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Israeli Attitudes on Synagogue and State

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2013

Bethany Blackstone*
Affiliation:
University of North Texas
Tetsuya Matsubayashi*
Affiliation:
Osaka University
Elizabeth A. Oldmixon*
Affiliation:
University of North Texas
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Bethany Blackstone, Department of Political Science, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305340, Denton, TX 76203-5017. E-mail: bethany.blackstone@unt.edu
Tetsuya Matsubayashi, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, 1-31, Machikameyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan. E-mail: tetsuya.matsubayashi@gmail.com
Elizabeth A. Oldmixon, Department of Political Science, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305340, Denton, TX 76203-5017. E-mail: elizabeth.oldmixon@unt.edu

Abstract

This article investigates the attitudes of Israeli Jews on the proper relationship between religion and the state, using data from the 2009 Israeli National Election Study. Specifically we test whether association with the secular or religious communities structures mass attitudes on this important dimension of Israeli politics. Mass level disagreement in this area dates back to the pre-state period and represents a longstanding cleavage in Zionist thought and Israeli politics. We find that mass attitudes toward religion and public life are associated with religious observance and identification with religious parties and social groups.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2013 

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