Poll finds faith firm among Israelis

While half of Israeli Jews are secular, the majority believe in God, a survey found. According to the poll of 1,000 respondents published in Monday’s Yediot Achronot newspaper, 50 percent of Israeli Jews are secular and 20 percent are religious, while the rest profess a “traditional” approach to their heritage. But 85 percent of respondents say they believe in God or a “higher power,” while 12 percent say they are atheists. The rest are undecided.Seventy percent of Israeli Jews shun leavened bread during Passover, the survey found. Sixty-one percent say kiddush on Friday nights, and an equal number light Shabbat candles.