Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies

Building Knowledge of Contemporary Jewry

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.

Local Jewish Community Studies

Using cutting-edge social science methods, we collect, analyze, and report accurate and actionable data that informs community planning and helps animate Jewish life.

Maps in muted colors, overlaid text reads AJPP, State, County, Metro, Demographics

US Jewish Population Estimates

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.

Birthright Israel Research

Our research on Birthright Israel employs rigorous methods to evaluate Birthright's short-term and long-term impact on Jewish young adults.

Four people standing on grass looking toward water and the woods

Evaluation Research

From studies of Hillel to synagogues and Jewish camp, we document the impact of core programs and initiatives on Jewish community life.

Recent Research Publications

Webinar opening slide for Building Resilient Jewish Communities

COVID-19 Impact Studies: Building Resilient Jewish Communities

September 2020

CMJS surveyed 15,000 respondents in 10 different Jewish communities about their experiences during the first three months of the pandemic (May-July 2020). The surveys were designed to assess the experiences of Jewish households during the coronavirus crisis. The study examined the ways in which the pandemic affected the lives of community members, including their social and emotional health, their economic well-being, job stress, and relationship with Jewish institutions.

National Profile of the Jewish Electorate in 2020

August 2020

At the request of the Jewish Electorate Institute, our American Jewish Population Project researchers conducted an analysis of hundreds of national surveys of US adults to describe the Jewish electorate in each of the 435 districts of the 116th Congress and the District of Columbia.

Report cover: "Portrait of our Community. 2019 Twin Cities Jewish Population Study." Photos of community members of all ages frame the words. At the bottom of the page are the logos of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, St. Paul Jewish Federation, Harry Kay Center for Leadership Excellence and Brandeis, CMJS and SSRI along with the authors of the study: Janet Krasner Aronson, Matthew A. Brookner, Eliana Chapman, Daniel Mangoubi, Harry Aaronson, Matthew Feinberg, Matthew Boxer, Leonard Saxe.

Swimming Upstream: Interfaith Families in Greater Toronto

August 2020

Conducted for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, this multi-method study describes the experiences, perspectives and needs of the community’s growing population of young couples that include a Jewish partner and a partner from a different religious background. The study focused on interfaith households with different levels of engagement with organizational Jewish life.

Highlights

Think you know how Jews voted for president? The data is still not clear, The Forward

How could the Jewish vote decide the election?, Leonard Saxe, Daniel Parmer, and Elizabeth Tighe, BrandeisNow

Among Jews, the young and highly educated bear COVID’s emotional and economic toll, Janet Krasner Aronson and Leonard Saxe, The Forward

Online Services Serve the Already Committed, Our Research Shows, Janet Krasner Aronson and Leonard Saxe, The Forward