"Before this war, my life was entirely secular; since October 7, that lifestyle has undergone a profound transformation."
In the past four months, a newfound closeness to God and Judaism has emerged among many Israelis. A survey, carried out by Lazar Research and published on Friday exclusively for The Jerusalem Post, reveals a dramatic shift in spiritual sentiment: a third of those polled have found their faith in God deepened during these challenging four months. This significant finding points to a collective search for comfort, understanding, and strength in adversity.The survey uncovered a striking divide in how people have been affected spiritually: a notable 33% of respondents experienced a strengthening of their belief in a higher power. In contrast, a smaller segment, 8%, reported a decline in their faith, while the majority, 59%, saw no shift in their spiritual outlook.
Delving deeper, the analysis shed light on interesting demographic trends. Faith reinforcement was powerful among those with traditional leanings, where 44% reported a deepened belief as opposed to just 16% of secular individuals. Age also emerged as a significant factor, with younger respondents more inclined to feel an increase in their faith.
If a third of Israeli Jews feel closer to God after this traumatic experience, that is a new and exciting trend. After the Holocaust, some survivors decided to become more religious, while others chose to distance themselves from anything to do with religion.
Editor's Notes: War with Hamas pushes Israelis closer to God
"Before this war, my life was entirely secular; since October 7, that lifestyle has undergone a profound transformation."
m.jpost.com
