Study Finds Traditional Youth Embrace Jewish Practices While Secular Teens Drift Away After Iron Swords War
A new study by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) examines the impact of the "Iron Swords" war on non-religious Israeli youth aged 15 to 18, revealing a nuanced picture of religious and traditional identity shifts. The research, based on a survey of approximately 270 youths who do not identify as religious, shows that the perceived widespread increase in religious observance is misleading. The rise in traditional Jewish practices is primarily among those raised in traditionally affiliated households, while fully secular youths tend to distance themselves from tradition.
Nearly half of the surveyed youths (46%) believe their peers observe more Jewish customs, yet half report no personal increase. Only 7% of boys said they put on tefillin more often, and just 2% wear tzitzit more frequently. However, more private practices saw growth: 22% pray more, 14% read Psalms or the Bible more, and 18% of girls light more Shabbat candles. The study highlights a clear identity divide: only 4% of fully secular youths increased their observance, while 35% decreased it. Conversely, 40% of traditional youths report being more traditional than their parents, compared to 77% of fully secular youths maintaining their parents' patterns.
Regarding belief, 55% of non-religious youths say they believe in God, with a stark contrast between 90% of traditional youths and 23% of fully secular youths. The study also notes ethnic correlations: 58% of fully secular youths identify as Ashkenazi, while 59% of traditional youths are Mizrahi or Sephardi. JPPI CEO Dr. Shuki Friedman summarized, "Youth in Israel are changing, strongly expressing the identity in which they were raised. Those from traditional homes adopt more Jewish identity expressions, while the secular group shows distancing. These findings underscore the need for dialogue and compromise between religious and secular groups, with traditional youths potentially bridging the divide."
