twenty first Century Tendencies: Redefining the American Jewish Expertise

On this temporary define, some twenty key themes are offered designed to assist body how we as leaders of group and spiritual establishments will interact twenty first century American Jews. The information right here is drawn from a spread of inhabitants and attitudinal research, conversations and observations, and extrapolated data from different non secular and ethnic communities. Entered by two lenses, the primary dataset focuses on particular person apply and behavior, whereas the second considerations organizational and operational responses.

From workers to public: How individuals in the neighborhood see themselves

• There’s growing proof of entrepreneurial high quality in twenty first century American Judaism as we discover extra rabbis and different Jewish professionals out there for a payment for providers (eg rent-a-rabbi) Equally, synagogues and group foundations are exploring various sources of revenue for overlaying their fiscal deficits.

• We’re seeing quite a lot of customized engagement fashions with the continued evolution and progress of on-line and boutique Jewish studying and organizing platforms.

• The place Israel stays a dividing line for American Jews, the rise of anti-Semitism has created a collective anxiousness that impacts Jews of all ages.

• In current surveys, youthful Jews are seen as performing higher than older ones with regard to spiritual and cultural Jewish practices, but they continue to be distant from many formal institutional connections.

• The rising presence of Jews of coloration and the considerably excessive price of intermarriage contribute to the elevated variety of American Jewry. Inclusion shall be a serious theme in relation to the Jewish group of the twenty first century.

• We’re additionally seeing a brand new wave of libertarian affect, particularly amongst youthful Jews, when it comes to their participation patterns, being extraordinarily selective and cost-effective within the decisions these people make. The rise of the Non secular Nones represents one such expression. This present of independence can be evident within the important variety of youthful Jewish voters registering as independents.

• Lastly, there may be proof that youthful Jews reside with their mother and father longer than earlier generations, whereas many younger households and seniors, because of COVID, are transferring, relocating from bigger metropolitan areas to smaller communities as a life-style selection and for others, particularly amongst older individuals, who transfer from blue states to purple and pink states for tax and pension causes and advantages.

• The altering nature and character of labor on this society impacts how Jews recreate group connections and reshape the methods through which they take part.

Defining the twenty first Century American Jewish Expertise: Implications for Group and Non secular Establishments

• If the essential wants of our group outlined nineteenth century Jewish group, then innovation drives twenty first century institutional conduct and apply.

• If federations drove the group agenda within the twentieth century, right this moment group and household foundations, in addition to particular person funders, are serving to to reshape Jewish life within the twenty first century, the place established legacy entities appear to be imitating smaller, centered startups.

• If New York was thought-about the Jewish capital and heart of Jewish life in an earlier period the place concepts and apply moved from the east to the west. At the moment innovation is unfolding in every single place on this continent, with lots of the present demographic and organizational developments now transferring in reverse, from west to east!

• Jewish establishments of the twenty first century are described as boutiques, the place the main focus has been on innovation and entrepreneurship. In distinction, nineteenth and twentieth century heritage organizations might be seen as formal, networked and company constructions.

• If American Judaism of the 18th and nineteenth centuries was constructed to assist Jews adapt to this new society and the roles Jews would play, then twenty first century Judaism is being reshaped by such transformative forces as variety, inclusion, and individualism. Know-how is revolutionizing the way in which non secular cultures ship their messages, providers and packages.

• If American capitalist concepts described and framed the behaviors of historic Jewish organizations within the earlier two centuries, they’re at present enjoying extra types of financial exercise, together with cooperative engagement, entrepreneurial apply, and various fashions of group group.

• At the moment, a lot of our organizations are saddled with a nineteenth century legacy construction whereas managing a twentieth century agenda as we interact a twenty first century group.

• If fashionable management drove the communal agenda within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Jewish professionals, exterior consultants and company contractors handle/direct the Jewish infrastructure of the twenty first century. Know-how footprint and monetary knowledge factors form Jewish market conduct. If shared house was thought-about a progress trade within the twentieth century, it’s prone to be understood as being in a state of recalibration and contraction proper now.

• If Jewish political affect and philanthropic giving got here collectively within the latter half of the final century, the place the ADL led the combat towards anti-Semitism, AIPAC managed Israel’s political trigger, the Reform motion set the liberal home agenda, the AJC managed the interfaith affairs and federations dominated the Israeli market and the Jewish social providers market, the twenty first century has exploded with the presence of an array of Jewish advocacy initiatives, a number of boutiques that present choices, and the presence of distinctive, extremely segmented organizational fashions, all now competing for frequent house and a share of the Jewish market economic system!

• If within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries we noticed American Judaism as religiously based mostly? On this century we are able to finest describe non secular conduct as individualized (privatized) the place many Judaisms come into play offering selection and a number of choices for expression and connection.

• The pivotal flip from Institutional Judaism to Privatized Judaisms. This contributes to the shrinking footprint of spiritual Judaism and different types of umbrella group.

• The rise of “Digital Judaism” will doubtless have a profound and lasting affect, as we see the emergence of nationwide digital congregations in addition to the rising consciousness of synagogues to proceed to serve their on-line members and spiritual seekers.

The place can we go from right here? Tendencies are merely indicators of sure institutional and private behaviors. they don’t predict or decide outcomes. The thrill right here lies within the potentialities and alternatives to redefine establishments, rethink the concept of ​​group, and construct new avenues of private connection. It speaks to the necessity for a brand new mindset across the rules of shared group as we transfer from a aggressive market surroundings to certainly one of collaborative engagement and as we reshape the fashions of group we’ll want transferring ahead.

Steven Windmueller is professor emeritus of Jewish group research who at present serves as interim director of the Zelikow Faculty of Jewish Nonprofit Administration at HUC-JIR, Skirball Campus in Los Angeles. His writings might be discovered on his web site, www.thewindreport.com.