Faith strengthened after 10/7? Mostly among religious and ultra-Orthodox

The 2026 Religion and State Index by the Hiddush organization reveals that 31% of the public reported a strengthening of faith following the October 7 massacre and the war, but the figure is driven mainly by the ultra-Orthodox (65%) and religious (54%), compared to only 9% of secular Jews. The index shows a decline in support for Orthodox marriage, a rise in support for cohabitation without marriage, and stable support of about 59% for separation of religion and state. The central conflict in Israeli society has shifted from the religious-secular divide to the left-right divide.

The 2026 Religion and State Index by the Hiddush organization for Religious Freedom and Equality, conducted by statistician Rafi Smith among 800 adults from the Jewish population, presents a complex picture of changes in public attitudes following the October 7 massacre and the war. 31% of the public reported a strengthening of faith, but the figure is heavily skewed: 65% of ultra-Orthodox and 54% of religious Jews versus only 9% of secular Jews. 12% of secular Jews actually experienced a weakening of their faith. Politically, 45% on the right strengthened compared to only 11% in the center. Another 11% of the total public grew closer to tradition, mainly traditional Jews. A broad wave of religious return, similar to the Yom Kippur War, is not on the horizon. On marriage and citizenship, support for Orthodox marriage for oneself or one's children dropped from 61% in 2013 to 50%, mainly due to an increase in those preferring cohabitation without marriage (from 5% to 15%). 59% support separation of religion and state, similar to 60% in 2009. Support for public transportation on Shabbat remains stable at 65%-75%. 12% of the public identify with the Reform (7%) and Conservative (5%) movements. The central conflict in Israeli society has shifted: 81% cite the left-right rift as the most severe, compared to 74% for the rift between ultra-Orthodox and secular Jews. The ethnic conflict is marginal at 16%.