Most Israeli Jews Fast on Yom Kippur, Survey Finds
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
A survey found that 74% of Israeli Jews fast on Yom Kippur, including nearly half of secular individuals. The study also highlighted ethnic differences in observance and synagogue attendance patterns.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- 74% of Israeli Jews fast on Yom Kippur.
- Nearly half of secular Israelis observe the fast.
- Fasting rates show ethnic disparities.
- Many Israelis attend synagogue only on Yom Kippur.
A recent survey indicates that 74% of Israeli Jews observe the fast on Yom Kippur, with 63% fasting completely and 11% partially. The tradition is maintained even among secular Israelis, where 47% fast at least partially, and 28% of those fast completely. Among the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox), national religious, and religious traditional segments of the population, full fasting rates reach 97% to 98%. Non-religious traditional Israelis show a 90% fasting rate, with 77% fasting fully.
Beyond fasting, 57% of the Jewish public participates in holiday prayers. For hundreds of thousands of Israelis, this is their only synagogue visit of the year, as 32% of prayer attendees do not frequent synagogues during the rest of the year. Among secular individuals who attend prayers, 79% do so exclusively on Yom Kippur.
The survey also revealed ethnic disparities in fasting habits. 88% of Israelis of Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) descent fast on Yom Kippur (81% fully), compared to 64% of Ashkenazi (European Jewish) descent (50.5% fully). This gap persists within the secular population, with 63% of secular Mizrahim fasting versus 39% of secular Ashkenazim.
The data is based on a survey conducted in July and August 2026 by Dr. Ariel Finklestein, Adv. Shlomit Ravitzki Tor Paz, and Yaari Padan. The poll, conducted by iPanel and the Viterbi Center, included 1,002 Jewish respondents aged 18 and above, representing a sample of Israeli Jewish society.
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