Most Israeli Jews Fast on Yom Kippur, Survey Finds
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 74% of Jewish Israelis fast on Yom Kippur, with significant participation even among secular individuals. The study also revealed ethnic differences in fasting rates and a notable number of people attending Yom Kippur services without regular synagogue attendance.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 74% of Jewish Israelis fast on Yom Kippur, according to a new survey.
- Nearly half of secular Jews fast, with 28% fasting completely.
- Mizrahi Jews fast at higher rates than Ashkenazi Jews.
- 57% of Jewish Israelis attend Yom Kippur synagogue services.
- Many attend Yom Kippur prayers without regular synagogue visits.
A new survey by the Israel Democracy Institute reveals that 74% of Jewish Israelis fast on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. The study highlights a significant engagement with the tradition even among secular Israelis, with nearly half (47%) fasting, including 28% who fast completely and 19% partially. Among non-religious "traditional" Israelis, the fasting rate is 90%, with 77% fasting fully.
The survey also uncovered a notable ethnic disparity in fasting practices. 88% of Israelis of Mizrahi (Middle Eastern/North African) descent fast on Yom Kippur, compared to 64% of Ashkenazi (European/American) descent. This gap persists even when comparing individuals with the same religious self-definition; among secular Israelis, 63% of Mizrahis fast versus 39% of Ashkenazim.
Beyond fasting, 57% of Jewish Israelis attend synagogue services on Yom Kippur. This includes 51% attending Orthodox services and 6% attending Reform or Conservative services. Even among secular Jews, one in five (20%) participate in Yom Kippur prayers.
An interesting finding is that 18% of all Jewish Israelis attend Yom Kippur prayers without regularly attending synagogue services throughout the year. This figure rises to 37% among non-religious traditionalists and 16% among secular individuals. Overall, 32% of all Yom Kippur prayer attendees do not typically attend synagogue services during the rest of the year, a figure that reaches 79% among secular Yom Kippur attendees.
The article also briefly mentions unrelated events: a dramatic letter reaching a Chabad House in Bangkok hours before the holiday and a meeting between Rabbi Reuven Elbaz and Minister Ben Gvir.
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