Director's Letter
November 19, 2018
Dear Friends,
Three weeks after the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, we are still struggling to comprehend the horrific loss of life that occurred there. My roots in Pittsburgh run deep. During graduate school I lived in Squirrel Hill, the neighborhood of Tree of Life. More recently, my team and I conducted a community study of Pittsburgh. We were struck then by the intimate nature of the community and their strong connections to each other, Jewish institutions, and Israel. My reflections on Pittsburgh, violence, and antisemitism were published in The Conversation in a piece titled “Hate does not emerge in a vacuum.”
Last week Matthew Boxer and I traveled to Boca Raton, Florida for the release of the study of the South Palm Beach County Jewish community. We found that the population has increased since 2005 by 3% but more significantly, that the community is undergoing a demographic transition. Although South Palm Beach County still has a substantial population of retirees and senior citizens (44% of adults are ages 65 and up), the community is getting younger and now includes more families with young children.
This issue of Constructs also highlights the release of our evaluation of the Maccabiah experience. Drawing on interviews, observations, and survey data collected from athletes who applied to compete in the 2017 and 2013 Maccabiah Games, this study examines the extent to which the experience influenced their Jewish identities and connection to Israel.
Finally, our hearts go out to all of those affected by the devastating fires in California, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we urge support for those individuals and families currently suffering and in need.
Leonard Saxe, PhD
Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies
Director, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University