpublictransportacrosstheentirecountryontheSabbath(44%)andthosewhowanttokeepbuses,trainsor
otherpublictransportationrunninginatleastsomeareas(52%).
Thepublicinterminglingofmenandwomenisanotherpointofdisagreement.AsolidmajorityofHaredim(62%)
favorgendersegregationonpublictransportation,suchasbusesandtrains,usedbymembersoftheHaredi
community.AmongHilonim,meanwhile,just5%favorthispolicy.ThevastmajorityofHilonim(93%)are
opposedtoenforcinggendersegregationonanypublictransport,evenwhenitisusedbyHaredim.
Thereisalsodebateonissuesconcerningfamilylaw.Israeldoesnotallowcivilmarriage,andJewishmarriages
conductedinIsraelmustbesanctionedbyOrthodoxrabbis.(FormoredetailsonmarriageanddivorceinIsrael,
seeChapter11 (http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/intergroupmarriageandfriendship).)Haredimstrongly
opposeallowingnonOrthodoxrabbistoconductmarriagesinIsrael,whileamajorityofHilonimfavorchanging
thecurrentlawtoallowReformandConservativerabbistoconductweddings.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0109/)

IsraeliJewsdividedonthestatusofArabs

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0110/)IsraeliJewsare

dividedonthequestionofwhetherArabsshouldbeallowedtoliveintheJewishstate.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=http://pewrsr.ch/1R3Kgt9&text=Jews%20are%20divided%20on%20the%20question%20of%20whether%20Arabs%20should%20be%20allowed%20to%20live%20in%20the%20Jewish%20state.)

ThesurveyaskedJewswhethertheystronglyagree,agree,disagreeorstronglydisagreewiththestatementthat
ArabsshouldbeexpelledortransferredfromIsrael.RoughlyhalfofIsraeliJewsstronglyagree(21%)oragree
(27%),whileasimilarsharedisagree(29%)orstronglydisagree(17%).3
DatiimareespeciallylikelytofavortheexpulsionofArabs.Roughlyseveninten(71%)sayArabsshouldbe
transferred.

Hilonimleanintheotherdirection:Most(58%)disagreeandsayArabsshouldnotbeexpelledfromIsrael,
including25%whostronglydisagree.ButevenamongtheseselfdescribedsecularIsraeliJews,aboutonethird
(36%)favortheexpulsionofArabsfromthecountry.
WhereJewsplacethemselvesonthepoliticalspectrumontheleft,inthecenterorontherightisstrongly
correlatedwiththeirviewsontheexpulsionofArabs.Amongthe8%ofJewswhosaytheyleanleft,an
overwhelmingmajorityeitherdisagree(25%)orstronglydisagree(61%)thatArabsshouldbeexpelled.By
contrast,roughlysevenintenofthoseonthepoliticalrightagree(35%)orstronglyagree(36%)thatArabsshould
beexpelledortransferred.4
MoredetailsonthisquestioncanbefoundinChapter8(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/viewsofthejewish
stateandthediaspora).

Politically,DatiimleantowardtherightmostHilonimseethemselvesinthe
center
ThespectrumofreligiousobservanceinIsraelonwhichHaredimaregenerallythemostreligiousandHilonim
theleastdoesnotalwayslineupperfectlywithIsraelspoliticalspectrum.Onsomeissues,includingthose
pertainingtoreligioninpubliclife,thereisaclearoverlap:HaredimarefurthesttotherightandHilonimare
furthesttotheleft,withDatiimandMasortiminbetween.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0111/)Butonother

politicalissues,includingthoserelatedtotheIsraeliPalestinianconflictandtheexpulsionofArabsfromIsrael,
smallersharesofHaredimthanofDatiimtakerightleaningpositions.Thesedifferencesmaypartlyreflectthe
ambivalencesomeHarediJewshavefeltabouttheStateofIsraeleversinceitsestablishmentsomeHaredileaders
opposedtheformalcreationofaJewishstatebeforethearrivaloftheMessiah.Inaddition,someHaredileaders
have,atvariouspointsinIsraelshistory,advocatedforcentristorleftleaningpositions,suchasopposingJewish
settlementsintheWestBankandsupportingthepossibilityofgivinguplandinapeaceagreementwiththe
Palestinians.AndinpragmaticIsraelipolitics,thechiefconcernofHaredipoliticalpartieshasoftenbeenthe
economicwellbeingandsupportoftheircommunity,whileDatiimareoftenmoreideologicallymotivatedwith
respecttoIsraelssecurity.5
Overall,moreDatiimplacethemselvesonthepoliticalright(56%)thaninthecenter(41%).Haredim,ontheother
hand,areaboutequallylikelytoplacethemselvesintheideologicalcenter(52%)andtheright(47%)thesameis
trueofMasortim.MostHilonim(62%)identifyaspoliticalcentrists.Hilonimaremorelikelythanmembersofthe
otherJewishsubgroupstoplacethemselvesontheleftsideofthespectrumbut,still,only14%doso.
Thesurveyalsoaskedrespondentswhatpoliticalpartytheyidentifywith,ifany.WithineachJewishsubgroup,no
singlepoliticalpartyconstitutesamajority.Butatthetimethesurveywasfielded(October2014toMay2015),
Haredimgenerallysupportedpartiesthatrepresenttheinterestsoftheircommunity,includingtheShaspartyand
YahadutHatorah(UnitedTorahJudaism).
AmongMasortimandHilonim,themostcommonpartyaffiliationwasLikud,thelargelysecular,centerright
partythatcurrentlyleadstherulingcoalitiongovernmentinIsrael(PrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahusparty).
AmongHilonim,therewasalsosomesupportforthecenterleftAvodaparty(Labor),theleadingoppositionparty
tothecurrentgovernmentYisraelBeytenu,alargelysecularrightleaningpartythatdrawssupportfrommany
RussianimmigrantsandYeshAtid,asecularpartyrepresentingmostlymiddleclassinterests.
DatiimwereaboutequallylikelytoidentifywithHabayitHayehudi(JewishHome)arightleaning,religious
ZionistandprosettlementpartyandtheShasparty(areligiouspartythattraditionallysupportsMizrahi
interests).BothJewishHomeandShasarecurrentlypartofLikudsgoverningcoalition.
AmongArabs,therewassignificantsupportfortheUnitedArabList,HadashandBalad,threeofthepartiesthat
havealliedastheJointListaspartoftheoppositiontothecurrentgovernment.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0112/)

SomeJewsseetheirJewishidentityasreligious,othersasculturalorethnic

ThelargedifferencesamongthevariousJewishgroupsonthekindofJewishstatetheyenvisionmaybetiedto
fundamentallydifferentunderstandingsofJewishidentity.
SevenintenHaredim(70%)androughlyhalfofDatiim(52%)saybeingJewishismainlyamatterofreligion,
while3%ofHaredimand16%ofDatiimsaybeingJewishismainlyamatterofancestryand/orculture.Among
Hilonim,bycontrast,only4%seebeingJewishasprimarilyamatterofreligion,while83%sayJewishidentityis
mainlyamatterofancestryand/orculture.However,atleastsomemembersofallofthesegroupsseetheirJewish
identityasboundupwithbothreligionandancestry/culture.
(FormoreonJewishidentityinIsrael,includingasidebarondifferenttypesofJewishethnicidentity,seeChapter
3(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/identity).)

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0113/)

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiously
dividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0114/)Thesurvey

alsoaskedIsraeliJewswhethertheyseethemselvesas
JewishfirstorIsraelifirst.AboutnineintenHaredim
(91%),eightintenDatiim(80%)androughlysixin
tenMasortim(59%)considerthemselvesJewishfirst,
whileaboutsixintenHilonim(59%)taketheopposite
position,sayingtheyseethemselvesasIsraelifirst.
AmongMasortimandHilonim,aboutoneinfivedo
nottakeeitherposition.
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiously
dividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0115/)Many,but

notall,IsraeliJewsalsoidentifywithZionism.
Historically,thetermZionistusuallyreferredtoa
supporteroftheestablishmentoftheStateofIsraelasa
nationalhomelandfortheJewishpeople.Todayin
Israel,however,Zionistmayhaveadditionalshadesof
meaning,perhapsroughlyequivalenttonationalist,
patrioticoridealistic.Ratherthantryingtodefinetheword,thesurveysimplyaskedJewishrespondentshow
accuratelyitdescribesthem,personally.
Overall,majoritiesofDatiim,MasortimandHilonimsayZionistdescribesthemeitherveryaccuratelyor

somewhataccurately.ButmostHaredimsaythetermdescribesthemeithernottoo(24%)ornotatall(38%)
accurately.6Onceagain,HarediJewsreluctancetodescribethemselvesasZionistsmayreflecttheirhistorical

ambivalencetowardtheJewishstate.AmongHaredimwhoidentifyasZionists,85%sayIsraelisnecessaryforthe
longtermsurvivaloftheJewishpeoplebycontrast,amongHaredimwhodonotdescribethemselvesasZionists,
just55%agree.

Widevariationinreligious
observanceamongIsraeliJews
Acrossnumerousmeasuresofreligiousbeliefand
practice,Haredimareconsistentlythemostreligiously
observantJewishgroupinIsraelisociety,while
Hilonimareconsistentlythemostsecular.
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?

url=tk&text=Haredim%20are%20the%20most%20religiously%20observant%20Jewish%20group%20in%20Israeli%20society%2C%20while%20Hilonim%20are%20the%20most%20secular.)

DatiimcloselyresembleHarediminsomeways,althoughtheyreportsomewhatlowerlevelsofdailyprayerand
synagogueattendance.Masortimincludesomepeoplewhoarehighlyobservantaswellassomewhoarenot,but
onseveralstandardmeasuresofreligiousobservance,Masortimtendtoshowmediumlevelsofreligious
observance.
Forexample,aboutthreequartersofHaredimsaytheyprayatleastonceaday(76%),asdomostDatiim(58%).By
comparison,just1%ofHilonimsaytheypraydaily,and79%neverpray.SelfdescribedMasortimdisplayless
uniformityintheirprayerhabits:Aboutoneinfivesaytheypraydaily(21%),15%saytheyprayatleastweekly,
aboutonethirdsaytheypraymonthlyorseldom(32%),andaboutthreeintenMasortim(31%)saytheynever
pray.
Similarly,majoritiesamongbothHaredim(85%)andDatiim(74%)saytheyattendreligiousservicesonaweekly
basis,whileamongHilonim,relativelyfew(1%)dothisand60%saytheyneverattendsynagogue.Again,
Masortimdisplayarangeofworshipattendancehabits.
ThesemajordifferencesinreligiouscommitmentamongthefourJewishsubgroupsalsoarereflectedinmany
specificJewishreligiouspractices.Forexample,veryfewifanyHaredimorDatiimsaytheytravelbycar,busor
trainontheJewishSabbath(fromFridayeveningtoSaturdayevening).Bycomparison,travelontheSabbathis
nearlyuniversalamongHilonim(95%).Onthisquestion,Masortimarecloselydivided,withaslightlyhigher
sharesayingtheytravelontheSabbath(53%)thansayingtheydonot(41%).
SecularJewsunderstandingoftheirJewishidentityasprimarilyamatterofancestryorcultureisreflectedintheir
beliefsandpractices.NotonlydofewHilonimsaytheyattendsynagogueonaweeklybasisorpraywithregularity,
butmany(40%)alsosaytheydonotbelieveinGod.However,substantialproportionsofHilonimpracticewhat
couldbeseenasculturalaspectsoftheirreligion.Forexample,87%ofHilonimsaytheyhostedorattendedaSeder
lastPassover,andabouthalf(53%)saytheyatleastsometimeslightcandlesbeforethestartoftheSabbath.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0116a/)
(http://www.pewforum.org/?attachment_id=24670)Bysomemeasures,JewishmeninIsraelaremorereligiously

observantthanJewishwomen.AmongHaredim,DatiimandMasortiminparticular,menaremorelikelythan
womentoreportthattheyprayseveraltimesadayandattendsynagogueweekly.Inpart,thisreflectsthefactthat
Jewishlaw(halakha)requiresdailyprayerinaprayerquorum(minyan)formenandnotforwomen,andhalakha
makessimilarexemptionsfor
womenregardingmanyother
mandatedrituals.Butthesurvey
alsofindsthatamongMasortim,
menaremorelikelythanwomento
sayreligionisveryimportantin
theirlives,andmoreMasortimen
thanwomenrefrainfromtravelon
theJewishdayofrest.
AmongbothhighlyreligiousandsecularJews,therearefewdifferencesinreligiousobservancebetweenolderand
youngerIsraeliadults.

Chapter4

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/religiouscommitment)looksatmeasuresofreligiouscommitmentinIsrael

inmoredetail.

Overall,ArabsinIsraelaremorereligiousthanJews

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydivided
society/pf_20160308_israel0118/)ArabsinIsraelespeciallyMuslims

aremorereligiouslyobservantthanJewsasawhole.Fullytwothirdsof
IsraeliArabssayreligionisveryimportantintheirlives,comparedwithjust
30%ofJews.IsraeliMuslims(68%),Christians(57%)andDruze(49%)all
aremorelikelythanJewstosayreligionisveryimportanttothem,
personally.Inaddition,moreArabsthanJewsreportthattheypraydaily
andparticipateinweeklyworshipservices.
Generally,MuslimsinIsraelarethemostreligiouslyobservantofthefourmajorreligiousgroups.Forexample,a
majorityofMuslimssaytheypraydaily(61%),comparedwith34%ofChristians,26%ofDruzeand21%ofJews.
Andwhile25%ofDruze,27%ofJewsand38%ofChristianssaytheyattendreligiousservicesatleastweekly,
roughlyhalfofIsraeliMuslims(49%)reportthattheygotoamosqueonatleastaweeklybasis.
AmongMuslimsinIsrael,adultsbetweentheagesof18and49are
generallylessobservantthantheirelders.Forexample,thoseunder50are
lesslikelythanolderMuslimstosaytheypraydailyorattendmosque
weekly.ThisisnotthecaseamongJewsaspreviouslynoted,therearefew,
ifany,significantdifferencesinreligiousobservancebetweenyoungerand
olderIsraeliJewishadults.
DatacollectedbytheIsraeliSocialSurvey
(http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/cw_usr_view_SHTML?ID=576)onreligious

observanceamongallnonJewsinIsraelMuslims,ChristiansandDruze
combinedshowanetuptickintheproportionofadultswhosaytheyare
veryreligiousorreligious,from51%in2002to56%in2013.Overthe
same11yearperiod,therehasbeenaslightnetdeclineintheproportionof
nonJewishadultswhosaytheyarenotsoreligiousornotreligious,
from49%to44%.
(TrendsovertimeinreligiousobservanceamongIsraeliJewsarediscussed

inasidebar(#howreligioninisraelischangingovertime)attheendofthis
Overview.)

FewfriendshipsandmarriagesinIsraelcrossreligiouslines

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0119/)JewsandArabs

ofdifferentreligiousbackgroundsareseparatedbymorethanjusttheirreligiosityandpoliticalopinions.The
surveyfindsthatthesegroupsarealsorelativelyisolatedfromoneanothersocially.
ThisiseventruewithinIsraeliJewry.ParticularlyamongHaredimandHilonim,fewadultssaytheyhavemany
closefriendsfromoutsidetheirowncommunity,andintermarriageisrare.Inaddition,thevastmajorityof
Haredimsaytheywouldnotbecomfortableifoneoftheirchildrenwere,someday,tomarryaHiloniJewandvice
versa.
MasortimaretheoneJewishgroupthatismorelikelythanotherstohaveclosefriendsfromavarietyofother
Jewishgroups.OnlyabouthalfofMasortim(48%)saythatallormostoftheirclosefriendsarealsoMasortimby
comparison,amongHaredimandHilonim,roughlynineintenadultssayallormostoftheirclosefriendsbelong
tothesameJewishsubgroup.AmongDatiim,72%sayallormostoftheirclosefriendsareDatiim.
Similarly,95%ofmarriedHaredimsaytheirspouseisalsoHaredi,while93%ofHilonimwhohaveaspouseor
partnersaythatpersonisHiloni.DatiimalsoareverylikelytohaveaspousewhoisDati(85%).Aswith
friendships,MasortimaremostlikelytohaveamarriagethatcrossesJewishsubgroups64%aremarriedto
anotherMasortiJew,butroughlyonethirdaremarriedtoaJewtheydescribeaseitherDati(20%)orHiloni
(15%).
ThevastmajorityofHaredimandHilonimalsoareuncomfortablewiththeideaoffutureintermarriagebetween
theirtwocommunities.AboutnineintenHilonimsaytheywouldbenottoocomfortable(20%)ornotatall
comfortable(73%)iftheirchildsomedaymarriedaHarediJew,whilenearlyallHaredirespondents(95%)saythey
wouldbenottoocomfortable(17%)ornotatallcomfortable(78%)iftheirchildweretosomedaymarrya
secularJew.HaredimarealsogenerallyuncomfortablewiththeideaoftheirchildrentakingaMasortispouse
(88%saytheywouldbeuncomfortablewiththis)oraDatispouse(58%).
Onthishypotheticalquestion,thedivisionsarelessstarkwhenitcomestosomeothergroupsthatareadjacentto
oneanotheronthereligiousspectrum.OnlyaminorityofMasortimsaytheywouldbeuncomfortablewiththeir
childmarryingeitheraDatiorHiloniJew.Similarly,minoritiesofDatiimindicatetheyareuncomfortablewiththe
ideaoftheirchildhavingaspousewhoisHarediorMasorti.
HilonimaregenerallyuncomfortableabouttheideaofintermarriagewithOrthodoxJewsincludingboth
HaredimandDatiim.ButfewerthanhalfofHilonim(45%)saytheywouldbeuncomfortablewiththeideaoftheir

HaredimandDatiim.ButfewerthanhalfofHilonim(45%)saytheywouldbeuncomfortablewiththeideaoftheir
childhavingaspousewhoisMasorti.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0120/)

ReligiousintermarriagescannotbeperformedinIsrael(althoughcivilmarriagesthattakeplaceinothercountries
arelegallyrecognizedinIsrael).7Thisisreflectedintherarityofmarriagesbetweenmembersofdifferent
religiouscommunitiesinthecountry.NearlyallIsraelisinthesurveywhoaremarriedorlivingwithapartnersay
theirspouseorpartnersharestheirreligion.RelativelyfewmarriedMuslim,ChristianandDruzeresidents(1%)
saytheirspousehasadifferentreligion,andonly2%ofmarriedJewssaytheyhaveaspousewhobelongstoanon
Jewishreligionorisreligiouslyunaffiliated.

NotonlyisintermarriagerareinIsrael,nearlyallIsraeliJewsandArabsincludedinthesurveysaytheywould
prefertheirchildrentomarrywithintheirownreligiouscircle.AmongJews,97%saytheywouldnotbe
comfortablewiththeirchildsomedaymarryingaMuslim,and89%saythisabouttheirchildevermarryinga
Christian.Similarly,82%ofMuslims,88%ofChristiansand87%ofDruzesaytheywouldbeuncomfortablewith
theideaoftheirchildmarryingaJew.
AmongArabs,thereisalsouneasinesswithmarriagebetweenreligiousgroups.ThreequartersofMuslimssay
theyarenottooornotatallcomfortablewiththeideaofintermarriagewithaChristian.Similarly,mostChristians
(80%)saytheywouldbeuncomfortablewiththeirchildmarryingaMuslim.Druzeareaboutequallyopposedtothe
ideaofoneoftheirchildrenmarryingaJew(87%uncomfortable),aMuslim(85%)oraChristian(87%).

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0121/)

ArabsseemorediscriminationinIsraelisociety

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0122/)Socialdivisions

withinIsraelisocietymaybeconnectedtoperceptionsofdiscrimination.RoughlyeightintenArabs(79%)say
thereisalotofdiscriminationagainstMuslimsinIsraeltoday,whilejust21%ofIsraeliJewssharethisview.
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0123/)Arabsalsoare

moreinclinedthanJewstoperceiveIsraelisocietyasdiscriminatorytowardavarietyofothersocialgroups.For
example,40%ofArabssaythereisalotofdiscriminationagainstwomeninIsraeltoday,comparedwith25%of
Jewswhoperceivealotofdiscriminationagainstwomen.Andjust9%ofJewssaythereisalotofdiscrimination
againstsecularJewsinIsrael,comparedwith21%of
ArabswhosaysecularJewsfacealotof
discrimination.
Thesurveyalsoaskedaboutpersonalexperienceswith
discrimination.AboutoneinsixMuslimssaythey
havebeenquestionedbysecurityofficials(17%),
preventedfromtraveling(15%)orphysically
threatenedorattacked(15%)becauseoftheirreligion
inthepast12months,while13%saytheyhave
sufferedpropertydamage.Alltold,37%ofMuslims
saytheyhavesufferedatleastoneoftheseforms
ofdiscriminationbecauseoftheirreligiousidentityin
thepastyear.8
Thesurveyalsoaskedaboutpositiveinteractions.
AboutaquarterofIsraeliMuslims(26%)sayaJewish
personhasexpressedconcernorsympathytoward
theminthepastyearbecauseoftheirreligious
identity.And15%ofChristiansand18%ofDruzesay
aJewishpersonhasexpressedsympathytowardthem
inthelast12months.
ViewsondiscriminationinIsrael,aswellasJewsviewsonantiSemitismaroundtheworld,arediscussedin
detailinChapter12(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/antisemitismanddiscrimination).

MoreArabsthanJewsbyadecliningmarginoptimisticabouttwostate
solution

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israels
religiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel01
24/)ManyArabcitizensorresidentsofIsraelappear

tobelosinghopethatawaycanbefoundforIsrael
andanindependentPalestinianstatetocoexist
peacefully.InPewResearchCenterpolling,the
percentageofIsraeliArabswhosayapeaceful,two
statesolutionispossiblehasdroppedby24points
injusttwoyears,from74%in2013to50%inthe

injusttwoyears,from74%in2013to50%inthe
latestsurvey,whichwasconductedinlate2014and
early2015(i.e.,evenbeforethewaveofstabbings
andotherviolenceinIsraelandtheWestBankin
late2015).Thenewpollfindsthataboutthreein
tenIsraeliArabs(30%)thinkapeacefultwostate
solutionisnotpossible,while20%saytheydonot
knowordonottakeapositioneitherway.

Asofthetimeofthesurvey,IsraeliJewswereless
optimisticthanIsraeliArabsaboutthepossibilityof
atwostatesolution.IsraeliJewishpublicopinion
hadbecomemorenegativeafterthebreakdownof
peacenegotiationsinApril2014,thenrebounded
somewhatin2015.ThepercentageofIsraeliJews
whosayawaycanbefoundforIsraelandan
independentPalestinianstatetocoexistinpeacehas
risenslightlyfrom37%in2014to43%inthenew
survey.Opiniononthistopicmaycontinueto
changeaseventsunfoldintheregion.
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israels
religiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0101
2/)AmongJews,aslimmajorityofHilonim(56%)

sayIsraelandanindependentPalestinianstatecan
peacefullycoexist.Butamongothergroups,the
prevailingviewisthatapeacefultwostatesolution
isnotpossible.
Furtherstatisticalanalysisfindsthatafter
controllingforreligiousidentity(Haredi,Dati,
Masorti,Hiloni)andotherdemographicfactorssuch
asage,genderandlevelofeducation,IsraeliJews
opinionsonthefeasibilityofatwostatesolutionare
mostcloselytiedtotheirpoliticalideology.
AmongthesmallproportionofJewswhosaythey
areontheleftsideoftheideologicalspectrum,86%
thinkawaycanbefoundforIsraelandan
independentPalestinianstatetocoexistpeacefullytogether,comparedwith29%ofthoseonthepoliticalrightand
46%ofthoseinthecenter.

PluralityofJewssayWestBanksettlementshelpsecureIsrael
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel01022/)IsraeliJews

expressawiderangeofviewsontheconstructionofJewishsettlementsespeciallyintheWestBankwhich
continuetogeneratecontroversyinternationally,includingrecentmovesbytheEuropeanUnion
(http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/12/world/middleeast/eulabelsisraelisettlements.html?_r=0)tolabelgoodsproduced

inthesettlements.Currentlyabout4%ofIsraeliJewsliveintheWestBank(notincludingEastJerusalem).
ApluralityofallIsraeliJewssurveyed(42%)saythecontinuedbuildingofsettlementshelpsthesecurityofIsrael,
whilethreeinten(30%)disagree,sayingthesettlementshurtIsraelssecurity.AquarterofIsraeliJews(25%)say
thesettlementsdonotmakeadifferenceonewayoranotherwithrespecttoIsraelssecurity.
DatiimaremorelikelythantheothermajorJewishsubgroupsinIsraeltofavorthesettlementsabouttwothirds
(68%)ofDatiimsaysettlementshelpIsraelssecurity,andonly13%saytheyhurtthecountryssecurity.Fullyhalf

(68%)ofDatiimsaysettlementshelpIsraelssecurity,andonly13%saytheyhurtthecountryssecurity.Fullyhalf
ofHaredimand45%ofMasortimagreethatthesettlementshelpIsraelssecurity,whilefewer(13%ofHaredimand
22%ofMasortim)saytheyhurt.
ButHilonimleanintheotherdirection:Aboutfourin
tenHilonim(42%)saysettlementsintheWestBank
hurtIsraelssecurity,while31%saytheyhelp,andthe
restthinktheydonotmakemuchdifferenceordonot
takeapositioneitherway.
IsraeliJewsopinionsaboutsettlementsarestrongly
tiedtotheirpoliticalideology.Only13%ofthoseonthe
leftsideoftheideologicalspectrumsaythebuildingof
settlementshelpsthesecurityofIsrael.Amongthose
ontheright,bycomparison,62%saythecontinued
buildingofsettlementshelpsthesecurityofthe
country.
IsraeliJewswhoplacethemselvesinthecenterofthe
ideologicalspectrumareevenlydividedwhenitcomes
tothisissue.Thesameproportionofpoliticalcentrists
(32%)takeeachofthethreepossiblestances:that
settlementshelpthesecurityofIsrael,hurtthe
countryssecurityormakenodifferenceonewayor
another.
AmajorityofIsraeliArabs(63%)saythatsettlements
hurtIsraelssecurity,includingmostMuslims(61%),
Christians(79%)andDruze(66%).
Formoredetailsonthisandothertopicspertainingto
thepeaceprocess,seeChapter9
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/thepeaceprocess
settlementsandussupport).

Settlerslessoptimisticaboutpeace
processthanJewswholiveelsewhere
Inthisreport,the4%ofJewishrespondents(3%ofallIsraelis)whoresideintheWestBankoftenbroadlycalled
settlersareincludedinanalysisofIsraeliJewsoverall.9Butthesurveyalsoincludesenoughinterviewswith
settlerstoallowcomparisonsbetweentheirviewsandthoseofotherIsraeliJews.10
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0127/)Overall,West

BankresidentsarefarmorereligiousthanotherJews.AsolidmajorityofJewishrespondentswholiveintheWest
Bank(63%)areOrthodox,including26%whoidentifyasHaredimand36%whoidentifyasDatiim.By
comparison,9%ofJewswholiveinotherregionsareHaredimand12%areDatiim.Consequently,settlersarefar
lesslikelythanJewslivingelsewhereinIsraeltoidentifyasMasortimorHilonim.
ThesereligiousdifferencesareevidentwhenitcomestoviewsaboutIsrael.Fully85%ofsettlers,includinga
nearlyuniversalproportionofHarediandDatisettlers(>99%),sayGodgaveIsraeltotheJewishpeople,whilea
muchsmallermajorityofotherIsraeliJews(60%)expressthisview.

Thereisasimilarlylargegapbetweensettlersandother
Jewswhenitcomestotheimpactofthesettlements
themselves.Roughlytwothirdsofsettlers(65%)say
JewishsettlementshelpIsraelssecurity41%ofother

JewishsettlementshelpIsraelssecurity41%ofother
IsraeliJewssaythesame.(ForcomparisonsbyJewish
subgroupbetweentheviewsofsettlersandJewsoverall,
seeChapters8
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/viewsofthejewish
stateandthediaspora)and9
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/thepeaceprocess
settlementsandussupport).)

Overall,residentsoftheWestBankarelessoptimistic
thanJewswhoresideelsewherethatawaycanbefound
forIsraelandanindependentPalestinianstateto
peacefullycoexist(33%vs.43%).Atthesametime,
settlersaremorelikelythanotherIsraeliJews(68%vs.
55%)tosaytheIsraeligovernmentismakingasincere
efforttoreachapeaceagreement.Fewersettlersthan
otherJewssaythePalestinianleadershipissincerein
itseffortstowardpeace,althoughrelativelyfewJews,
regardlessoflocation,seePalestinianleadersassincere
inthisregard.
Whilesettlershavesomewhatdifferentviewsonthe
peaceprocessthanotherIsraeliJews,theygenerally
takesimilarpositionsonquestionsconcerningthe
rightsofJewsandArabsinIsrael.Forexample,nearly
universalsharesofbothgroupssayJewsaroundthe
worldshouldhavetherighttomovetoIsraelandgain
citizenship.Androughlyhalfofbothgroupsagreethat
ArabsshouldbeexpelledortransferredfromIsrael,
althoughsettlersaresomewhatmorelikelythanotherJewstostronglyagreewiththisstatement(27%vs.20%).
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0128/)Overwhelming

majoritiesamongbothWestBanksettlers(85%)andotherIsraeliJews(79%)agreeorstronglyagreethatJews
deservepreferentialtreatmentinIsraelagain,moresettlersthanJewslivingelsewherestronglyagreewiththis
view(57%vs.47%).
Amongsettlers,thosewhoareOrthodox(HaredimandDatiimcombined)areconsiderablylessoptimisticthanare
nonOrthodox(MasortiandHiloni)settlersabouttheprospectsforapeacefultwostatesolution(23%vs.50%).
RoughlyonethirdofMasortimandHilonimwhoresideintheWestBank(35%)agreethatArabsshouldbe
expelledortransferredfromIsrael,comparedwith65%ofHarediandDatisettlerswhotakethisview.
Otherkeyfindingsofthe2015PewResearchCentersurveyinclude
MostmembersofallthemainreligiousgroupsinIsraelplacegreatimportanceonfamily,educationand
career.Butevenwithintheseareasofgeneralagreement,therearesomesubstantialdifferences.Forexample,
whilevirtuallyallHilonim(99%)saythatgivingtheirchildrenagoodgeneral/seculareducationisimportant
tothem,amuchsmallermajorityofHaredim
(69%)saythesame.Andtheoppositeistruewhen
itcomestogivingchildrenagoodreligious
education:NearlyallHaredirespondents(>99%)
saythisiseitherveryimportantorsomewhat
importanttothemabouthalfofHilonim(54%)
agree.
HaredimarelesslikelythanotherJewsinIsrael
aswellasotherreligiousgroupstovalueahigh
payingcareerortheopportunitytotravelaround

theworld.OnlyabouttwothirdsofHaredim(68%)
saybeingsuccessfulinahighpayingcareeris
importanttothem,comparedwithroughlynine
intenDatiim,MasortimandHilonimaswellas
nineintenMuslims,ChristiansandDruze.
RelativelyfewHaredim(16%)sayitisimportantto
themtotraveltheworld,whileroughlysevenin
tensecularJewsinIsrael(69%)saytheyvalue
suchopportunities.
Thesurveyaskedrespondentstosay,intheirown
words,whattheyseeasthesinglebiggestlong
termproblemfacingIsrael.Aboutfourinten
IsraeliJewsciteeconomicissues(inequality,
risinghousingcosts,etc.),andaroughlyequal
numbernamevarioussecurityrelatedissues
(violenceandterrorism,thethreatfromIran,etc.)asthebiggestproblem.Arabs,meanwhile,aremorelikely
tomentioneconomicissuesthananyothertypeofresponse.In2013,U.S.Jewswerealsoaskedtonamethe
biggestlongtermchallengefacingIsrael,andalmostnone(1%)mentionedeconomicproblems,whiletwo
thirdscitedvarioussecurityissuesasthebiggestlongtermproblemfacingIsrael.
AboutonethirdofJewishmensaytheywearakippaorothertypeofheadcoveringinpublic.Thetypeof
kippavariesbyIsraelisubgroup,withHaredimenmorelikelytowearablackfabrickippaandDatimenmore
likelytowearacrochetedkippa(oftenwithapatternorcolor).OneinfiveIsraeliJewishwomenalsosay
theywearaheadcoveringinpublic(eitherawig,snood,scarforhat).
AfterthefalloftheSovietUnion,aninfluxofJewsfromformerSovietrepublicsarrivedinIsraelduringthe
1990s,formingalargecohortthatwasnotablylessreligiouslyobservantthanIsraeliJewsoverall.Manyof
theseimmigrantsnowhavechildrenwhowereborninIsrael,andtherearesignsthatmembersofthissecond
generationthatis,IsraeliJewswithatleastoneparentwhowasbornintheformerSovietUnionaremore
religiousthantheirparents(althoughstillnotasreligiousasIsraeliJewsoverall).Forexample,70%ofthese
secondgenerationimmigrantssaytheybelieveinGod,whichishigherthanthe55%offirstgeneration
formerSovietimmigrantswhoexpressbeliefinGod.
IsraeliJewsareroughlyevenlydividedbetweentwotypesofethnicidentity:AshkenaziJews(withancestral
rootsinCentralandEasternEurope)andSephardiorMizrahiJews(withrootsmostlyinSpain,elsewhere
aroundtheMediterraneanortheMiddleEast).HaredimandHilonimaremorelikelytoidentifyasAshkenazi
Jews,whileDatiimandMasortimaremorelikelytoidentifyasSephardi/MizrahiJews.
WhileMuslimslivinginIsrael,overall,aremorereligiousthanIsraeliJews,theyarelessreligiousthan
Muslimslivinginmanyothercountriesinthe
region.Forexample,abouttwothirdsofMuslims
inIsrael(68%)sayreligionisveryimportantin
theirliveshigherthanthecomparableshareof
LebaneseMuslims(59%),butlowerthantheshare
ofMuslimsinJordan(85%),thePalestinian
territories(85%)andIraq(82%)whosaythis.
Thereisverylittlereligiousswitching(conversion)
betweenthemainreligiousgroupsinIsrael.Jews,
Muslims,ChristiansandDruzealmostuniversally
continuetoidentifyinadulthoodwiththereligion
inwhichtheywereraisedaschildren.Butwithin
IsraeliJewry,therehasbeensomemovement
amongthefourmajorsubgroups.Whileabout
nineintenIsraeliJewswhowereraisedHaredi
(94%)orHiloni(90%)stillidentifywiththose
categories,onlyabouthalfofthosewhowereraised
DatistillidentifyasDatiim(54%),andtwothirds

DatistillidentifyasDatiim(54%),andtwothirds
ofthoseraisedMasortistillidentifyasMasortim
(67%).Overall,theswitchingtendstobeinamore
seculardirection.(Formoredetails,seeChapter2.)

HowreligioninIsraelischangingovertime
WhilethisisPewResearchCentersfirst
comprehensivestudyofreligioninIsrael,datacollected
throughtheIsraelicensus
(http://www.cbs.gov.il/census/census/main_mifkad08_e.html) ,theIsraeliSocialSurvey
(http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/cw_usr_view_SHTML?ID=576) ,theGuttmanCenterforSurveys
(http://en.idi.org.il/toolsanddata/theguttmancenterforpublicopinionandpolicyresearch/abouttheguttmancenter/)

andPewResearchCenterspreviouspollsinIsraelsuggestthattheIsraelireligiouslandscapehasbeenchanging
overtimeinatleastthreeimportantways:
TheshareofJewsinthetotalpopulationhasbeendeclining,whiletheshareofMuslimsinthepopulation
graduallyhasbeenrising.
AmongJews,thesharewhoareOrthodoxhasbeenslowlyrising,largelyasaresultofhighfertilityratesamong
Haredim.
SurveysconductedovertimeindicateamodestdeclineinrecentyearsintheshareofIsraeliJewswhoreport
moderatelevelsofreligiousobservance.Thereporteddeclineofwhatmightbecalledthereligiousmiddle
suggeststhatIsraelisocietymaybebecomingmorereligiouslypolarized.

Longterm,MuslimsrisingasshareofIsraelspopulation
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0133a/)

AccordingtoIsraelicensusdata,thecountrysreligiouslandscapehasbeengraduallychanging,withafalling
shareofthepopulationidentifyingasJewsandarisingshareidentifyingasMuslimorchoosingnottoidentify
withanyofthefourmainreligiousgroups(Jews,Muslims,ChristiansandDruze).
In1949,shortlyaftertheestablishmentofthestate,thefirstIsraelicensusfoundthat86%ofthetotalpopulation
wasJewish,9%wasMuslim,3%wasChristian,and1%wasDruze.Asof2014,theMuslimproportionofthe
populationhasdoubledto18%,whiletheJewishproportionhasdeclined11percentagepoints,to75%.The
ChristianshareofIsraelspopulationalsohasdeclined,fallingfrom3%to2%,whileDruzehaverisenfrom1%to
2%.
Atthesametime,agrowingshareofIsraelis(4%in2014)donotidentifywithanyofthesereligiousgroupsand
areclassifiedasotherbythecensus.ThisincludessomenonJewishfamilymembersofJewswhohave
immigratedtoIsraelfromtheformerSovietUnion,otherIsraeliswhodonotidentifywithanyreligion,
membersoftheBahaifaithandasmatteringofsmallerreligiousgroupsinIsrael.

OrthodoxslowlygrowingasshareofIsraeliJews
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0132/) Whilethe

majorityofJewishadultsinIsraeldonotidentifyasOrthodox,theOrthodoxshareofthepopulationhasbeen
increasingovertime.DatacollectedbytheIsraeliSocialSurvey(ISS)between2002and2013showthe
proportionofJewsages20andolderwhoareOrthodoxrosefrom16%to19%overthatperiod,whilethenon
Orthodoxsharefellfrom84%to80%.TheHilonisharehasheldroughlysteady,whileMasortim,whooftenshow
moderatelevelsofreligiousobservance,haveexperiencedthegreatestnetloss.11

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0131/) AmongJewish

groups,Haredimhaveexperiencedthebiggestgainovertime.Inthe2013ISS,9%ofIsraeliJewishadults
identifiedasHaredi,upfrom6%alittlemorethanadecadeearlier.
(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israelsreligiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel0130/) Onefactorin

thisriseisfamilysize.ThecurrentPewResearchCentersurveyaskedrespondentshowmanychildrentheyhave
everhadamongJewishmenandwomenages40andolder,28%ofHaredimsaytheyhaveatleastseven
children.Bycomparison,fewDatiim(5%),Masortim(2%)andHilonim(<1%)reporthavingthatmany
children.12
Asaresultofdifferencesinfertilityrates,HilonimformasmallershareofJewishadultsunder30yearsofage
(44%)thantheydoofJewsages50andolder(52%).AmongJewsbetweentheagesof18and29,12%are
Haredi,comparedwith8%amongthoseages50andolder.

Signsofreligious
polarization

(http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/israels
religiouslydividedsociety/pf_20160308_israel01
29/) PreviouspollsconductedbyPewResearch
Center,theGuttmanCenter(http://en.idi.org.il/tools
anddata/theguttmancenterforpublicopinionand
policyresearch/abouttheguttmancenter/) forSurveys

attheIsraelDemocracyInstituteandtheformer
GuttmanInstituteindicateadeclineinrecentyears
intheshareofIsraeliJewswhoreportmoderate
levelsofreligiousobservance.

Comparingtheresultsofthecurrentsurveywith
previousresearchbytheGuttmanCenterandthe
formerGuttmanInstituteshowsthattheshareof
IsraeliJewswhosaytheyfollowsomeoftheJewish
traditionhasfallentoaboutonethird(34%),down
fromfourintenormoreinGuttmansurveys
conductedbetween1991and2009.Thedeclineof
themiddlehasbeenaccompaniedbyarecentrise
intheproportionofrespondentswhosaytheyfollownoneoftheJewishtradition,whilerespondentswhosay
theyfollowallormostofthetraditionisessentiallyunchangedsince2009.
Asimilartrendisseenonaquestionaboutreligionsimportanceinpeopleslives.Since2007,whenthequestion
waslastaskedinaPewResearchCentersurvey,theshareofIsraeliJewswhosayreligionissomewhat
importantintheirliveshasdecreasedfrom36%to26%,whiletheproportionwhosayreligionisvery
importantintheirliveshasincreasedfrom24%to30%.Thesharewhosayreligionisnottooimportantor
notatallimportantintheirlivesalsohasincreasedsomewhat,from38%in2007to44%inthenewsurvey.

1.VirtuallyallMuslims(99%)andChristians(96%)surveyedinIsraelidentifyasArab.AsomewhatsmallershareofDruze(71%)saytheyareethnically
Arab.OtherDruzerespondentsidentifytheirethnicityasOther,DruzeorDruze-Arab.Resultsforthesereligiousgroupspresentedinthisreport
includeallrespondentswhoidentifyasMuslim,ChristianorDruze,notonlythosewhoalsosaytheyareArab.
2.ThisrightisconferredinIsraelsLawofReturn,enactedin1950.
3.SurveysconductedbyotherorganizationsalsohaveaskedquestionsaboutwhetherArabsshouldleaveIsrael.Whilefiguresvaryperhapsdueto
differencesinwhetherthequestioniswordedtoapplytoArabcitizensofIsraelaswellastonon-citizens,andwhethertransfershouldtakeplace
withorwithoutfinancialcompensationasizableshareofIsraelisconsistentlysaytheysupportthetransferofsomeArabsfromIsrael.Fordetails,
seethesidebarinChapter8.
4.Duetorounding,somediscrepanciesmayoccurbetweenindividualresponsecategoriesandresponsecategoriesthathavebeenaddedtogether.
5.Ben-Yehuda,Nachman.2010.TheocraticDemocracy:TheSocialConstructionofReligiousandSecularExtremism.SeealsoFriedman,Menachem.
1990.TheUltra-OrthodoxinIsraeliPolitics.JerusalemCenterforPublicAffairs.
6.Duetorounding,somediscrepanciesmayoccurbetweenindividualresponsecategoriesandresponsecategoriesthathavebeenaddedtogether.
7.UnderIsraelilaw,civilmarriagesaregenerallynotallowed;marriagesareperformedbyreligiousleaders.Asaresult,religiousintermarriageisnot
permitted.
8.Thesurveyaskedrespondentswhethertheyhavefacedvariousinstancesofdiscriminationbecauseoftheirreligiousidentity.Notethatsome
Muslims,ChristiansandDruzemayattributeinstancesofpersonaldiscriminationtotheirethnicidentity,andnottheirreligiousidentity.
9.AllcitiescategorizedbytheIsraelicensusasbeingpartofJudeaandSamariawereeligibletobeincludedinthesample.Someexamplesofcities
whereinterviewswereconductedincludeBeitArye,Elkana,MaaleAdumimandGivatZeev.
10.ForquestionsrelatingtothepeaceprocessandviewsoftheJewishstate,excludingsettlersfromtheJewishsamplechangestheoverallopinionsof
IsraeliJewsbynomorethan1percentagepoint.
11.BecausetheISSusesslightlydifferentquestionwordingthanthecurrentsurvey,theproportionofJewishadultswhoidentifyasMasortiisdifferentin
ISSdatathaninthePewResearchCentersurvey.TheanalysisoftrendsovertimeisbasedsolelyonpreviousISSsurveys,notoncomparisonswith
thenewsurvey.
12.Demographersgenerallyconsiderage40asthepointatwhichmostwomenhavecompletedtheirfertilitythatis,theyarepasttheirprime
childbearingyears.Forthemostpart,amongIsraeliJewsandamongthesubgroups,menandwomenreporthavinghadasimilarnumberofchildren.
Therefore,keepinginmindsamplesizeconsiderations,thereportanalyzesthefertilityofmenandwomentogether.Amongsomeotherpopulations,it
iscommonformentoreporthavinghadfewerchildrenthanwomen.