Survey shows what Israeli Jews think about Diaspora

A new poll has shown that less than two thirds Jews in Israel feel they share a common fate with Jews in the Diaspora.

The survey, dissected for first time in a Jewish media summit in Jerusalem this week, also revealed that Israeli Jews’ biggest worry about the Diaspora was assimilation, not anti-Semitism.

And in contrast to the statements issued by Israeli leaders in recent months, only 6% of Israeli Jews felt the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the state was the key concern facing Diaspora Jewry.

The survey, based on the responses of 477 respondents questioned last month, also showed seven out of ten people thought the Israeli government should consider the impact on the Diaspora when making decisions.

However, only half believed that the cabinet should take Diaspora views into consideration before making decisions.

On the issue of religion, just half the Israeli respondents believed that the Conservative and Reform movements in Israel should be given status equal to that of the Orthodox movement in matters of conversion and marriage.

The same number opposed allocating government funds to Reform and Conservative communities and rabbis.