Study: Most Israelis Have a Bible, But Never Open It

Monday, January 06, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

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A study commissioned by the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem found that the vast majority of Israeli Jews have bibles in their homes, but that a less than one-third have opened the scriptures since school or their army service.

The Bible is a major subject matter in Israeli schools, and every Israeli soldier (military service is mandatory for all Israelis) receives a Bible marked with the IDF seal during his or her time in uniform. New army recruits are sworn in on the Bible.

And while most Israelis have failed to continue studying the Word of God into their adult lives, an overwhelming 96 percent majority said they favored continuing to teach the Bible to their children in public schools.

In remarks carried by The Jerusalem Post, Bible Lands Museum director Amanda Weiss said the results of the poll, which was carried out by Smith Research, reveal a “gap between the importance that we attach to the Bible as a nation and as individuals.”

Weiss recommended adjusted teaching methods to get Israeli children more genuinely interested in the scriptures so that they will continue to read the Bible even after they no longer have to do so for their studies.

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Monday, January 6, 2014