Israeli Synagogue Attendance Varies by Tradition, Age, and Politics, Study Finds

Jerusalem, 29 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A survey released by the Israel Democracy Institute ahead of Yom Kippur shows that the majority of Jewish Israelis attend synagogue at least once or twice a year.

According to the findings, participation is highest among religious and Orthodox Jews, with nearly all attending, while about 75 percent of traditional Jews and about one-third of secular Jews take part. Attendance in Reform and Conservative synagogues is much lower, around 14 percent overall. The survey also found higher participation among men and older adults.

Political affiliation influences attendance: Orthodox synagogue participation is strongest among Shas and United Torah Judaism voters, while Reform and Conservative attendance is higher among centrist and left-leaning voters.

Synagogue attendance peaks on Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, which begins at sundown on Wednesday.