Skip To Content
JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
Breaking News

American Jews Want More Pluralistic Israel: Poll

A survey found that United States Jews want Israel to remain a Jewish and democratic state, but that Israel’s Jewish character should also accommodate non-Orthodox Judaism.

The survey, put out by the Jewish Agency’s jewish People Policy Institute and released Thursday, was conducted by holding discussions and seminars with Jewish groups across the U.S., as well as by sending out questionnaires and analyzing external research.

The survey found that U.S. Jews also disagree with the state’s handling of religion and state matters, including Israel’s recognizing only Orthodox marriage and granting authority to the largely haredi Orthodox rabbinate. U.S. Jews also feel, according to the survey, that the state should ensure that all citizens have equal rights while still maintaining its Jewish character.

In terms of Israel’s relationship with its neighbors, the survey found that U.S. Jews recognize that Israel is located in a hostile region, but feels that regional securit6y thereats should not justify Israel’s disregarding human rights or democratic values.

U.S. Jews feel that Israel should strive to end its control of the Palestinians.

The survey’s results are “positive and optimistic, contrary to dismal reports we hear about distancing of Diaspora Jews from Israel,” said Shmuel Rosner, an Israeli journalist who co-headed the project. “The report also indicates that there is a strong need througout the Jewish world for a deep connection with Israel.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

Republish This Story

Please read before republishing

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search.  See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.

To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at [email protected], subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.

We don't support Internet Explorer

Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site.