Dr. George Gallup, director of the American Institute of Public Opinion in Princeton, conceded this week that synagogue attendance in the past 10 years has increased, despite a drop in over-all attendance at religious services during that period, the United Synagogue of America, central body of the Conservative Synagogue movement, announced today.
In the initial “audit” report which was released by Dr. Gallup several months ago, an impression was created that synagogue attendance had dropped along with attendance in Protestant and Catholic churches during the 10-year period covered in the report. In response to an inquiry from Rabbi Alvin Kass, editor of the United Synagogue Review, Dr. Gallup has now confirmed the results of a survey which the United Synagogue Review itself had conducted and which revealed “a decided rise in synagogue attendance during the High Holy Days and on the Sabbath during the past 10 years,” the announcement said.
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