Community Studies Publications

The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) and Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI) at Brandeis University have deep expertise in research methods, theory, policy, and practice regarding US Jewish identity and engagement. Our work is distinguished by cutting-edge application of social science methods and keen attention to the needs of the community. Our approach utilizes a set of validated methods, applied in innovative ways, to collect, analyze, and report accurate and actionable data that informs community planning. Our community studies are designed to open new doors to understand and animate Jewish life.
San Diego Jewish community study report cover

November 2023

A Blueprint for our Future: The 2022 San Diego Jewish Community Study provides important 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. 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.

Portland report cover

June 2023

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.

Long Beach Jewish Community Study Report Cover

May 2023

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.

Delaware report cover

February 2023

The 2022 Community Study of Jewish Delaware and the Brandywine Valley is the first in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Delaware since 1995, and the first to include a section of the Brandywine Valley in Pennsylvania. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the community's 25,900 Jews; their families; their Jewish attitudes, affiliations, and behaviors; their health and financial well-being; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life.

Jewish community study of Louisville report cover

September 2022

The 2021-22 Study of Jewish Louisville provides a comprehensive portrait of the community's 14,200 Jews; their families; their Jewish attitudes, behaviors, and affiliations; their health and financial welfare; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life. Findings should help the Louisville Jewish community make critical decisions about the next decade of Jewish life in the region.

LA Jewish Community Study report cover

June 2022

The Los Angeles Jewish community is the 2nd largest federated Jewish community in the United States. Its size and diversity make it unique. The community includes 565,000 Jewish individuals living in nearly 300,000 households. More than 175,000 non-Jews live in households with adult Jews. The community’s diversity is reflected in part by the large number of individuals who are immigrants or children of immigrants. In addition to other markers of personal identity, diversity also encompasses varied expressions of Jewish identity and engagement with Jewish life.

Kansas City Jewish Community Study report cover

March 2022

The 2021 Greater Kansas City Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth examination of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in the Kansas City-area since 1985. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the community's 22,100 Jews; their families; their Jewish attitudes, behaviors, and affiliations; their health and financial welfare; and other measures of their engagement in Jewish life. Findings should help the Greater Kansas City Jewish community make critical decisions about the next decade of Jewish life in the region.

Central Florida Jewish Community Report Cover

November 2021

The 2020-21 Central Florida Jewish Community Study is the first in-depth examination of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community in Orlando and the surrounding area since 1993. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the region's 51,400 Jews, their families, and their Jewish behaviors, affiliations, attitudes, and connections to the organized Jewish community. Its findings should help the Jewish community of Central Florida make critical decisions about the trajectory of Jewish life in the region in the coming decade.

Greater MetroWest Jewish Community Study Report Cover

November 2021

The 2020 Greater MetroWest Jewish Community Study creates a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of the Jewish community in Greater MetroWest New Jersey and highlights data and findings that will be useful for communal planning. The study consists of topic reports, an overview (including summary of methodology), and a report of key findings.

Chicago Jewish Population Study Report Cover

October 2021

The Jewish population of Chicago has grown modestly since 2010: 319,600 Jewish adults and children live in 175,800 Jewish households. By providing detailed data about the diversity of Jewish life and the well-being of community members, the comprehensive study will serve as the springboard for Chicago organizations and agencies to develop programs and policies to better meet community needs and interests.

Pioneer Valley Jewish Community Studies Cover

November 2020

The 2019-20 Pioneer Valley Jewish Community Study provides data about the the 12,200 Jewish households in the Pioneer Valley that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. The study describes community members’ participation in Jewish communal life, their Jewish activities, and their attitudes about Judaism and Israel.

 

2019 Twin Cities Jewish Community Studies report

August 2020

The 2019 Twin Cities Jewish Community Study estimates the number of Jewish individuals in the community and the number of non-Jewish adults and children who are part of the region’s 34,500 Jewish households. The study also creates a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics, attitudes and behaviors of the population.

Baltimore Jewish Community Study

May 2020

The Baltimore 2020 Jewish Community Study provides a snapshot of the community and the ways in which members of Baltimore’s 46,700 Jewish households engage with Jewish life. The study estimates the size and characteristics of the Jewish population of the catchment area under the purview of The Associated and generates findings that could help Jewish organizations in Baltimore plan for the next decade and serve the Jewish community as effectively as possible.

Howard County Jewish Community Study

March 2020

The 2019 Howard County Jewish Community Study provides valid data about the 9,100 Jewish households in Howard County, MD, that can be used by communal organizations and their leadership to design programs and policies that support and enhance Jewish life. The study describes community members’ participation in Jewish communal life, their private Jewish activities, and their attitudes about Judaism and Israel.

Cincinnati Jewish Community Study, report cover with skyline of Cincinnati

January 2020

The 2019 Greater Cincinnati Jewish Community Study estimates the number of Jewish adults in the community and the number of non-Jewish adults and children who are part of those households. The study also creates a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of that population. The study provides national and historical context by considering trends and data in the United States and where possible, comparisons to Greater Cincinnati in 2008.

Denver Jewish Community Study 2018-19 Greater Denver Jewish Community Study report cover

January 2020

The 2018-19 Greater Denver Area Jewish Community Study employed innovative state-of-the-art methods to create a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics, attitudes and behaviors of present-day Greater Denver Jewry. The study focuses on the Jewish community in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties.

2019 Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Study report cover

November 2019

The 2019 Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Study provides a detailed socio-demographic portrait of the regional Jewish community and describes community members’ participation in Jewish communal life, their private Jewish activities and their attitudes about Judaism and Israel.

What's Next for Jewish Palm Beach? report cover

May 2019

Conducted on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, the 2018 Greater Palm Beaches Jewish Community Study estimates the size of the Jewish community, describes its demographic characteristics, and examines its attitudes toward community institutions, programs and services. The report also creates a portrait of the multifaceted cultural, communal and religious expressions of Judaism that constitute Jewish engagement.

2018 South Palm Beach County Jewish Community Study report cover

November 2018

Conducted on behalf of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, the 2018 South Palm Beach County Jewish Community Study was developed to help communal leaders, planners and residents better understand the size and character of their community. Interviews with over 2,100 Jewish households residing in South Palm Beach County form the basis of the report.

The 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study report cover

February 2018

The 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study provides a detailed socio-demographic portrait of the Pittsburgh-area Jewish community and describes community members’ participation in Jewish communal life, their private Jewish activities and their attitudes about Judaism and Israel.

Download public use dataset

The 2017 Greater Washington, DC Jewish Community Demographic Study, report cover

February 2018

The 2017 Greater Washington, DC Jewish Community Demographic Study provides an up-to-date description of the size and character of DC-area Jewish adults, children, and households. Interviews with over 6,600 Jewish households residing in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland form the basis of the report.

Download public use dataset

2017 Collier County Jewish Community Study report cover

October 2017

In 2017, the Jewish Federation of Collier County sponsored the first-ever representative sample survey of the Jewish community of Naples, Florida and the surrounding area. The study includes a population estimate; findings on the demography, ritual behavior, affiliations, volunteer activities and geographic profile of the population; and descriptions of the various ways community members participate in Jewish life.

Download public use dataset

2015 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study cover with photos of people in the community of different ages

November 2016

The 2015 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study describes the size and character of Boston-area Jewry. Included in the study are demographic findings and patterns of Jewish engagement.

Download public use dataset

2015 Nashville and Middle Tennessee Jewish Community Study. Our Story Continues here.  Report cover

May 2016

This community study documents a slowly but steadily growing community of Jews. At its core, the Jewish community of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is comprised of a small, tight-knit group of highly involved individuals who participate in many aspects of Jewish life.

Download public use dataset

The 2014 Greater Seattle Jewish Community Study cover with pictures of community members of different ages and a picture of the mountains

January 2015

The 2014 Greater Seattle Jewish Community Study provides an up-to-date description of the size and character of Seattle-area Jewry. Included in the study are demographic findings, information on the religious background and geographic profile of Greater Seattle’s Jewish population as well as descriptions of participation in Jewish life and volunteer activities. The narrative is supplemented with community members’ own words on topics related to Jewish identity, diversity and community resources. The report also includes special sections devoted to issues confronting families with children, young adults, senior adults, inmarried and intermarried couples, and synagogue members.

Download public use dataset

Report cover for The 2013 Greater Buffalo Jewish Community Study

January 2014

This study of Greater Buffalo found a Jewish community comprised of 5,770 households. These households include 9,800 Jewish adults and 2,250 Jewish children, with an additional 1,000 non-Jewish adults and 200 non-Jewish children. On average, the community is older than the U.S. Jewish population as a whole, but it also includes families with children of preschool and day care age, multiple options for supplementary and day schools, and JCC family activities. A challenge confronting the Buffalo Jewish community going forward is to find ways to maintain the loyalty of long-standing members while being welcoming to those less involved, whether they are newcomers to the area or newly seeking connections to the Jewish community.

Download public use dataset

Report cover: Living on the Edge: Economic Insecurity Among Jewish Households in Greater Rhode Island

October 2013

Commissioned by The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the goal of this report was to better understand the economic challenges and needs of Jewish households in the Alliance catchment area communities. Researchers examined macro-level indicators, reviewed the services currently available in Rhode Island communities, collected systematic data about requests for assistance at the synagogue level, and conducted indepth interviews with individuals currently experiencing economic hardship.

Read the oped: Living on the edge: Economic vulnerability in the Jewish community.

EJewishphilanthropy.com

report cover for:

January 2011

This report describes the Jews of Western North Carolina, the ways in which they engage in Jewish communal life, the services that are provided by the communities, and the communities’ needs. It is intended to help the communities examine their own priorities and make decisions about resource allocation and program development and maintenance.

Report Cover: The 2008 Berkshire Community Study: For the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

March 2009

A socio-demographic study of the Berkshire Jewish population, this project examines the community's connections to, and engagement with, Jewish life and, in particular, provides information regarding special sub-groups of the population, such as the intermarried, seniors, Jewish young adults and part-time residents of the Berkshires.

Cover of The 2005 Boston Community Survey: Preliminary Findings

November 2006

The 2005 Boston Community Survey estimates the size of the Boston Jewish population and examines its demographic characteristics and the challenges posed by several of those findings, particularly those concerning age and economic vulnerability. The report then explores intermarriage and the upbringing of children in intermarried families. Finally, the report discusses the many varied connections to Jewish life, through ritual practice, membership in Jewish organizations, education of Jewish children, philanthropy and volunteering, and ties to Israel.

Related Publications

Aronson, J. K., Saxe, L., Kadushin, C., Boxer, M., & Brookner, M. A. (2019). A New Approach to Understanding Contemporary Jewish Engagement. Contemporary Jewry doi.org/10.1007/s12397-018-9271-8

Lustig, J. (Host). (2018, April 22). Jewish Community Studies with Matthew Boxer [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from Jewish History Matters podcast

Aronson, J.K., Boxer, M., & Saxe. L. (2016). ‘All Politics is Local’: Challenges in the Study of Local Jewish Communities. Contemporary Jewry 36 (3): 361–380

Boxer, M. (June 2007). Community Size and Identity. Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility 37: 7-8.