Psychological and sociological studies have reported that highly religious people have better men... more Psychological and sociological studies have reported that highly religious people have better mental health overall, which was also confirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little investigation has been undertaken to understand the actual enablers of religious coping that contextualize these mental health results. Australian pulpit rabbis were invited to submit sermons delivered on the eve of the first Sabbath of the pandemic. These sermons were conceived as "artifacts" of religious support and Nancy Ammerman's (2021) multidimensional model of lived religion-in particular, the narrative, embodied and moral dimensions-served as the conceptual framework for analysis. Religious support was evident in the sermons in the ways sacred texts and values were deployed to encourage shifts in conceptions associated with congregational gatherings and agency in private religious beliefs and behavior. By tapping in on faith in God, familiar religious concepts, and values, congregants were encouraged to abide by health directives, endure them, and sustain hope for a redemptive future. The contribution of this qualitative study lies in its identification of a dimension of religious support and how it assists people of faith during difficult times.
Historically, Jewish communities have invested considerable resources in Jewish educational progr... more Historically, Jewish communities have invested considerable resources in Jewish educational programs and interventions—such as Jewish day school education, supplemental education, youth groups, camps and Israel programs—to strengthen Jewish identity and promote Jewish flourishing. It is well understood that these programs alone are not the sole or even main contributor when it comes to supporting Jewish identity development. Background factors such as the type of Jewish home in which a person grows up are at least as important. This muddies the waters when it comes to assessing impact. Using a quantitative approach, we propose to address what measurable impact Jewish educational interventions have on Jewish identity outcomes. We take as our sample Jewish people from across the largest five English-speaking diaspora Jewish communities—the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa (N=~25,000)—which comprise about half (46%) of world Jewry and a large majority (83%) of diaspora Jewry. Our approach will allow us to (i) develop constructs representing the rich tapestry of contemporary Jewish identifications and, further, (ii) quantitatively analyze and contextualize the various interventions whilst (iii) controlling for variables associated with Jewish socialization and the family home. In unraveling the intricate threads of Jewish identity amidst the dynamic interplay of educational interventions and other background influences, our research strives to not only measure impact but illuminate the nuanced pathways shaping a vibrant and resilient Jewish identity in our diverse diaspora communities.
Australian Jews in the Shadow of War: Main Survey Findings, 2024
The Israel-Hamas war, which began on 7 October 2023, has had a significant impact on the Jewish c... more The Israel-Hamas war, which began on 7 October 2023, has had a significant impact on the Jewish community in Australia. A survey conducted in mid-November 2023 with 7,611 Australian Jewish adults sought to understand i) views about the Israel-Hamas war, ii) feelings about Israel, and iii) perceptions of antisemitism in Australia
Washtenaw County Area Jewish community study: Main report, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
Washtenaw County Area Jewish community study: Executive summary, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
A Blueprint for our Future: 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study, 2023
A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Mauric... more A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University, in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The principal goal of this study is to provide valid data about the San Diego Jewish community that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. Valid data are essential to effective decision making, allocation of resources, strategic priorities, community support, robust participation, and outreach. This report is based on data collected from 2,104 Jewish households in San Diego between June and September 2022. Survey respondents were randomly selected from all households in Greater San Diego.
A Blueprint for our Future: 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study, 2023
A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Mauri... more A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University, in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The principal goal of this study is to provide valid data about the San Diego Jewish community that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. Valid data are essential to effective decision making, allocation of resources, strategic priorities, community support, robust participation, and outreach. This report is based on data collected from 2,104 Jewish households in San Diego between June and September 2022. Survey respondents were randomly selected from all households in Greater San Diego.
Editors' introduction to Contemporary Jewry's special issue on the most recent Pew Research Cente... more Editors' introduction to Contemporary Jewry's special issue on the most recent Pew Research Center’s Jewish Americans in 2020 (Pew 2020) study
2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the... more The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the ways in which members of Long Beach's 17,700 Jewish households engage with Jewish life. The study describes the size and characteristics of the Jewish population and provides data that will effectively guide Jewish organizations as they plan for the next decade serving their community.
2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the... more The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the ways in which members of Long Beach's 17,700 Jewish households engage with Jewish life. The study describes the size and characteristics of the Jewish population and provides data that will effectively guide Jewish organizations as they plan for the next decade serving their community.
Jewish identification and engagement have cultural as well as religious salience. Jewish cultural... more Jewish identification and engagement have cultural as well as religious salience. Jewish cultural engagement, however, is overwhelmingly circumscribed as a fait accompli, often an outcome, rarely a predictor in quantitative examinations of contemporary Jewish life. Consequently, the sociological understanding of Jewish cultural identity formation is limited. This study examines Jewish cultural identity formation in young Australian Jews, identifying roles played by three wellsprings, or sources of Jewish culture. Using the Gen17 Australian Jewish Community Survey 2018, the most recent nationally representative study of Australian Jewry, relationships between Jewish day school education, communal engagement, cultural upbringing, and cultural identity were analyzed using linear and OLS regression models. Jewish day school education significantly affected cultural identity; without mediating effects of communal engagement, however, day school education's effects were inconsequential. High-level cultural upbringing had amplifying effects, while low-level cultural upbringing had attenuating effects on associations between Jewish day school education and cultural identity. The cultural identity formation mechanism was similar to a proposed religious identity formation mechanism. These results highlight interconnected and indirect effects of cultural wellsprings on identity formation, and similarities between cultural and religious identity formation, with implications for scholars of culture and religion.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
Psychological and sociological studies have reported that highly religious people have better men... more Psychological and sociological studies have reported that highly religious people have better mental health overall, which was also confirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little investigation has been undertaken to understand the actual enablers of religious coping that contextualize these mental health results. Australian pulpit rabbis were invited to submit sermons delivered on the eve of the first Sabbath of the pandemic. These sermons were conceived as "artifacts" of religious support and Nancy Ammerman's (2021) multidimensional model of lived religion-in particular, the narrative, embodied and moral dimensions-served as the conceptual framework for analysis. Religious support was evident in the sermons in the ways sacred texts and values were deployed to encourage shifts in conceptions associated with congregational gatherings and agency in private religious beliefs and behavior. By tapping in on faith in God, familiar religious concepts, and values, congregants were encouraged to abide by health directives, endure them, and sustain hope for a redemptive future. The contribution of this qualitative study lies in its identification of a dimension of religious support and how it assists people of faith during difficult times.
Historically, Jewish communities have invested considerable resources in Jewish educational progr... more Historically, Jewish communities have invested considerable resources in Jewish educational programs and interventions—such as Jewish day school education, supplemental education, youth groups, camps and Israel programs—to strengthen Jewish identity and promote Jewish flourishing. It is well understood that these programs alone are not the sole or even main contributor when it comes to supporting Jewish identity development. Background factors such as the type of Jewish home in which a person grows up are at least as important. This muddies the waters when it comes to assessing impact. Using a quantitative approach, we propose to address what measurable impact Jewish educational interventions have on Jewish identity outcomes. We take as our sample Jewish people from across the largest five English-speaking diaspora Jewish communities—the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa (N=~25,000)—which comprise about half (46%) of world Jewry and a large majority (83%) of diaspora Jewry. Our approach will allow us to (i) develop constructs representing the rich tapestry of contemporary Jewish identifications and, further, (ii) quantitatively analyze and contextualize the various interventions whilst (iii) controlling for variables associated with Jewish socialization and the family home. In unraveling the intricate threads of Jewish identity amidst the dynamic interplay of educational interventions and other background influences, our research strives to not only measure impact but illuminate the nuanced pathways shaping a vibrant and resilient Jewish identity in our diverse diaspora communities.
Australian Jews in the Shadow of War: Main Survey Findings, 2024
The Israel-Hamas war, which began on 7 October 2023, has had a significant impact on the Jewish c... more The Israel-Hamas war, which began on 7 October 2023, has had a significant impact on the Jewish community in Australia. A survey conducted in mid-November 2023 with 7,611 Australian Jewish adults sought to understand i) views about the Israel-Hamas war, ii) feelings about Israel, and iii) perceptions of antisemitism in Australia
Washtenaw County Area Jewish community study: Main report, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
Washtenaw County Area Jewish community study: Executive summary, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study, 2024
The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish po... more The 2022-23 Washtenaw County Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of today’s Jewish population in Washtenaw County and considers trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. This study is based on an analysis of a rich set of data collected from 955 eligible households between November 2022 and January 2023. In interpreting the data, it is important to bear in mind the study represents the characteristics and views of community members at that time. During that period, the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic were gradually being lifted. Data were also collected well before the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism in the United States. It is likely that attitudes about Israel, concerns over antisemitism, and other markers of Jewish identity shifted from the time of data collection to the time that this report is being written.
A Blueprint for our Future: 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study, 2023
A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Mauric... more A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University, in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The principal goal of this study is to provide valid data about the San Diego Jewish community that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. Valid data are essential to effective decision making, allocation of resources, strategic priorities, community support, robust participation, and outreach. This report is based on data collected from 2,104 Jewish households in San Diego between June and September 2022. Survey respondents were randomly selected from all households in Greater San Diego.
A Blueprint for our Future: 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study, 2023
A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Mauri... more A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study was conducted by the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University, in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The principal goal of this study is to provide valid data about the San Diego Jewish community that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. Valid data are essential to effective decision making, allocation of resources, strategic priorities, community support, robust participation, and outreach. This report is based on data collected from 2,104 Jewish households in San Diego between June and September 2022. Survey respondents were randomly selected from all households in Greater San Diego.
Editors' introduction to Contemporary Jewry's special issue on the most recent Pew Research Cente... more Editors' introduction to Contemporary Jewry's special issue on the most recent Pew Research Center’s Jewish Americans in 2020 (Pew 2020) study
2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the... more The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the ways in which members of Long Beach's 17,700 Jewish households engage with Jewish life. The study describes the size and characteristics of the Jewish population and provides data that will effectively guide Jewish organizations as they plan for the next decade serving their community.
2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the... more The 2021-2022 Long Beach Area Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the ways in which members of Long Beach's 17,700 Jewish households engage with Jewish life. The study describes the size and characteristics of the Jewish population and provides data that will effectively guide Jewish organizations as they plan for the next decade serving their community.
Jewish identification and engagement have cultural as well as religious salience. Jewish cultural... more Jewish identification and engagement have cultural as well as religious salience. Jewish cultural engagement, however, is overwhelmingly circumscribed as a fait accompli, often an outcome, rarely a predictor in quantitative examinations of contemporary Jewish life. Consequently, the sociological understanding of Jewish cultural identity formation is limited. This study examines Jewish cultural identity formation in young Australian Jews, identifying roles played by three wellsprings, or sources of Jewish culture. Using the Gen17 Australian Jewish Community Survey 2018, the most recent nationally representative study of Australian Jewry, relationships between Jewish day school education, communal engagement, cultural upbringing, and cultural identity were analyzed using linear and OLS regression models. Jewish day school education significantly affected cultural identity; without mediating effects of communal engagement, however, day school education's effects were inconsequential. High-level cultural upbringing had amplifying effects, while low-level cultural upbringing had attenuating effects on associations between Jewish day school education and cultural identity. The cultural identity formation mechanism was similar to a proposed religious identity formation mechanism. These results highlight interconnected and indirect effects of cultural wellsprings on identity formation, and similarities between cultural and religious identity formation, with implications for scholars of culture and religion.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study, 2023
The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size ... more The 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington since 2009. The study also includes a separate mini-report for Lane County, the first scientific study ever conducted of the Jewish community in the Eugene area. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the 56,600 Jews in Greater Portland and Southwest Washington; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.
H. Hartman (ed.), The Jewish Family in Global Perspective, Studies of Jews in Society 6, 2024
In this chapter, we explore the nature of Jewish family life in Australia. Informed by Bronfenbre... more In this chapter, we explore the nature of Jewish family life in Australia. Informed by Bronfenbrenner's classic Ecological Systems Theory (1977), we examine settings in which Jewish families appear distinguished from others. We start by contrasting quantitative data on Jews in Australia with Jews in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, identifying communal norms which align as well as distinguish Australian Jewry from these English-speaking diaspora communities. We then use census data to contrast Jewish families in Australia with all other Australian families, revealing some striking demographic, geographic, and residential differences. In these settings, we observe the Australian Jewish family to be more traditionally-minded than other families both in the diaspora and wider Australian society. Finally, we use census data to compare four family types within Australia: those in which everyone in the household is Jewish, those who are Jewishly mixed families-those who are Jewish and no/unstated religion, and those who are Jewish and another religion-and those in which no one is Jewish. We show that Jewishly mixed families appear to be a kind of halfway house between the fully Jewish and fully non-Jewish families in demographic, economic and geographic terms. This suggests that mixed Jewish households are not simply syncretic religious arenas but also manifest features and habits that transcend the realm of Jewish identity, impacting upon broader aspects of family life that must be considered to more fully understand the meaning of Jewish family life. We maintain that the Australian Jewish family is thriving, and that this success may be attributed to not only living in the 'lucky country' (Horne 1964), but also being nested in a vibrant Jewish community.
Thrilled to share I'm nearing completion of my upcoming book! It explores a burning question: How... more Thrilled to share I'm nearing completion of my upcoming book! It explores a burning question: How is it that four children raised in the same household, with seemingly identical backgrounds, grow to embrace different Jewish identities in adulthood? The book synthesizes theories and data sources, to unravel new layers of understanding and offer insights into the dominoes and dimmer switches of identity formation. Stay tuned.
The Ever-Dying People? Canada's Jews in Comparative Perspective (Robert Brym & Randal Schnoor eds.), 2023
Canadian and Australian Jewry are similar in many respects. They differ, however, in important so... more Canadian and Australian Jewry are similar in many respects. They differ, however, in important socio-demographic ways. Using measures of social and religious capital, Australian Jews were found to be more Jewishly engaged. Hierarchical regression also revealed that these differences are attributable to differences in Jewish education, endogamy and population concentration, but not generational status or raising children.
The events of 7 October 2023 challenged Israelis and world Jewry in myriad and ongoing ways. Amon... more The events of 7 October 2023 challenged Israelis and world Jewry in myriad and ongoing ways. Among those touched by those events are the Jews of Australia (N=117,000), the eighth-largest Jewish community on the world. Unacquainted with the pervasiveness and intensity of antisemitism which sadly was normative in other diaspora communities, Australian Jewry was faced with the dual challenge of coping with the events of 7 October and the spike in antisemitism on home turf. Prior community studies indicate that Australian Jewry is strongly traditional, cohesive and boasts high levels of Israel attachment. How would such a community respond to the evolving post-7 October climate? This paper examines the relationship between antisemitism, forms of Jewish engagement and mental health among self-identifying Jews in Australia. Statistical models will be utilized to identify the effects of antisemitic incidents, religiosity, communal connectedness and Israel attachment on the mental health of a nationally representative sample of Australian Jews. With data gathered during the sixth week of the Israel-Hamas war, this paper seeks to identify which community members have been impacted most adversely, with implications for communal policies of advocacy and support.
The scholarly understanding of contemporary religiosity, and the ways it shapes self-conception, ... more The scholarly understanding of contemporary religiosity, and the ways it shapes self-conception, thought and behavior, is enriched but also hamstrung by the measures used to investigate it. Denominational categories, for example, are problematic not because they are incorrect, but because they fail to fully capture the complexity of Jewish belief and behavior. Further, their meaning in different contexts may vary. Recent quantitative examinations of Jewish life, in contrast, have highlighted the varied ways in which Jewish values, Jewish relationships, and Jewish engagement feature in the lives of Jews across the Anglosphere—whether or not they identify with current denominational labels—raising the question of denomination’s continued relevance. This paper examines the relationship between believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging among self-identifying Jews in the largest five English-speaking Jewish communities of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and South Africa. Several statistical approaches will be utilized to identify patterns of consistency and inconsistency between and within denominations and alternative engagement typologies across the five countries. With decreasing response rates necessitating the rationalization of every survey question, this paper seeks to identify which should continue to be included and which are no longer relevant.
Book review of Joseph Reimer's "Making shabbat: Celebrating and learning at American Jewish summe... more Book review of Joseph Reimer's "Making shabbat: Celebrating and learning at American Jewish summer camps
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Using a quantitative approach, we propose to address what measurable impact Jewish educational interventions have on Jewish identity outcomes. We take as our sample Jewish people from across the largest five English-speaking diaspora Jewish communities—the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa (N=~25,000)—which comprise about half (46%) of world Jewry and a large majority (83%) of diaspora Jewry.
Our approach will allow us to (i) develop constructs representing the rich tapestry of contemporary Jewish identifications and, further, (ii) quantitatively analyze and contextualize the various interventions whilst (iii) controlling for variables associated with Jewish socialization and the family home.
In unraveling the intricate threads of Jewish identity amidst the dynamic interplay of educational interventions and other background influences, our research strives to not only measure impact but illuminate the nuanced pathways shaping a vibrant and resilient Jewish identity in our diverse diaspora communities.
Using a quantitative approach, we propose to address what measurable impact Jewish educational interventions have on Jewish identity outcomes. We take as our sample Jewish people from across the largest five English-speaking diaspora Jewish communities—the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa (N=~25,000)—which comprise about half (46%) of world Jewry and a large majority (83%) of diaspora Jewry.
Our approach will allow us to (i) develop constructs representing the rich tapestry of contemporary Jewish identifications and, further, (ii) quantitatively analyze and contextualize the various interventions whilst (iii) controlling for variables associated with Jewish socialization and the family home.
In unraveling the intricate threads of Jewish identity amidst the dynamic interplay of educational interventions and other background influences, our research strives to not only measure impact but illuminate the nuanced pathways shaping a vibrant and resilient Jewish identity in our diverse diaspora communities.