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Level of Engagement
How connected do you personally feel with the Jewish community in the area where you live?
Eighty-two percent of those who believe the connection is important feel at least somewhat connected, and 51% feel very connected. Even among those who indicated that the connection was important to them, 18% say that they do not feel a connection.
Most of those who do not feel a connection to community institutions do not strongly value the connection in the first place. Over three-quarters of the unconnected regard feeling personally connected to the community to be unimportant. Both surveys suggest that the majority of unconnected people do not care to be connected.
Level of Engagement
Few are deeply engaged with community organizations
In 2019, 40% reported being at least somewhat engaged in community organizations or institutions, but only 11% said that they were very engaged. Sixty percent indicated that they were not very engaged, including 28% who said that they were not engaged at all. By 2021, engagement declined with only 34% saying they were actively engaged with Jewish organizations. This decline occurred across most demographics, with the Orthodox being one of the few to show an increase.
The slight decrease in engagement occurred across almost every demographic
There are several explanations for this decrease, with the main one being the impact of the pandemic on levels and types of engagement with communal institutions. It is possible that the restrictions on going to face-to-face meetings, events, or any social gatherings were the main or sole reason for this decline for those reporting being actively engaged in community organizations and institutions.
Looking at the individual level change in those who participated in both surveys shows a decline in the intensity of engagement as well. While few shifted from being engaged to not engaged, nearly a quarter shifted downward, from “very engaged” to “somewhat engaged.”
Change in engagement of respondents from 2019 survey: How actively engaged are you in Jewish institutions or organizations?
The aggregate numbers mask more changes at the individual level, with one in five saying that the connection is more important than in 2019, and slightly more saying that it is less important. Most of the change is in intensity rather than in shifting between important to unimportant.
While Jews engaged in community institutions are not defined by a single demographic, the overall engagement of more observant Jews is higher. Eighty-five percent of Orthodox and 47% of Conservative Jews are engaged, followed by Reconstructionist (46%) and Reform (37%) Jews.
Age and parenthood are also key factors. Forty-three percent of younger Jews (under 40 years old) say that they are at least somewhat engaged, engagement dropping to 29% of middle-aged Jews and 29% of seniors. Engagement of parents with children at home is also higher (58%) than of those without children at home (35%). The higher level of community engagement of parents is consistent with the importance of Jewish continuity as a reason to become involved in the first place, as discussed below.
Like earlier surveys with larger sample sizes focusing on the Jewish community, this study also shows that connection and engagement are as strong or stronger when it comes to Jews with disabilities, Jews of color, and younger women. The level of engagement with community institutions is also a function of individuals’ personal connection to Judaism. Among those who
say that being Jewish is important to them, 47% are engaged, whereas among those who say it is not important, only 5% say that they are even somewhat engaged in community institutions.
Connection and engagement are as strong or stronger among the Jews with disabilities , Jews of color, and younger women.
Attitudes Toward Jewish Communal Institutions
Community institutions are generally seen in a positive light, but not everyone feels well represented
The absence of strong engagement is by no means a sign of antipathy, but it does point to the lack of a deep connection with Jewish communal institutions. Yet, those who are familiar with the organizations see them in a generally favorable light. When exploring the positive traits of communal institutions, 56% had a favorable impression of the Jewish Federation “in your area,” with only 8% unfavorable. Feelings about their “local Jewish Community Center” were a bit better, with 66% favorable and only 6% unfavorable. But 28% did not have an impression of the local JCC, and 36% did not have an impression of the Federation.
Some of this can be attributed to a lack of interest or opinions of the unengaged Jews. Fortynine percent of these do not have an opinion about the Jewish Federation, and 39% do not have an opinion about the Jewish Community Center (JCC). It is worth noting that among the unengaged members of the community, fewer than one in ten had unfavorable opinions (7% about the Jewish Federation, 5% about the JCC).
