Israel Democracy Institute

Who goes to Uman for Rosh Hashanah? IDI releases new poll as holiday approaches

Uman, a city in central Ukraine, is the burial site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.

Jewish men pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, October 1, 2024
 THE ZIONIST identity didn’t overcome the Jewish identity, nor did the opposite occur: An IDF soldier puts on tefillin.

National-religious men overrepresented in IDF reserves as haredim stay absent, IDI analysis finds

New York Times columnist Bret Stephens delivered the "State of World Jewry" talk at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, Feb. 1, 2026.

'Jewish terrorists': Pro-Israel columnist Bret Stephens speaks against West Bank settler violence

US VICE President JD Vance and President Donald Trump listen to Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, April 23, 2026, during an earlier round of talks. Trump leads now; Vance and Rubio are next. Israel was in the room as an ambassador, not a principal.

Editor's Notes: Israel just met the America that comes after Trump - comment


Most Israelis prefer compromise on judicial reform - poll

The new polling data from the Israel Democracy Institute shows that while most coalition voters support the reform and most opposition voters oppose it, most overall want compromise.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity leader MK Benny Gantz are seen moving to shake hands in the Knesset amid the vote on the controversial reasonableness standard bill, in Jerusalem, on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Judicial reform raises risk of war crime charges - ex-IDF int'l law chief

Former IDF international law division chief Col. (res.) Eran Shamir-Borer weighed in on the threat from the International Criminal Court.

 THE INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court in The Hague.

High cost of living is the issue that most concerns Israelis - survey

60% of Israelis polled blame the government for egregious living costs. Also of concern to respondents were judicial system reforms and national security.

 Israelis protest against the soaring housing prices in Tel Aviv and cost of living, on July 2, 2022.

Rothman: Open gov't inquiry into 'NSO scandal' police wiretapping

Gottlieb said, "No one can pass the audit on themselves, and we should think about examining things with a governmental or state investigative committee."

 SIMCHA ROTHMAN, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, was said to have ‘ruffled a few feathers’ when he addressed the Jewish Federations of North America last week.

Most Israeli Jews think IDF reservists' strike can impact gov't policies - poll

The study was released at an IDI conference, which saw discussion regarding the impact of the judicial reform protests on the ethos of the IDF as the "People's Army."

 IDF artillery reservists at a protest in front of the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.

Nearly 50% of Israeli Jews oppose Hametz Law despite Passover observance - poll

Almost half of Israeli Jews oppose barring hametz from hospitals during Passover, though most don't eat any during the holiday, a new Israel Democracy Institute poll found.

 Workers prepare matza, traditional unleavened bread eaten during the 8-day Jewish holiday of Passover, in "Yehuda Matzos" Plant in Jerusalem March 29, 2023.

Israel Democracy Institute holds emergency conference in light of judicial reforms

Participants came from Hungary, Poland, India, Ireland, Canada and France, during which they discussed the future of Israel.

 Thousands march in protest of the judicial reform in Tel Aviv, March 23, 2023.

Percentage of Israelis optimistic about national security drops to 31%

The percentage of Israelis who are optimistic about the future of Israel's national security declined from 46% in January to 31% in February. 

 Israelis are seen demonstrating near the Supreme Court in Jerusalem ahead of a vote in the Knesset on judicial reform, on February 20, 2023.

Judicial reforms would have devastating impact on Arab-Israelis - report

One of the first groups in the country to suffer the consequences of the judicial reforms will be the Israeli-Arab minority, Israel Democracy Institute warned.

General view of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on January 2, 2023.

Where are all the women in Israeli politics? - IDI report

“we are seeing a substantial decline” in women's representation in politics, the Israel Democracy Institute found.

 Galit Distal Atbaryan reacts during a plenum session in the Knesset, on February 6, 2023