Religion in Israel

The position of religion in Israel is unique in the sense that Israel is the only country in which the majority of citizens registered as religious Jews.

Israel is a Jewish state, but no theocracy; other religions are respected. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, a total of 75.4 % Jewish, 16.9 % Muslim, 2.1% Christians and 1.7% Druze in 2005. The remaining 4 % were classified not religious or belonged to smaller religious communities, such as the Bahai.

According to the Law of Return is counted as a devout Jew and must immigrate, who is born as a child of a Jewish mother or converted to Judaism, and belongs to any other religion. In this section non-religious Jews fall with the result that atheistic immigrant and non-believers descendants of Jews be expected statistically to the believing Jews. The proportion of atheists and non-believers in the country is estimated at 15 % to 37 % of the population, many of whom identify themselves as secular Jews.

Religion and Citizenship

Israel was established as a state, the Jews and to offer from around the world a home and it is intended to protect against persecution - Jews may for this reason today to immigrate to Israel. Although, according to Israeli law expressly etc. all citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity have equal rights, but enjoy people who meet the criteria of the Law of Return, certain privileges.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as haredim are exempt from military service in the Israeli army, to devote himself entirely to the study of the Torah and the Talmud can. Over the years, the proportion of ultra-Orthodox, who abstains from military service, grown to 10 % of the population.

One source of tension is the fact that the State of Israel knows no separation of religious and state organization, so no civil marriages in professional ethics. Marriages in Israel are practically only possible between members of the same religion. Abroad accomplished civil marriages are recognized, however, even if they were problematic according to religious marriage law. So a real marriage tourism towards Cyprus has evolved in recent years. But difficulties arise in divorce cases such marriages.

Judaism

For the religious consciousness of the Jewish people since time immemorial Jerusalem plays a prominent role. This is based on the biblical traditions of King David who made ​​Jerusalem the capital of his empire, and on the west wall as the only remnant of the Herodian Temple.

Islam

In East Jerusalem is the third most important sanctuary of Islam, after those in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia: the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem where the Dome of the Rock and the Al -Aqsa Mosque stand. From here, Muhammad should have ascended on a horse-like creature in the sky. The original Qibla of Islam during the lifetime of Muhammad was aligned to Jerusalem, later it has Muhammad prohibited his followers to pray in this direction. The Temple Mount is under the control of a Waqf, an Islamic institution.

Most Israeli Muslims are ethnic Arabs or Arabic-speaking and belong to the Sunni direction.

In Haifa, a small group lives of Ahmadiyya Muslims and on the Golan Heights there is a village with Alawites.

Christianity

Israel and the Holy Land is the place where Jesus was born, lived, died and, according to the core confession of the Christian faith, was resurrected. Through the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in Christendom. The most important sites of Christianity are under common management of the ( Greek ) Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Especially in relation to the Roman Catholic Church there is tension due to its numerous churches Union.

The now living in Israel Christians make but a small minority represents the majority of them are Arabs and belong to the Melkite Church. The Orthodox Church experienced numerous internal tensions. The higher clergy consists exclusively of Greeks, while lower clergy and church people are essentially Arabs. Since the arrival of many immigrants from the former Soviet Union there are also some Russian Orthodox Christians living in Israeli territory. Since ancient times, there are also Armenian and Coptic Christians. At the time of the Crusades, a Latin hierarchy was built, but only nominally existed after 1291. Responsible for the Catholics in the country was the Custos of the Franciscans. Only in the 19th century, the hierarchy was restored with the establishment of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Since the 19th century there are also Anglicans and Lutherans in the region. Church of the Redeemer is the center for Arabic, Danish, Swedish, English and German Lutherans.

Moreover, in Israel there is some evangelical free churches including the

• Baptists, 2,000 believers
• Seventh- day Adventists, 2,000 worshipers, most followers are from the former Soviet Union. There are Hebrew, English, Romanian and Filipino communities.

About the number of Messianic Jews among the Israelis, which are distributed to some 80 communities, there are no reliable figures. They are estimated at 2,500 to 5,000. They understand Jesus Christ as Messiah. Nevertheless, a different religious beliefs from orthodox Jewish perspective does not change the assignment to Judaism as a people and religion. Most believers are from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia.

Special Christian Communities

The Jehovah's Witnesses refuse military service and not swear allegiance to the Israeli flag. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints there in Israel since 1972. Has today two communities. The New Apostolic Church has 7 municipalities and 700 members.

Other Religions

The Samaritans form their own religious community which has emerged as Judaism from the people of Israel. There are today in Israel and the West Bank about 700 Samaritans, who all live in the territory of historic Palestine.

In the north of Israel is home to around 120,000 Druze (2005 ), who see themselves as an independent religious community.

Next few hundred Baha'is live in Israel, especially in Haifa and Acre, where a major pilgrimage objectives of this nachislamischen religion are that make up the Bahai World Centre, which in 2008 was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Buddhists and Hindus are not statistically recorded separately in Israel. Most are migrant workers and living in the region of Tel Aviv.