A just released poll by the Ruderman Family Foundation shows that a staggering 82% of Israelis believe that all Jews, including Reform and Conservative, should feel that the Kosel belongs to them and that every Jew, regardless of denomination should feel welcome in Israel.

“As the holiest site in Judaism, the Western Wall should be open to all Jews. Especially during a time of strained relations with the United States, Israel should be fortifying its connection to the American Jewish community, which plays a vital role in assuring a strong relationship between Israel and the United States,” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, which focuses on strengthening the relationship between Israel and American Jewry. “By assuring the Kosel is open to Jews of all denominations, Israel will be sending a message to the seventy percent of American Jews, who are not Orthodox, that their connection to Israel is important to the Jewish State.”

The poll, conducted by Dialog, also comes amid recent controversy over Israeli political and religious leaders’ diatribe over other denominations in Judaism, not viewing them as legitimate.

In December of last year, Israel Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett visited a Conservative Jewish school in New York, only to have the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Dovid Lau call the visit unacceptable. Furthermore, Israel’s Minister of Religious Services David Azoulai enraged Jewish Reform leaders last July when saying Reform Jews are not Jews.

However, the Israeli public seems to feel a much different sentiment, as displayed in a poll that asked Israeli Jews from around the country about their views on American Jewry. The 8-question survey (see complete poll results below) also delved further into the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community, with 67% of Israelis feeling the connection has a direct impact on the relationship between the two countries.

Perhaps more telling however was the finding that 59% of Israelis agreed that distancing from American Jewry is a threat to state security.

Jay Ruderman added: “The Israeli public clearly understands the importance for the State of Israel to connect to and welcome Jews of all affiliations. The American Jewish community, the overwhelmingly majority of which identifies as non-Orthodox, remains one of Israel’s most important strategic assets. Israelis understand that if their government alienates this most important Diaspora community, it will have an adverse effect on their own future.”

Complete poll results:

Question 1

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared to the leadership of the Jewish community in the United States that “every Jew should feel that the Western Wall [Kotel] belongs to him and every Jew should feel welcome in Israel.”

Do you agree or disagree that all Jews, including Reform and Conservative, should feel that the Western Wall [Kosel] belongs to him and that every Jew should feel welcome in Israel?

82% – Agree

14% – Disagree

4% – Don’t know

Question 2

A few months ago, Minister of Religious Affairs David Azoulai said that “the Reform Jews in America have lost their way, and we need to make sure that all Jews return to Judaism.” Do you think these comments from a senior Israeli leader are harmful to Israel?

55% – Harmful

30% – Not harmful

15% – Don’t know

Question 3

Do you think that the American Jewish community supports Israel today as it did in the past, more than before, or less than before?

42% – Less than before

32% – Same as before

15% – Don’t know

11% – More than before

Question 4

Why do you think there’s a distancing taking place?

29% – Israel isn’t as interesting to them as in the past

20% – Israeli governments haven’t invested enough in strengthening the relationship

17% – American Jews do not feel that Israel respects their Jewishness

16% – As a result of offensive comments made by MKs and Ministers toward American Jewry

12% – American Jews are afraid that supporting Israel may harm them

6% – Don’t know

Question 5

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community has a direct impact on the relationship between the two countries?

67% – Agree

19% – Disagree

14% – Don’t know

Question 6

Do you think leaders and opinion-leaders, both in Israel and the U.S., should or should not take action in order to strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community?

88% – Yes (should take action)

6% – No

6% – Don’t know

Question 7

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “The distancing of the American Jewish community from Israel is a threat to state security”?

59% – Agree

27% – Disagree

14% – Don’t know

Question 8

Which do you think is the largest religious movement within the American Jewish community?

38% – Secular Jews

32% – Reform

17% – Orthodox

12% – Conservative

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)