The Complex Issue of Trust of Israel’s Jewish Religious Community in Health Care and Religious Institutions Involved in Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic

Many religious Jews resisted COVID-19 measures intended to reduce mortality and morbidity. This study examined Israeli religious Jews’ trust levels in healthcare and religious institutions and adherence to government COVID-19 guidelines, via an online survey of 459 Israeli religious, primarily ultra-Orthodox (Haredi), Jews. Bivariate analyses found that most respondents trusted rabbis and charitable/social services regarding COVID-19 guidelines, while under half trusted the four healthcare-related entities examined. However, those trusting the healthcare entities were far likelier to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This study has implications not only for Israeli religious Jews but for other groups where trust issues are endemic.