64% unaware that legal divorce available only via Orthodox rabbinical courts

Two-thirds of the Jewish Israeli population are unaware that Jewish couples can only get legally divorced through Israel's rabbinical courts, even if they were married in civil ceremonies abroad; 57% of the public underestimate the number of Israeli citizens from the former Soviet Union who cannot get legally married.

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71% Israeli Jews attach importance to marriage & divorce freedom

60% of the Jewish Israeli public supports the involvement of American Jewish organizations in advancing marriage freedom in Israel. There is no doubt that for Israelis – breaking the yoke of the fundamentalist Orthodox Rabbinate in marriage and divorce is a top priority among the religion/state battles. Israelis welcome American Jewish partnership in advancing this cause, both for the sake of Israel and for the sake of world Jewry!

75% support introduction of civil divorce in Israel

Head of Hiddush Rabbi Uri Regev, esq.: "The no-confidence vote against the Orthodox establishment's monopoly is tremendous." Director of the Center for Women's Justice Dr. Susan Weiss, esq.: "The solution to the agunah crisis - civil marriage and divorce." CEO of Mavoi Satum Batya Kahana-Dror, Esq.: "Alienation from Israel's religious institutions is growing."

71% of Israeli Jews: Rabbinate's monopoly distances Jews from Judaism

Not only is the denial of the freedom to marry antithetical to core democratic principles, but it also undermines Jewish interests. 71% of the Israeli Jewish public maintain that the Chief Rabbinate's and the rabbinical courts' monopoly over marriage and divorce distances Jews from Judaism.

76% of Israeli Jews oppose new conscription law

Israel’s politicians have deliberately chosen to pursue legislation which is not only immoral but also unconstitutional, having been struck out twice already by the Supreme Court. The question, though, is how long it will take the Supreme Court to rule that this most recent amendment is illegal as well. Our politicians may be counting on this very fact: the wheels of justice grind slowly…

80% of secular Israeli Jews prefer not to get married via Orthodox Rabbinate

The consistent rise in the number of Israeli Jews who would have preferred to marry outside the Orthodox Rabbinate has been monitored in Hiddush’s multi-year polling on freedom of marriage.

Support for public transporation on Shabbat at highest level ever

What gives Israel its Jewish character? Is it liberty, justice and peace, as taught by the Hebrew Prophets, or is it the lack of public transportation on Shabbat, which greatly restricts the weakest sectors of Israeli society?

Overwhelming majority of voters STILL want Ultra-Orthodox Parties out of coalition

According to a March 24 poll conducted by Rafi Smith Polling Institute for Hiddush – Freedom of Religion in Israel, 62% of Israelis support a government without the ultra-Orthodox parties; 87% prefer that control of the Knesset Finance Committee be given to Kulanu, rather than United Torah Judaism (UTJ).

82% of Yesh Atid voters want immediate ultra-Orthodox draft

61% of the general public is in favor of an immediate draft of yeshiva students. Hiddush CEO Rabbi Regev: "The public's message is clear. Equality in sharing the burden must begin immediately."

70% of Undecided Voters: Voting on Religion and State

Pre-election polling shows that 67% of the Jewish public in Israel believes that issues of religion and state will greatly influence their vote, including 69% of secular votes and 91% of ultra-Orthodox voters. President of Hiddush Rabbi Uri Regev comments, "Ignoring the issues of religion and state on the campaign trail only lowers the quality of the discourse and it goes against the interests of the parties."

83% of Jewish Israelis believe housing subsidies conditional on willingness to work to your ability

83% of Jewish Israelis believe housing subsidies should follow the recommendations of the Trajtenberg Committee, as opposed to current policies which overwhelmingly favor the ultra-Orthodox population, who in large part do not seek to join the work force. President of Hiddush, Rabbi Uri Regev, called on government officials to heed the call of the Israeli public.

63% favor civil marriage

Two-thirds of the Jewish population in Israel are in favor of civil marriage, but only one-third would choose non-religious marriage if they had the option.

Marriage/conversion

Hiddush sponsored poll on marriage and conversion

Religious Struggles

This is the result of a survey published by the Smith Institute in September 2009, and commissioned by Hiddush – For Freedom of Religion in Israel.

National Service

The poll was commissioned by the Hiddush organization