Shana Tova: The observance of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur among Jews in the UK

In this report:

This factsheet explores how different Jews celebrate the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and finds that Rosh Hashana is the most observed Jewish festival among British Jews. The factsheet uses data from JPR’s recent study of Jewish identity in the UK today, based on the responses of nearly 5,000 British Jews, members of the JPR Research Panel, to its UK National Jewish Identity Survey, carried out in November and December 2022.

Some of the key findings in this factsheet:

• Of all the major Jewish holidays explored by JPR’s survey, Rosh Hashana was the most widely observed, with 74% of Jews in Britain observing rituals at home in September 2022, followed by attending a seder meal at Passover or a candle-lighting ceremony at Chanukah (both 71%).
• 57% of Jews attended at least one in-person synagogue service during Rosh Hashana 2022.
• Jewish men were more likely than Jewish women to attend a Rosh Hashana synagogue service (in person) but less likely to observe ritual practices at home.
• Larger Jewish households are more likely than smaller households to observe rituals such as eating apples and honey.
• Over half of the respondents (56%) said they fast on Yom Kippur every year. Almost one in five said they ‘never’ fast, and 13% said they do not fast ‘due to health reasons’.