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Evidence suggests that people who attend synagogue live longer
By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent

Adults who attend synagogue regularly live longer than their peers who do not attend synagogue, according to a recently published study carried out by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The research, conducted by Professor Howard Litwin of the university's Israel Gerontological Data Center (IGDC), was published in The European Journal of Aging.

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between social interaction and longevity.

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Litwin heads the IGDC, which was established with support from the Central Bureau of Statistics with the objective of researching aging in Israel.

The study was based on a Bureau of Statistics survey conducted in 1997, for which 5,000 Israeli men and women aged 60 and above were interviewed about their way of life.

In 2004, the number of participants still living was monitored. In a focus group of 1,811, some 38 percent had passed away.

The researchers then examined these findings in relation to the participants' way of life.

According to Litwin, the death rate was highest among participants who were elderly and sick. The participants were also classified according to income, with two-thirds more lower-income particpants passing away than higher income groups.

Among elderly people who suffered from depression, the death rate was 80 percent higher than among those who did not.

"These findings are not surprising," said Litwin, "but we did find two other unique variables that influence survival: the frequency of communication with friends and the frequency of synagogue attendance. Those who attended synagogue regularly clearly had the highest rate of survival," he said.

Data showed that the death rate was 75 percent higher among the group that did not attend synagogue than it was among the group that attended synagogue regularly.

Litwin said that there is no clear-cut explanation for the synagogue attendance effect, but outlined two main possibilities.

"One explanation is spiritual, that is, the individual faith factor," he said. "A series of studies that have been conducted in recent years, especially in the United States, argue that faith helps people deal with psychological pressure. People who believe and pray apparently survive longer," said Litwin.

"Another explanation is the connection between attending synagogue and belonging to a supportive community," he added.

Litwin said that in late old age decreased social activity is a common problem.

"A person who goes to synagogue has a function: He is called to the Torah, and he has a network of social ties in the community."

Litwin also noted that since religious Jews do not drive on Shabbat, a person who goes to synagogue regularly must be able to walk, and hence is healthier.

For those who do not attend synagogue, friends can serve as an alternative.

"It's important to remember that according to the findings, social ties carry the same weight as attending synagogue," Litwin stressed. "This means that in order to live long, there is no need to be particularly righteous, but it is important to be sociable."
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  1.   Brain washing to develop a sens of guilt 02:43  |  cc 21/08/07
  2.   synagogue prolongs life 03:16  |  schafe82 21/08/07
  3.   they don`t live longer 03:22  |  Jewish Athiest 21/08/07
  4.   IT DOES NOT SUGGEST 04:04  |  ALBERT 21/08/07
  5.   longevity and prayer 04:36  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 21/08/07
  6.   Efficacy of Judaism 04:37  |  Nathan 21/08/07
  7.   not a surprise 04:48  |  Selma 21/08/07
  8.   Interesting, Talmud says same thing 04:56  |  Barry 21/08/07
  9.   One more explanation 05:33  |  John 21/08/07
  10.   different conclusions could have been reached, and are 05:39  |  nehemia dB 21/08/07
  11.   Yeah of course 05:43  |  Dan 21/08/07
  12.   Nothing new, just a loaded headline 06:02  |  L A 21/08/07
  13.   Defensivness of the nonreligious comments to this finding 06:26  |  Yaacov 21/08/07
  14.   life 08:05  |  colin 21/08/07
  15.   But please give the evidence 08:08  |  Daniel 21/08/07
  16.   Very profound study 08:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 21/08/07
  17.   Dan 08:11  |  Angelique 21/08/07
  18.   Statistically: religious people happier, healthier. 08:13  |  AV 21/08/07
  19.   Yaacov #13, well put 08:38  |  Johnny 21/08/07
  20.   It won`t hurt most poster to this talkback to actually 08:43  |  Mufasa 21/08/07
  21.   How to misrepresemt with stastics 08:46  |  Tzemah 21/08/07
  22.   #21 You got it dead right. 09:12  |  L 21/08/07
  23.   This finding is common to all religions 09:21  |  Clickfool 21/08/07
  24.   religeon`s important role in longevity 09:31  |  w. bone 21/08/07
  25.   No Muslims or Christians? 09:51  |  Muslim 21/08/07
  26.   Survey in the UK 11:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 21/08/07
  27.   Eat more ham sandwiches! 11:50  |  Hannah 21/08/07
  28.   HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE JAPANESE PHENOMENEN 12:01  |  paul harris 21/08/07
  29.   The Japanese longevity has been explain by disciplined diet 13:10  |  Hal 21/08/07
  30.   Torturing Data ... 13:23  |  Statistician 21/08/07
  31.   relax `talkbackers`! 13:53  |  Doctor 21/08/07
  32.   #29 hal did you bother to read what this column is about ?? 14:08  |  victor hardman 21/08/07
  33.   Crazy Hannah 14:09  |  Hannah 21/08/07
  34.   My Theory 14:26  |  Anonymous 21/08/07
  35.   Better but not longer 14:49  |  Rabbi Gail 21/08/07
  36.   Wow ! 14:56  |  Frederique 21/08/07
  37.   For Chris Linthwaite # 26 14:59  |  Clickfool 21/08/07
  38.   Margie in the UK 15:04  |  GABE1 21/08/07
  39.   to schafe82 - works for Christians as well 15:07  |  Uri 21/08/07
  40.   shool fool 15:25  |  tulli 21/08/07
  41.   To Paul #28 15:30  |  Uri 21/08/07
  42.   Now that is a surprise!! 15:30  |  Maimon 21/08/07
  43.   FYI Maimon : Women don`t make the minyan 15:39  |  Frederique 21/08/07
  44.   Attend synagogue, live longer 16:22  |  Isabelle Shore 21/08/07
  45.   "HANNAH"re eat more ham sandwiches.YOU are what you eat 16:25  |  PETER SM 21/08/07
  46.   Synagogue L`Chaim! 16:42  |  CHGODMK 21/08/07
  47.   The notion of Synaguogue in Judaism developed 16:45  |  Joseph E . 21/08/07
  48.   Frederique...please pursuade the liberals on that part.... 16:46  |  Maimon 21/08/07
  49.   Uri in Estonia 16:47  |  CHGODMK 21/08/07
  50.   Secular Jew / Moslem responses 16:48  |  Moshe 21/08/07
  51.   Maimon 17:07  |  CHGODMK 21/08/07
  52.   It just feels longer 18:23  |  :) 21/08/07
  53.   reverse causality 19:09  |  ben 21/08/07
  54.   #52 19:14  |  MichaelF 21/08/07
  55.   #27 - Hannah 19:17  |  MichaelF 21/08/07
  56.   Just living..... 19:21  |  Esther 21/08/07
  57.   Another valuable study 19:24  |  tadchase 21/08/07
  58.   Chris Linthwaite 19:33  |  Nik Miller 21/08/07
  59.   shame on us all 19:45  |  Barry 21/08/07
  60.   Moshe in Jerusalem 19:53  |  CHGODMK 21/08/07
  61.   #58 Nik Miller 20:16  |  Chris linthwaite 21/08/07
  62.   People want to live longer but Oslo-Peres brings Terror PLO 20:20  |  Joseph E . 21/08/07
  63.   IF I ATTENDED SYNAGOGUE.... 20:59  |  SM 21/08/07
  64.   Joseph E Wrong 20:59  |  danite 21/08/07
  65.   Barry in Jerusalem 21:14  |  CHGODMK 21/08/07
  66.   Why not just form a club 21:16  |  ODP1 21/08/07
  67.   People who attend synagogue live longer 21:27  |  Isabelle Shore 21/08/07
  68.   I used to live in 21:45  |  maria 21/08/07
  69.   Synagogue + Cretan diet 21:52  |  Frederique 21/08/07
  70.   FAKE HANNAH (aka Ms Kohn) ALERT! #33 21:52  |  Hannah 21/08/07
  71.   Living longer 22:31  |  Chaim Gorenstein 21/08/07
  72.   The Age of Immortality 23:01  |  AV 21/08/07
  73.   #55, MichaelF 23:35  |  Hannah 21/08/07
  74.   Antizionism is inauthentic Judaism 00:30  |  Hal 22/08/07
  75.   Synagogue goers live longer 00:52  |  John 22/08/07
  76.   It FEELS longer 01:25  |  Another atheist jew 22/08/07
  77.   Applies to all religions?? My foot... 01:37  |  klew 22/08/07
  78.   Live longer 02:49  |  Warren Kelsey 22/08/07
  79.   people who attend synagogue live longer 02:59  |  rabbino 22/08/07
  80.   ...UNLESS YOU ARE THE RABBI ! 03:26  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/08/07
  81.   Women DO count of the Minian, Frederique # 43 03:30  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/08/07
  82.   tadchase #57 - yet another worthwhile study