Joining a burial society is the second most popular reason for belonging to a synagogue — and the main one among older people — a JC poll has found.
Exactly a quarter of respondents to a question by Survation said they became members of a congregation for burial rights. The figure rose according to age, with 32 per cent of the 55-plus citing burial as their main membership priority, against just eight per cent of the 18-34s.
The top survey response, 29 per cent, represented those who said they joined a synagogue primarily to pray. The figure among 18-34s was 37 per cent, falling to 25 per cent for the 55-plus.
Nearly 19 per cent of the 350 men and 433 women polled put the social aspect as their main reason for joining a synagogue. Around 22 per cent cited unspecified other factors.
