Do Most Jews Lean Liberal or Secular?

The question of whether most Jews are liberal or secular has long been a topic of interest and debate. While there are certainly variations within the Jewish community, the overarching trend indicates that the majority of Jews tend to identify as secular and hold liberal political views. This article aims to explore the religious and political landscape within the Jewish community, supported by data and research findings from reputable sources such as the Pew Research Center.

Secular Jews: The Majority

A significant portion of the Jewish population in the United States identifies as secular, meaning they do not practice traditional religious rituals or doctrines. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a slight majority of U.S. Jews consider religion to be either "very important" (26%) or "somewhat important" (29%) in their lives. This places them below the general U.S. population, where 56% of adults report that religion is very important to them, and an additional 23% say it is somewhat important.

Around 41% of U.S. Jews describe themselves as secular, which means they do not practice traditional Jewish religious rituals or adhere to religious teachings.

Liberal Political Leanings

The political leanings of the Jewish community are also influenced by their secular nature. A majority of secular Jews tend to lean liberal, much more so than the general population. However, there are notable exceptions, particularly among Orthodox Jews, who often have conservative political views.

Key Points:

Orthodox Jews tend to have conservative political leanings. Moderate and Conservative Jews lean slightly right or center. Secular Jews and Reform Jews tend to lean liberal.

Pew Research Center Poll: Political Leaning of Jews

To provide a more comprehensive understanding, let's delve into some key findings from the Pew Research Center's polls. These surveys offer insights into the political leanings of various Jewish subgroups within the United States.

Key Findings from the Pew Research Center Polls:

Conservative Jews: The Pew Research Center's surveys suggest that Conservative Jews, who represent a smaller portion of the Jewish population, tend to lean slightly to the right or center on political issues, placing them closer to the general population in political leanings. ModestLY Conservative Jews: This group, consisting of both Orthodox and some Conservative Jews, generally has more conservative views on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. They are more in line with the larger Conservative bloc. Liberal Jews: Reform Jews and secular Jews, who represent the largest segments of the Jewish population, tend to be more liberal on a broad range of social and political issues. They often align with the Democratic Party or lean towards liberalism in political campaigns.

The Pew Research Center's findings are backed by several comprehensive surveys, which not only highlight the liberal tendencies of secular Jews but also underscore the diversity within the Jewish community.