Who Is a Jew? Viewpoints of Israeli Jews

גיור דת ומדינה זהות יהודית-ישראלית חילונים-דתיים. מיהו יהודי

This report by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) maps the attitudes of Israeli Jews regarding the fundamental question of "Who is a Jew?". Based on extensive survey data (part of the #IsraeliJudaism project), the authors identify a gap between the rigid Halakhic definitions and the more fluid, sociological perceptions held by the public. Key findings indicate a broad consensus accepting patrilineal descent (having a Jewish father) as sufficient for social Jewishness, while rejecting definitions based solely on "feeling Jewish" without ancestral roots. The report highlights the tension between the state's official Rabbinate standards and the practical, inclusive approach of majority of Israeli Jews, particularly regarding non-Orthodox conversion and mixed families.