Buddhism in Israel refers to the Buddhist community living in Israel. Buddhism in Israel constitutes a minority. According to World Population Review as of 2022 census, the population of Buddhists in Israel is around 20,000 constituting 0.30% of the total population. [1]
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 20,000 (2022); 0.3% of total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Tel Aviv, Haifa | |
| Religions | |
| Zen and Tibetan Buddhism | |
| Languages | |
| Hebrew, Chinese, English |
Buddhism was introduced to Israel in the mid-20th century, largely through the interest of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister. In the 1950s, Ben-Gurion began a correspondence with Nyanaponika Thera, a distinguished German-born Buddhist monk, which lasted for six years and had a lasting impact on Ben-Gurion's understanding of Buddhist philosophy. [2] In 1961, Ben-Gurion visited Burma (now Myanmar), where he spent time at a Buddhist retreat, further deepening his personal engagement with Buddhist practices [3] [4]
Following Ben-Gurion's interest, Buddhism began to gain attention in Israel. The 1960s and 1970s saw a growing interest in Eastern philosophies among Israelis, many of whom traveled to countries like India and Nepal, where they encountered Buddhist teachings. Upon returning, some individuals established meditation groups and centers, contributing to the gradual establishment of Buddhist communities within Israel. [5]
The Dalai Lama has visited Israel three times: in 1994, 1999, and 2006. [6]
An additional factor to Buddhism's introduction in Israel is that Jews and Buddhists have no history of communal conflict. [7] [8]
The World Religion Database states that as of 2020, approximately 0.47% of Israel's population identifies as Buddhist. [9]
Another source, NationMaster reported approximately 23,121 Buddhists in Israel in 2013, estimating for about 0.3% of the population at that time. [10] That year, between 20 and 25 Buddhist centers were operating in Tel Aviv. [11]
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(January 2025) |
Practicing Buddhism in Judaism is seen as a violation of the prohibition against idol worship (avodah zarah), and those who convert to Buddhism are considered apostates. One key reason of the acceptance of Buddhism is it's non-theistic nature. Buddhism does not involve a belief in God in the way that Judaism does, making it more accessible for Jewish agnostics and atheists. This allows them to embrace Buddhist practices without needing to make a significant change to their theological perspective.
It is pointed out by some observers that Judaism and Buddhism share a similar understanding of suffering. [12] Throughout Jewish history, suffering has been a recurring theme, especially highlighted by the Holocaust which has shaped a theology of suffering that permeates contemporary Jewish culture, even among those who may feel disconnected from the faith. In Buddhism, the concept of suffering is central to its teachings on spiritual salvation, emphasizing both its causes and solutions. The Jerusalem Report quoted about an Israeli living in Dharamsala, a town in northern India where the Dalai Lama lives. The Israeli said, "It's very Jewish, you know, to always talk about suffering, just like Buddhists do." [7]
The Diamond Way Buddhism Centers are among the most prominent Buddhist establishments in Israel, with seven locations spread across the country. These centers are part of a network that includes over 650 meditation centers associated with the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. [13] [14] [15]
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Nyanaponika Thera or Nyanaponika Mahathera was a Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist monk and scholar who, after ordaining in Sri Lanka, later became the co-founder of the Buddhist Publication Society and author of numerous seminal books and articles on Theravada Buddhism. He mentored and taught a whole generation of Western Buddhist leaders such as Bhikkhu Bodhi.
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Eastern philosophy in clinical psychology refers to the influence of Eastern philosophies on the practice of clinical psychology.
Piyadassi Maha Thera was a Theravādin Buddhist monk and preacher of the Dharma, both in Sinhalese and in English. He was born on 8 July 1914 at Kotahena in Colombo, Sri Lanka and was educated at Nalanda College, Colombo, thereafter at the University of Sri Lanka and the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University as a research student.
Buddhism in the United Kingdom is the fifth-largest religious group in the United Kingdom. The 2021 United Kingdom census recorded just under 290,000 Buddhists, or about 0.4% of the total population, with the largest number of Buddhists residing in Greater London and South East England. According to a Buddhist organisation, the growth of Buddhism in the United Kingdom is mainly a result of conversions.
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Buddhism in England has growing support. 238,626 people in England declared themselves to be Buddhist at the 2011 Census and 34% of them lived in London.
Jews and Buddhism: Belief Amended, Faith Revealed (1999) is a documentary narrated by Sharon Stone that compiles interviews and archival footage of prominent Jewish, Buddhist, and Jewish-Buddhist personalities—including the Dalai Lama, David Ben-Gurion, Allen Ginsberg, Rabbi Allen Lew, and Sylvia Boorstein—to explore the new phenomenon of American Jews who have been drawn to Buddhist tradition.
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