It is common to read in the media the results of surveys conducted by prestigious institutions such as PEW, PRRI, Brandeis University, and others to find out how members of a particular community identify as Jewish. These studies are routinely conducted in the United States and Israel, and sporadically in Jewish communities in other countries.

Reviewing some recently conducted surveys, we find that there is a significant group of respondents who, when asked what religion they practice, “tell us they are atheists, agnostics, or that they do not practice any religion.” This is commented by Greg Smith, director of religious surveys in the United States at the PEW Center. However, those Jews who did not answer with the word “Jewish” to the question: “What is your religion?”, later state that they are Jewish in another way. The PEW Center calls them “Jews of no religion,” secular, or cultural Jews. And these cultural Jews are on the rise. PEW says that among American Jews born before 1927, the so-called «Greatest Generation,» when asked about their religion, only 7% did not answer «Jewish.» In contrast, among American Jewish millennials, those born after 1980, 32% do not describe themselves as Jewish by religion. Instead, they identify as Jewish only on the basis of ancestry, ethnicity, or culture.

The Center for Cultural Judaism, established in New York City in 2003, maintains that cultural Jews have a deep passion for their Jewish identity, yet struggle to express it in a way that is consistent with their beliefs. These Jews do not find meaning in Judaism as a religion, but rather in Judaism as a culture, which is very meaningful to them. They are far from alone. In fact, a growing number of Jews around the world identify as cultural, not religious, Jews. The Center says: “Cultural Jews understand Judaism as the history, culture, civilization, ethical values, and shared experiences of the Jewish people. Their connection to their heritage is found in languages, such as Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino, literature, philosophy, art, dance, music, food, and the celebrations of the Jewish people. It is not religious beliefs that connect them to one another, but the entire civilization of their extended Jewish family.”

In Jerusalem, the College of Judaism as Culture, established in the wake of the 1994 Shenhar Commission, states that Judaism is a culture in motion. Its director, Martin Ben Moreh, says: “Judaism is a culture, not just a religion. There is a religion within that culture, but not vice versa.”

Whether or not we agree with the position of cultural or secular Jews, the fact remains that they represent a significant portion of the Jewish people today. In the United States, and especially in Israel, they represent more than 50%. Programs need to be implemented to nurture the Jewishness of this group before they declare themselves not Jewish culturally or religiously.

By Marcos Gojman.

References: Material from PEW, The Center for Cultural Judaism, and the College of Judaism as Culture.