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Seeking Empowerment and Spirituality in the Secular Age: Secular and Traditionalist Israelis Consulting Rabbis

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Sociology

Published online on

Abstract

This empirical study investigates the phenomenon of secular and traditionalist (masorti) Israeli Jews who consult orthodox rabbis on personal matters. The study was conducted using a combined methodology: analysis of data from a large survey (N = 6056) and conducting 50 in-depth semi-structured interviews. We found that of the 24 percent of the Israeli Jewish population who regularly consulted rabbis, 43 percent defined themselves as secular or traditionalist. People from all social strata regularly consult rabbis. Their socio-demographic characteristics and experiences are presented here. The phenomenon of secular and less religious Jews who consult orthodox rabbis on personal matters indicates the current relevance of religion and spirituality as resources for empowerment when dealing with various kinds of existential and personal difficulty. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the secular age and post-secular societies by examining the middle ground between traditional-religion and secular-modernity. It indicates a contemporary blurring of these categories.