U.S. Jewry's Attachment to Israel on a Decline.

By IsraelNationalNews.com

A comparison of three surveys in the past two years shows that the attachment of some - but not all - American Jews to Israel has decreased significantly. The most recent edition of National Survey of American Jews, sponsored by the Jewish Agency's Education

In other areas, as well, Israel declined as an important factor in the lives of American Jews. 65% said they closely follow Israel news - down from 74% two years ago. 31% said they talk about Israel frequently with friends (39% with Jewish friends), down from 43% (53%) in 2002.

Questioned on their religious denomination, 9% identified themselves as Orthodox, 36% as Conservative and 40% as Reform.

A third survey, however - less scientific, and of a different cross-section - shows different results. An Arutz-7 Readership Survey taken last month shows that 74% of those who responded "care deeply about the Land and State." About 2/3 of the readers live in the U.S. Approximately 60% of the Arutz-7 respondents (72% of the Jews) identified themselves as Orthodox or Torah Jews. (16% are Bnei Noach or Christian).

Among American Jewry as a whole, there was no significant decline in religious observance and communal affiliation - but these were not too high to begin with. Seventy percent held or attended a Seder last year [down from 73% in the previous poll], 59% fasted at least part of the day on Yom Kippur [no change], 57% generally attend High Holiday services, only just above a quarter attend Sabbath services at least once a month, 24% live in a household that usually lights Sabbath candles [down from 23%], and only 20% have separate dishes for meat and dairy [up from 14%].

The nationwide Jewish Agency poll asked about Jews' political attitude towards Israel. Some 37% said they were "often disturbed by Israel's policies and actions," while another 30% were not sure. It was not clear, however, what exactly about Israel's policies disturbed them, and whether the policies in question leaned too far to the right - or possibly too far to the left.

Respondents were asked whether they agreed that Israeli soldiers are often unnecessarily brutal towards Palestinian civilians (only 20% agreed), and that Israel persecutes a minority population (11%). Furthermore, only 13% agreed that Israel occupies lands that belong to another people.

The respondents did not have a chance, however, to say whether they agreed that "Israel is giving away too much too quickly," or whether "Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan is a reward for terrorism."

Yet another study, the National Jewish Population Survey of 2000-01, found that the greater one's Jewish education, the less likely one is to intermarry. 43% of those who lacked any Jewish education intermarried, 29% among those who had one day per week of Jewish education intermarried, 23% of those who had part-time Jewish education intermarried, and only 7% of those who attended Jewish day school or yeshiva intermarried.