Polls Show Most American And Israeli Jews Favor Israel’s Recognition Of Non-Orthodox Jewry
(Wednesday, September 14th, 2016 08:30 PM)
Polls commissioned by the Jerusalem Post in partnership with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) scheduled to be released on Friday, 13 Elul, show a majority of Jews in the United States and Israel favor official State of Israel recognition of non-religious Jewry, calling for an end to the “Orthodox monopoly over religion-and-state issues in Israel”. The poll shows that 74% of American Jews and 62% of Israeli Jews believe the time has come for official State of Israel recognition of the Reform and Conservative Movements
While one may argue the poll is taken by the AJC and not all the Jews who voted are halachically Jews and so-forth, but the fact remains that significant numbers of Jews in the two largest Jewish populations around the world favor the move.
The poll also highlights the growing tensions between these movements and the State of Israel amid an awareness the Reform and Conservative Movements, their leaders and members, are major contributors to the State of Israel and thereby carry significant weight with the state’s decision-makers. This has been evident in Israel during recent months in the ongoing controversy surrounding an egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel. YWN-ISRAEL reported- earlier this week that the government coalition came under fire in a session of the Supreme Court addressing a petition on the egalitarian area and government foot-dragging. The court made it clear that it was not going to tolerate this and that an area must be set into place to permit mixed and non-Orthodox services for those wishing to take advantage of it.
The Post survey adds that 70% of US Jewry and 61% of Israeli Jewry support an egalitarian prayer area at the Kosel Plaza.
48% of American Jews believe that the recognition of frum Jewry as the official Jewry is responsible for weakened relations with the Diaspora Jewish community and 39% do not see this as being so.
Most Israeli Jews, 54%, remain opposed to exclusive Orthodox control of state religious services as has been the case since the establishment of the state.
The poll was conducted by SSRS Research Company and 1,002 Jews over the age of 18 responded in the United States. The margin of error is +/- 3.5%.
The poll in Israel was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute, questioning 500 adults over 18, with the margin of error reported to be +/- 4.5%.
The J. Post is planning to release the in-depth results of the polls in its Friday magazine.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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THE TORAH ( AND ONLY THE TORAH ) REFORM AND THE REST OF CHANGE BELONG TO JESUS
PLEASE FOLLOW THEM AND LEAVE US JEWS
Polls commissioned by the Jerusalem Post in partnership with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) scheduled to be released on Friday, 13 Elul, show a majority of Jews in the United States and Israel favor official State of Israel recognition of non-religious Jewry, calling for an end to the “Orthodox monopoly over religion-and-state issues in Israel”. The poll shows that 74% of American Jews and 62% of Israeli Jews believe the time has come for official State of Israel recognition of the Reform and Conservative Movements While one may argue the poll is taken by the AJC and not all the Jews who voted are halachically Jews and so-forth, but the fact remains that significant numbers of Jews in the two largest Jewish populations around the world favor the move.
The poll also highlights the growing tensions between these movements and the State of Israel amid an awareness the Reform and Conservative Movements, their leaders and members, are major contributors to the State of Israel and thereby carry significant weight with the state’s decision-makers. This has been evident in Israel during recent months in the ongoing controversy surrounding an egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel. YWN-ISRAEL reported- earlier this week that the government coalition came under fire in a session of the Supreme Court addressing a petition on the egalitarian area and government foot-dragging. The court made it clear that it was not going to tolerate this and that an area must be set into place to permit mixed and non-Orthodox services for those wishing to take advantage of it.
The Post survey adds that 70% of US Jewry and 61% of Israeli Jewry support an egalitarian prayer area at the Kosel Plaza.
48% of American Jews believe that the recognition of frum Jewry as the official Jewry is responsible for weakened relations with the Diaspora Jewish community and 39% do not see this as being so.
Most Israeli Jews, 54%, remain opposed to exclusive Orthodox control of state religious services as has been the case since the establishment of the state.
The poll was conducted by SSRS Research Company and 1,002 Jews over the age of 18 responded in the United States. The margin of error is +/- 3.5%.
The poll in Israel was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute, questioning 500 adults over 18, with the margin of error reported to be +/- 4.5%.
The J. Post is planning to release the in-depth results of the polls in its Friday magazine.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
