The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies incorporates the latest social science techniques in the study of contemporary Jewish life. The Steinhardt Social Research Institute develops reliable quantitative data about the US Jewish population.
Using cutting-edge social science methods, we collect, analyze, and report accurate and actionable data that informs community planning and helps animate Jewish life.
Our American Jewish Population Project includes a detailed interactive map of the US Jewish population with demographic profiles and political views of Jewish adults for states, metropolitan areas, and counties in the United States.
Our research on Birthright Israel employs rigorous methods to evaluate Birthright's short-term and long-term impact on Jewish young adults.
From studies of Hillel to synagogues and Jewish camp, we document the impact of core programs and initiatives on Jewish community life.
December 2025
Masterclass: Israel (MCI) and Masterclass: Israel Xperience (MCIX) are initiatives of Hillel International’s Center for Jewish and Israel Education that aim to strengthen and improve campus professionals’ knowledge, skills, and confidence related to contemporary Israeli society and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both MCI and MCIX are small cohort-based programs that emphasize teaching multiple perspectives and narratives about Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The report is based on findings from a multi-year, multi-method study of MCI and MCIX designed to assess change and growth over time in three core areas of professional learning: knowledge of contemporary Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, skills related to campus pluralism and educational pedagogy, and confidence engage in this work with students and colleagues. The study focuses on three cohorts of MCI: Cohort III (spring 2022), Cohort IV (spring 2023), and Cohort V (spring 2024), as well as one cohort of MCIX participants (August 2023).
November 2025
This report is the most recent in a program of evaluation of Hillel International’s Springboard Fellowship, Hillel's flagship program for early career professionals and the largest career incubator program in the Jewish community. The report includes the findings from the annual survey of Springboard alumni from seven cohorts (Aleph through Zayin, 2016-24), along with participants of Hillel’s Ezra Fellowship (2014-18). The report also focuses on the post-Fellowship experiences of alumni from Springboard’s Ezra Jewish education track.
August 2025
Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) is American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) seven-month cohort-based education and advocacy program for Jewish high school students. The programs aims to prepare teens with advocacy skills, increased content knowledge about Israel and antisemitism, confidence discussing these issues, and strengthened Jewish identities. This report describes LFT participants in the 11 AJC regions and one national virtual cohort offering the program in 2024-25. To measure growth and change over time, the study examined participants’ views and knowledge prior to beginning the LFT program and at the end of the program.