Fun fact about new year's celebration in Israel

For a significant majority of Israeli Jews (78 percent), Dec. 31st is considered a “completely ordinary day.” Only 2 percent say that they conduct “soul searching” on the New Year, and only 6 percent say that Dec. 31st feels like their “real New Year’s Eve.”

The Jewish People Policy Institute is releasing this data as part of its #IsraeliJudaism research project, based on an extensive survey of Israeli Jews. A new book based on the research: “#IsraeliJudaism, a Portrait of a Cultural Revolution,” was published a few weeks ago by Dvir Publishing.

Dec. 31 is not only a (mostly unutilized) time for soul searching; it is also a time for celebration. People around the world celebrate the New Year and many (but not most) Israelis join these celebrations. One in five Israeli Jews (20 percent) celebrates the New Year. Of those without children, especially young people, the percentage rises to 34 percent, about a third of all Israeli Jews.