Topics Analysis

Analysis of Sermon Mentions of the Gaza Hostages since October 7

Since the October 7 attacks, the issue of hostages has occupied a central place in public discourse, political activism, and Jewish communal concerns worldwide. Yet, when we turn to synagogue sermons about Israel – the spaces where moral, religious, and communal values are articulated – we find a more complex, perhaps unexpected picture.

An analysis of sermons about Israel delivered in Modern Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform congregations reveals distinct denominational approaches. Conservative sermons have referenced the Gaza hostages most frequently, in 20% of sermons. Reform sermons follow closely behind, with 17% referencing the hostages. Modern Orthodox sermons, in contrast, contain the fewest references to hostages, appearing in only 11% of sermons. Given the centrality of this issue in both Israeli and global Jewish discourse, this lower-than-expected engagement raises compelling questions about how different Jewish movements prioritize political and humanitarian topics in religious settings.

Analysis of Mentions of Ceasefire in Sermons

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, 2023, discussions around a ceasefire have dominated international diplomacy, media coverage, and advocacy campaigns. However, an examination of synagogue sermons about Israel across Modern Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform denominations reveals a strikingly different trend. Despite the global prominence of ceasefire debates, references to the topic remain sparse in Jewish sermons.

The data indicates that Reform sermons include the highest percentage of ceasefire mentions, but even within this movement, just 4% of Israel-related sermons have addressed the issue. Modern Orthodox sermons follow with 2%, while Conservative sermons contain the fewest references, at just 1%. These findings suggest that although Jewish clergy engage with various aspects of the conflict, calls for a ceasefire are not a dominant theme in religious discourse. There are several potential reasons for this. One possible explanation is that clergy are navigating congregational sensitivities, avoiding direct discussion of a ceasefire due to the deeply polarized views within their communities. Given the range of opinion, from strong support for Israel’s military actions to calls for de-escalation, rabbis may be reluctant to introduce sermon topics that could cause division among congregants. Another consideration is that the limited emphasis on a ceasefire may reflect an alignment with mainstream Jewish communal organizations, many of which have not prioritized ceasefire advocacy in their public messaging. Instead, these organizations have focused on other aspects of the war, such as supporting Israel’s security concerns and addressing humanitarian issues.

This limited engagement with ceasefire discussions contrasts with the relatively higher mentions of other topics, such as humanitarian aid to Gaza, the plight of the hostages, and discussions of international law. This suggests that while Jewish clergy acknowledge aspects of the humanitarian crisis, they do not necessarily frame these concerns within the broader ceasefire debate. The following graph shows this more clearly.

Comparison Between Mentions of the Hostages and Other Political Topics

To understand these trends more fully, it is helpful to compare discussions of the hostage crisis with other politically charged topics such as humanitarian aid, civilian casualties, and international law.

The chart illustrates how post-October 7 Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox sermons engage with political and humanitarian concerns. The most striking trend is the overwhelming focus on the hostage crisis, which dominates discussions across all three denominations. Conservative sermons mention hostages the most at 20%, followed by Reform at 17%, and Modern Orthodox at 11%.

Beyond the hostage issue, Reform sermons stand out for their broader engagement with politically charged topics. Humanitarian aid is the second most discussed subject, appearing in 13% of Reform sermons, while ceasefire and international law are both mentioned at 4%. Gaza civilian casualties receive some attention at 1%. By contrast, Conservative sermons, while still primarily focused on the hostages (20%), engage with humanitarian aid at 4%, ceasefire at and Gaza civilian casualties at 1%, while international law is nearly absent. Modern Orthodox sermons remain the most narrowly focused, with the hostages dominating at 11%, and only minimal mentions of a ceasefire (2%), humanitarian aid and Gaza civilian casualties (1%). International law is entirely absent from Modern Orthodox sermons.

These trends suggest that each denomination approaches these issues through a distinct lens. Reform sermons reflect the most extensive engagement with ethical, humanitarian, and legal concerns, and incorporate a more diverse range of political discussions. Conservative sermons, though still hostage-focused, offer limited engagement with humanitarian issues. Modern Orthodox sermons remain almost exclusively centered on the hostages and largely avoid broader political or humanitarian debates. This divergence underscores the varying ways different Jewish communities interpret and prioritize aspects of the Israel-Hamas conflict in their public discourse, shaped by theological perspectives, communal expectations, and broader ideological affiliations. While Reform communities tend to reflect on a wider range of humanitarian and legal issues, Conservative and Modern Orthodox communities maintain a more concentrated focus on the hostage crisis.

Analysis of Positive Messaging in Sermons Across Jewish Denominations

The following graphs provide insight into the positive messages conveyed in sermons across Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox denominations over the past three years. By analyzing the presence of each theme across all 4,302 sermons, these graphs illustrate how different movements emphasize key themes that reflect their values and priorities. They also highlight variations in emphasis and offer a comparative view of how each denomination engages with and relates to these themes.

• Encouragement to strengthen connections with Israel: Sermons in this category promote ties with Israel in various ways. Some highlight the spiritual and religious bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel, reinforcing its central role in Jewish faith and heritage. Others encourage active support for Israel through advocacy, expressions of solidarity, or visiting the country. Many sermons frame Israel as a unifying force for Jews worldwide,
• Encouragement of tolerance: Sermons in this category underscore the importance of acceptance, peace, and coexistence. These messages often promote respect for others, regardless of differences in beliefs or backgrounds, and call for unity among different Jewish denominations and communities. Many also extend beyond intra-Jewish relations, advocating interfaith and multicultural understanding as a means of fostering peaceful relationships with non-Jewish communities.
• Encouragement to embrace Jewish tradition. These discussions stress the importance of maintaining Jewish customs, heritage, and identity. Sermons in this category frequently urge observance of mitzvot, such as keeping Shabbat, following kosher dietary laws, and engaging in regular prayer. Others focus on deepening cultural and historical appreciation, strengthening Jewish identity, and emphasizing Torah study and Jewish teachings. There is also a strong emphasis on transmitting Jewish traditions to future generations to ensure continuity in faith and practice.
• Compassion and mutual responsibility: These values are central to many sermons and focus on kindness, empathy, and communal responsibility. Calls to perform acts of charity (tzedakah) and to support those in need are prevalent, as are messages stressing the importance of uplifting and assisting fellow community members in difficult times. Kindness and empathy in daily interactions are frequently cited, as is the value of volunteerism and service. In times of hardship, sermons reinforce the need for unity and collective strength, reminding communities of the importance of standing together in facing challenges.

Analysis of these themes can help better understand how Jewish communities use sermons to reinforce religious values, social unity, and a deep, enduring relationship with Israel. Each denomination weaves together spiritual guidance, communal support, and a commitment to Jewish continuity in ways that resonate with its respective audiences.

Analysis of these graphs provides a deeper understanding of how Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox Jewish communities have prioritized different themes in their sermons over the past three years.

One of the most striking findings is the variation in emphasis on strengthening connections to Israel. Reform communities place the least emphasis on this theme, with only 20% of sermons highlighting it, whereas Conservative and Modern Orthodox communities dedicate significantly more attention, 35% and 41% respectively. This aligns with broader ideological tendencies – Reform Judaism, which often engages in critical discourse on Israeli policies, focuses less on Zionist messaging compared to Conservative and Modern Orthodox movements, which demonstrate a clearer commitment to strengthening ties with Israel.

Tolerance emerges as another key theme, with Reform communities leading the discourse in this area (65%), followed by Conservative (54%) and Modern Orthodox (47%). This trend reflects the broader philosophical approach of Reform Judaism, which prioritizes inclusivity and social justice. Beyond the stronger emphasis on this theme in Reform sermons, the data demonstrates that tolerance remains a central topic across denominations, reinforcing its fundamental role in Jewish religious discourse.

Embracing Jewish tradition remains a unifying theme across denominations, with high levels of engagement: 73% in Reform sermons, 78% in Conservative, and 78% in Modern Orthodox. Despite theological and ideological differences, Jewish tradition remains central in religious discourse across movements. Even within Reform communities, often viewed as more flexible in observance, there is still a strong emphasis on heritage and religious continuity.

Messages of compassion and mutual support are also prevalent across denominations, with relatively similar percentages – 74% for Reform, 69% for Conservative, and 69% for Modern Orthodox. This suggests that regardless of political and theological orientation, Jewish communities prioritize values of kindness and communal responsibility, particularly in times of hardship. The near-equal emphasis across denominations highlights the universal importance of compassion in Jewish teachings and reinforces its fundamental role in Jewish religious discourse.

Broader Implications of these Findings

1. Reform Judaism prioritizes social values over Israel: Reform sermons focus significantly more on tolerance (65%) and compassion (74%) than on strengthening ties with Israel (20%). This suggests that Reform communities prioritize ethical values and social justice over Zionist messaging, in contrast to Modern Orthodox and Conservative communities, where Israel plays a more central role.

2. Modern Orthodox and Conservative communities have a stronger Zionist emphasis: Modern Orthodox and Conservative sermons are nearly twice as likely to include positive messages about Israel compared to Reform sermons. This reflects a stronger ideological commitment to Zionism within these communities.

3. Jewish tradition as a common thread across denominations:  Despite theological and political differences, all denominations emphasize Jewish tradition, with more than 70% of all sermons highlighting it. This underscores the role of Jewish identity and historical continuity as shared elements binding all denominations together.

4. Compassion and tolerance as central values: Messages of compassion and mutual support are widespread across all Jewish denominations, and despite ideological divides, the importance of community care and solidarity remains strong.

Analysis of Sermons Containing the Word “Aliyah”

An analysis of sermons about Israel that referenced “Aliyah” (immigration to Israel) provides a picture of how different Jewish denominations engage with this concept.

What stands out most is that Aliyah is rarely mentioned across the three movements, with only slight variations between them.

Modern-Orthodox referenced Aliyah most frequently, appearing in 6.1% of sermons, followed closely by Conservative sermons at 5.7%, and Reform sermons at 3.5%. While Modern Orthodox communities have historically been more closely associated with Zionism and Aliyah, these numbers suggest that, in practice, Aliyah is not a central focus in sermons for any denomination. Instead, Jewish communities across the spectrum, regardless of their ideological stance on Israel, appear to prioritize discussions on other aspects of Jewish life over the promotion of immigration. Rather than emphasizing Aliyah, sermons tend to focus on strengthening the connection with Israel in broader ways. This suggests that Diaspora Jews – regardless of denomination – recognize Israel’s importance but do not necessarily frame Aliyah as an urgent or essential objective.

These findings highlight the complexity of Diaspora Jewish identity – while Israel remains a central point of reference, Aliyah is not a primary focus in American Jewish religious messaging. This underscores that despite ideological differences, Jewish communities across denominations remain deeply invested in maintaining a vibrant Jewish life outside of Israel while fostering strong connections to the Jewish state.