Secular is also very misleading. One can lead a very secular lifestyle and still have a strong religious belief. Perhaps the word 'atheist' should have been included.

Atheism and leading a secular lifestyle are absolutely not the same thing at all.

believing in something that some freemacons call : "the great architect of nature" is not having a religious belief . Atheists negate the existence of a god , seculars are strangers to religion . If someone leads a very secular lifestyle , he is'nt religious . He does not follow any of the religious laws .

... and I wouldn't give you one grush for any of them. They sit at home like goody goodies whilst their government commits genocide in their name on their defenceless neighbours. Shame on the 50pc religious Jews and shame on the other half. Israelis are beneath contempt.

An atheist leads a secular lifestyle . Look at my # 3 to see the difference between atheist and secular .

Any one who wishes to look at such data should start from the population mix. And ask what does secular actually mean? Sephardim (overwhelmingly traditional or observant) Ashkenazim (more secular as don’t believe, but still a strong trad/observant section) White Russians (even more secular as don’t believe) And what about the consistent stats that show 75%-80% keeping Pesach and Yom Kippur. Seems it’s all in the way you ask the question. Despite occasional confusion, secularity is not synonymous with atheism.

Any Jew who lives in Eretz Yisrael is a Tzadik- otherwise they would have been "vomited" out. A Jew living in EretzIsrael is like one having a God, while those living Chutz L' Aretz are like having no God (Ketuvot 110b)

Would'nt it be wonderful if thousands upon thousands of you "Hareidim" in exile would come home to change the figures that you quote. Remember the sooner you come home and raise Jewish families in Eretz Yisrael the sooner your request for "MASHIACH NOW" will be met. Certainly not in the foothills of the Diaspora.

And what's your TB ? Here again the definitions : Seculars are STRANGERS to religion , atheists NEGATE god . So no one is believing . Now if many hold a seder , it's for the commemoration of the liberation from slavery [ not by a god of course ], and at the same time a fine family reunion . Nothing to do with believing . Yom Kippour ? Yes , some go , and return home [ or to a restaurant as i have seen begalut ] to have a meal . Nothing to do with believing , their parents , grand parents , did it , and they do it . A tradition , begalut maybe the only bond to Jewish life .

Telemarketers calling at all hours of the evening and annoyed citizens who just want to enjoy a quiet dinner and spend time with their families WITHOUT interruption - say anything to get those survey leaches off their back - that or they just hang up! It's all a fraud. For these studies they have money but to care for the homeless and hungry there's none. Gimme a break. And this comes from the all-knowing *gifted writer* son of Tommy. :::rolls eyes:::

In the UK they tell you that the Jewish population is shrinking, based on synagogue membership. They don't tell you that in the few years I've been here dozens of small synagogues have opened up with no affiliation and the number of Kosher Resturants have risen 300%, I know many all over who pray Arvit, make Kiddush and go off to a night club. They say they are secular. Is that what is meant by secular?

All atheists are, obviously, secular (though radical atheism can itself be regarded as a religion). But not all people who live a secular lifestyle are Atheist. Belief in a supreme creator does not automatically entail formulaic observance of religious commandments, purity laws, and rituals. Following the ethical instructions of the 10 commandments is absolutely not incompatible with leading a secular lifestyle. I am talking about morality vs. ritualism. Regarding what I said about Anne Frank being conferred Dutch citizenship posthumously, I concede your point, that Netherlands does not issue citizenship posthumously. (I had read somewhere that she was given citizenship, though clearly this was an error). Regarding what I said to Petra, I stand by my words. (Isn't saying I'm always wrong a bit of a stretch, Charles?)

Jake: "Atheism and leading a secular lifestyle are absolutely not the same thing at all. " Charles: "Atheists negate the existence of a god , seculars are strangers to religion ." Jake: "Being a stranger to religion does not mean NEGATING the EXISTENCE of God." Merriam Webster definition of secular: "1 a: of or relating to the worldly or temporal b: not overtly or specifically religious c: not ecclesiastical or clerical " religion: "1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. "

You should try and live in Sderot for just 1 day. If you're British, what do you think your government would do in response to Qassam attacks? Probably destroy all of Gaza.

I knew it was rubbish. Anyone who claims that the seculars are a minority obviously lives in a cave - because the reality on the streets is very different.

They should not be divided into two. They are the same sector. Even seculars do Kiddush on Shabbat, or say Kadish for their parents, but this doesn't make them religious, it simply makes them secular Jews who honor their heritage. "Traditional" Jews are basically seculars that don't define themselves as seculars.

the article says the previous report led to a "mistaken impression", implying that the data were correct but simply stated in a misleading way. later this article said that there weere "inaccuracies' in the data (not simply "misleading"). hey ynet! which is it?

Perhaps many "jews " in galut are a little too arrogant in their consideration of the mitzvah of yishuv haaretz. Maybe Barak Obama is the moshiach who will send them home.

It's all a game of interpretation in the social sciences anyway. Sort of like religion but with the caveat that you know your faith is placed in nothing.

It doesn't matter. Judaism does not attribute importance to the number of people that sustain a certain idea. What matters is TRUTH. Golden calf or Hashem? The fact that 20% or 50% of Israelis refuse to see this is irrelevant. They are only bringing disgrace on themselves. Refuse demo-cracy, embrace Hashem-cracy. See www.jewishyisrael.org and fight for Jewish Yisrael!

Someone who is secular does'nt pray arvit and makes kiddush . I don't do it , the last time i went to a synagogue , for a religious ceremony , is more than 15 years ago . What happened in UK is not related to Israel . I know that begalut there are many "stieblech" , what you call small synagogues . The rise of Kosher restaurants ? the same reason as in the USA , non Jews who think that kosher food is healthier . You see , you bring in distorted "truths" , i call them lies

Religious freedom is also the right not to believe. Why is it that you religious people at every chance you get you force your life style on othres, constantally judging and slandering people and quoting religious passages at those that do not accept or live their lifes according to such beliefs? Just because someone is not religious does not make them a target for your slander. They are entitled to their own beliefs its called life choice.

But I would put it another way, most Jews live a secular life style but within that there is a varying degree of belief and religious observance. I would add further that the signs are, belief and religious observance is on the rise.

One can be practically non-observant according to Orthodox halacha and still believe in G-d. I believe halacha, as we know it, can become a type of unintentional idolotry in itself, and take on a life of itself. It's this halachic "snowball effect" (turning a mitzvah into such specific, specific practice) that turns off so many Israelis.

Show some RESPECT!!!!

The New York Times has just published an article that said that it is almost impossible for American Jews to prove that they are Jews to Israel's orthodox rabbis. And the Israeli government allows these rabbis to make decisions for the government about who is a Jew for legal purposes. Israel will not be a democracy until its present system of government is replaced by a constitutional democracy.

Thats because all those traditional mizrahim live in those crap towns in the south which have no work

It is interesting that you say that you don't believe there is a G-d. Someday you will be on your knees begging His mercy and He will tell you, Who are You? Because He doesn't believe in athiest either. G-d's Spirit does not exist where unbelief exists. It makes no difference that you are Y'hudi. He is able to raise up children of Avraham from goy.