2023 Who is a Jew? Viewpoints of Israeli Jews

Key Findings:

This study examines the attitudes of Israeli Jews regarding the flexibility of Jewish identity (Do definitions of Jewishness coalesce differently in each generation, or is it a fixed matter of fact not subject to influence?); regarding authority (If the definition changes from time to time, who is authorized to decide on it, and how?); and regarding content (What is the appropriate or accepted definition?) This information is highly valuable for those looking to formulate a position or policy on issues at the center of how the Jewish collective is defined. 

The majority of Israeli Jews hold that Jewish identity is determined by being born to a Jewish mother, which has significant implications for matters like conversion, marriage, and eligibility for the Law of Return. However, there is not a complete consensus on this point, leading to disagreement between Israeli Jewry and many Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

Despite the differences in details, most Jews believe that the rules establishing Jewishness should be consistent both in Israel and the Diaspora, creating an opportunity for a broadly supported definition of Jewishness. However, finding such a definition that satisfies both Israel and the Diaspora would be a complex and challenging task. 

Additionally, a minority of Israeli Jews believe that the authority to implement these rules should be centralized, leaving room for ambiguity in implementation. Most Israeli Jews accept Conservative/Reform conversions as valid, especially if conducted in Israel, which has implications for increasing the proportion of Orthodox conversions.

Attitudes towards Jewish identity and Jewishness are closely tied to levels of traditional observance and ideological-political views, making it difficult to reach a broad consensus. Observance of the Shabbat and political leanings influence differing definitions of Jewish identity, with religious observance linking it to religion and ethnicity, while non-observance associates it with culture, nationality, and values. 

Israeli and Diaspora attitudes also differ regarding the role of self-definition in establishing Jewishness, with Israel emphasizing group determination and the Diaspora emphasizing individual determination.

Policy Recommendations:

1.  Changes to the Law of Return, if considered, should involve broad-based discourse respectful of Diaspora Jewish communities, as alterations to such a foundational law could have detrimental effects on populations identifying with Israel.

2.  As the share of Israelis whose Jewishness is not recognized continues to rise, efforts should be made to reduce friction arising from this situation.

3.  Dissemination of knowledge in Israel should counter negative attitudes toward Diaspora Jewry, stemming from differences in understanding Jewish identity, and similar efforts should be made in the Diaspora.

4.  A solution should be implemented for individuals who wish to marry in Israel but whose Jewishness is not recognized by the Chief Rabbinate. Alternatively, the decreasing rate of official marriages in Israel should be acknowledged.

5.  The presence of holidays and festivals in the Israeli public sphere should be strengthened and diversified, and non-religious Jewish identity should be reinforced as a partial response to conflicting attitudes regarding Jewish belonging.