Half the Jews in Israel don’t know their Hebrew birth date

Half of Israel’s Jews don’t know when their Hebrew birthday is, according to figures from a survey commissioned by the BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture.

Ten percent said they didn’t know when Jewish festivals fall in the Hebrew calendar, although 23 percent said they do mark their Hebrew birthday.

The Jewish year follows a 12-month lunar calendar that is adjusted to roughly match the seasons of the Gregorian calendar. But Rosh Hashanah, for example, does not fall out on the same Gregorian date each year.

The Hebrew calendar dates back to biblical times, with references to it appearing in the Old Testament.

Among the ultra-Orthodox, only seven percent said they didn’t know their Jewish birthday. Nine percent responded that they follow the secular date instead.

The survey was conducted by the Geocartography Institute and polled a sample of 500 people.