November 10, 2020

Christians in Israel, By the Numbers

Despite some wild claims to the contrary, Christians are thriving in the Jewish state

On the eve of Christmas, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released their 2019 report showing that the number of Christians living in Israel is growing at about the same rate as the Jewish population, while the Muslim population is faster than both.

The report shows that about 177,000 Christians live in Israel.

Approximately 77.5% of Christian citizens of Israel are Arabs, while the Arab Christian population makes up only about 7% of the entire Arab sector.

The Christian population in Israel grew by 1.5% in 2019. For comparison, the rate of growth in the Jewish population in 2019 was just slightly higher at 1.7%, and the Muslim population even higher at 2.3% growth.

Most of Israel’s Arab Christians live in the north of the country (71%). The number of Christians who are not Arabs has also risen in Israel, chiefly since the 1990’s. The non-Arab Christians are mostly members of Jewish families who immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return. About 41% of these non-Arab Christians live in Tel Aviv and the Central region of the country, compared to 34% in the North and Haifa region.

The largest Arab Christian population is located in Nazareth with about 22,000 Arab Christians, followed by Haifa with about 16,000, Jerusalem with 13,000 and Sheferam, a Christian Arab town in the Galilee, with some 10,000. In the three major cities of Israel, there is a high concentration of non-Arab Christians – 4,000 in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, 3,900 in Haifa and 3,300 in Jerusalem.

The average number of children under the age of 17 in all Christian families is 1.87. These figures are lower compared to the Jewish families, where the number is 2.37 children, and Muslim families, where the number stands at 2.77 children per family. About 12% of the Christian population in Israel are above the age of 65, compared to 14% among the Jews and only 4% among Muslims.

The percent of women studying in higher education, especially in advanced degree programs, among the Christian population is higher than all other sectors of the Israeli population. About 74% of Christian students who studied toward a masters degree were women, compared to 63% of female students among non-Christian populations. In doctoral studies, 63% percent of Christian students are women, compared to 53% of female students in the general population.

The highest percent of students who received a high school matriculation certificate that meets the requirements to enter university stood at 70.9% among the Christian Arabs. Among the students in the Hebrew educational system, the matriculation rate is 70.6%, among Druze about 64%, and Muslims about 45%.

The Book of Proverbs

Chapter 27

Do not boast about tomorrow, 

for you do not know what a day may bring.

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; 

and outsider, and not your own lips.

Stone is heaven and sand a burden, but a fool's provocation

is heavier than both.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, 

but who can stand before jealousy?

Better is open rebuke

than hidden love

(What do you think Solomon means when he says hidden love?)

Words from a friend can be trusted, 

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

One who is full loathes honey from the comb, 

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. 

Like a bird that flees its nest

is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, 

and the pleasantness of a friend 

springs from their heartfelt advice. 

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, 

and do not go to your relatives

house when disasters strikes

you---

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep 

going and the penalty.

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; 

hold it in pledge it is is done for an outsider.

If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor 

early in the morning, 

it will be taken as a curse.

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping

of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; 

restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

As iron sharpens iron, 

so one person sharpens another. 

The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, 

and whoever protects their master will be honored.

As water reflects the face

so one's life reflects the heart.

( Life is more than things.) 

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes. 

 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise. 

 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them. 

 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 

When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. 

You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.

Have a great day!