An overwhelming majority of American Jews, across all religious streams, light Hanukkah candles at home, according to a study conducted during the months of the war by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and published today (Sunday). The surveys revealed that the vast majority of participants indicated they are lighting candles for all eight nights of Hanukkah this year. As expected, the more one moves up the religious spectrum from liberal to conservative (Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox, etc.), the higher the percentage of respondents who light candles on all eight nights of the holiday.
Skipping the Tree and Celebrating Hanukkah
The connection of American Jews to tradition is also evident in the following statistic: a large majority of Jewish participants (90%) stated that there will be no Christmas tree in their home this year (a significantly lower rate compared to findings from previous surveys).
Israel’s Strength – Jewish Security Worldwide
The latest survey shows an improvement in the sense of personal security among American Jews.
Although slightly more than a third of respondents (36%) reported that the war in Israel makes them feel less safe, and an additional 46% said the war “somewhat” affects their security concerns, these figures represent a slight improvement in respondents’ sense of security compared to previous months.
Hostage Release and Ceasefire in Gaza
Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, American Jews believe Israel’s refusal of a ceasefire in Gaza until the release of all hostages is legitimate.
Among conservatives, 99% agreed with this stance, while among “very liberal” Jews, the support was significantly lower (52%).
A political breakdown also revealed that 98% of Jewish Trump voters agreed with this, while even among Harris voters, 65% were in agreement.
Emily Hand Meeting Her Father After Being Freed from Hamas Captivity
