How clear can it be ? As one distances oneself from our Tradition, and dedicates oneself to money and 'enlightenment', one sees no particular reason to be here, and has no evisceral attachment to the land. From this comes the desire, nay, need, to capitulate to our enemies in order to continue one's uninterrupted lust for money and 'knowledge', without being saddled with 'primitive' customs to impede one's physical and psychological comfort and complacency.

No one has the right to tell anyone how to live his life and what he may or what he may not eat. In the light of the current Haredi child abuse scandals, I would suggest that they get their own house in order before trying to tell others how to live their lives!

How amazing that these "enlightened" people are the ones who are so "endarkened" when it comes to their roots. Once a Rabbi was sitting on a plane, being attended to by his grandson; a member of the histadrut "old guard" was sitting across the aisle. Eventually our secular friend, tapped the Rabbi on the arm and asked him how he manages to get such attention from the young. "Why", said the elderly Histadruter, "I only have to open my mouth to request something, and my grandchildren disappear". The Rabbi smiled at his companian, and said, "My friend, we believe that every generation back, is one step closer to the generation that stood at Mt Sinai, so our young respect us; you on the other hand, believe that every generation back, is one step closer to the monkeys!"

So what ,big deal was this survey actually necessary? What is more important is how many people will have to get their Pesah meals via a charity! How many children go hungry at night here ,how many elderly go without medications or food? That would be much better survey don't you think?

...cant you'll observe the Pesah for a few days. IDIOT"S I am very disappointed with you :-(

It's funny how they put out these big displays of Matzoh for EVERY Jewish holiday and around Passover include items not fit for Passover

This survey confirms what others have shown, that Israelis are less "secular" than they claim. If one looks at, say, lighting of Shabbat candles, celebration of Chanukah, attendance at a seder, fasting on Yom Kippur, Israeli Jews register notably higher than Jews in the US. The Jewish "spark" even among Israel's so-called "seculars" is there to be nurtured, but it won't be through coercion. And, yes, there will always be those who deem themselves "too sophisticated" to think or act as Jews.

Almost everyone I know in Israel that identify themselves as secular are already stocking up on beer and bread. In fact some of them don't drink beer, but buy it just to have it in case it is needed during the holiday. I would love to know more about the survey methods. How many were polled, how, and where? Also how was the question presented makes a difference. And were is the question about how many are fleeing the country to avoid the whole problem?

Many supermarkets don't offer bread... what do you expect? All people not caring going nuts to get some?

You and I must know the same 30% because none of the Israelis I know (including the one I'm married to) give up eating bread during Passover, although I know several American Jews who do. But, having said that, surveys dealing with the subject of religion can be notoriously dodgy, like the one that says 95% of Americans believe in God. If that were really the case, the only people who don't believe in God would be in my family.

Undoubtedly there is a connection between your family not believing in God and your family not observing the Pesach. As for your statistic about Americans believing in God I think I can explain that for you: there are two types of athieism. 1) theoretical athieism: a person holds to a specific theory, or belief, that God does not exist. This is basically a philosophical conclusion. 2) practical athiesm: a person may theoretically assent to the notion that God exists, but that assent has no direct impact on how that person lives their life. For all practical purposes, that person is an athiest. Probably very few Americans fall into the first category, thus such statistics as "95% believe in God." Very, very many Americans, whether Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc. fall into the second category. They give "God" some passing acknowledgment, maybe even show up at some sort of worship service on the weekend or observe some holiday, but the rest of the week and the rest of the year they live their life as if God did NOT exist. Make sense?

How can people claim to be Jewsish, live in Israel, and NOT thank G-d for freeing us from Egypt, and (so far) letting us return, in large numbers to our Promised Land? I's say that ANY JEW (medical problems aside) who refuses to eat matzoh, and observe Pesach, is a DISGRACE to themselves. Please re-think your attitudes, and come back to G-d and Judaism.

I must say I find it shocking to see how low the figures are. A few years ago, I was surprised to learn that any sizable number of Israeli Jews ate bread on Passover. There are many parts of the Jewish tradition that are difficult to keep in this modern age, but this is hardly one of them, especially not for a Jew living in Israel. If I, a Jew living in America, were to approach the traditions in the same way that these "seculars" living in Israel do, I would hardly feel Jewish at all any more.

Call me thickheaded, if you will, but I fail to see a logical progression in your post at all. The religious are more "eviscerally (sic) attached" to the land?! How, pray tell, if they spend their lives locked up in study? Unless you mean the land of Israel, which is an absurd statement to make, anyway. And lack of such a visceral attachment to land, if assumed to be true, somehow makes the secular "capitulate to our enemies"? Did I miss something about passover, or was eating matzos a symbol of suffering, not a punishment of the oppressor? And somehow, ultimately, you argue that all this has something vague to do with "lust for money and 'knowledge,' as if knowledge is somehow to be derided, and is a sign of both "physical and pyschological complacency". Aren't we Jews all thirsting for knowledge? How is searching for it related to comfort and complacency? My conclusion from this article it is possible that there is a causal relationship somewhere between education, financial standing and secularism. My conclusion of your argument? That you have chosen not to educate yourself to the point where you can't understand a basic research article.

An interesting tale, I must admit. But, you must also admit, it follows from the moral of your story that every generation to such a Rabbi must necessarily be less wise and less holy than those before it, while every generation to the Histadruter may possibly lead us to at least more Tzedakah, if not more Kedoshah. Tell me, please, what you think of this inference?

Judaism is not only a religion, and the exodus from Egypt is not just some story. All must understand that the same level of respect is called for as on Holocaust Day (though a happier occasion). It would, of course, help if the Rabbinut did not twist the tradition into something unrecognizable - that alone turns many people off.

you probably meant 69 % of Israel´s Jewish population, not 69% Israelis. We do have minorities here!

But that's exactly the point. You live in America where keeping certain traditions may be necessary for you to feel like a Jew. But, for the ones who live in Israel and are called upon to perhaps make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the State, sometimes it really doesn't seem all that important whether or not you eat bread on Passover.

Matt you seem to assume that observing a holiday is equal to belief in God or underlying religious leanings. I disagree. My family does not believe in God nor practice religion. But we follow the customs of our Jewish Nationality. So yes we will hold a family sedar, but it will not be based on religion even when going over the 4 questions and such, as these are from our joint history without the need of religious conviction. Understand?

In one way you are correct - every Rabbi today knows fine well that he wouldn't even reach the ankles of previous generations. Regarding becoming more holy and giving more tzedakah - we see for ourselves how every generation is more selfish than the one before - so nice idea, but unlikely

1] It was a representitive sample.90% of my friends do not eat bread-that does NOT mean that 90% of the population does not eat bread. You obviously only mingle with 'your' bunch. Try broadening your circles. 2] Many of the people leaving the country are going to hotels where no bread is on the compound.(100's of such hotels-check it up with your travel agent). Even those that aren't staying in hotels still do not eat bread. People are not in work-it therefore gives them an opportunity to go abroad. In England-we do not term Easter holiday goers as 'fleeing' because they intend to come back. I bet 99.99999% of those leaving Israel for Pessah are gonna come back too. They are not fleeing!

In your comment #8-you definitely seem to imply that both you and your friends eat bread on Passover. Eating bread is not something somebody who is interested in 'following the customs of the Jewish Nationality' would be doing! Still glad to hear you feel a part of the Jewish Nation though!

1. Actually I am quite well connected outside of the Haradi community. I work in Hi-tech for a company that employees more than 1000 here in Israel and have worked in similar for the past 8 years. I am at Tel Aviv University and have taught at 2 other academic institutions here. And the statistics in YNET are usually under explained for a news article. 2. When you have every hotel booked for the holidays months in advance and both observant and secular are leaving home to prevent having to deal with Passover in their homes (either because of the extensive cleaning required or to avoid the matzah) then I call it fleeing. I know of many who go to resorts outside of Israel just to avoid the holiday here. So they are fleeing the holiday which will be over when they are back not the country.

The one bond that holds all the Jews - religious and secular together is that we all don't do anything to celebrate Purium Katan this year.

"More educated individuals and those with higher income found to be less observant on subject "

Everyone should be free to eat matza or bread. It's not something that should be forced on anyone - it's a personal choice that we make. And those that do eat bread, should be left alone to do just that!!!

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/7895