| Interest in and Awareness
of Outreach
- 35% of respondents representing the
target population indicated interest in Jewish
outreach programs.
- 72% indicated they were "unaware" of
such programs.
- Of the 35% who are interested in programs
of Jewish outreach two-thirds indicated a lack
of awareness that the Jewish community provides
programs of outreach for intermarried families.
Outreach for Whom?
- About 37% of the intermarried indicated
at least some interest in Jewish outreach programs.
Among the adult children of interfaith parents
less than 8% reported any interest in
such programs.
- It would appear that adult children of partly
Jewish heritage are likely to be the least susceptible
to Jewish outreach programming.
- Jews with a non-Jewish spouse are more apt
(40%) to be interested in learning about
Jewish outreach programs than their non-Jewish
spouse (28%).
- Women are somewhat more interested in Jewish
outreach programs than are men. Non-Jewish women
are about twice as likely to be interested in
Jewish outreach than non-Jewish men. Interest
among the intermarried with children rises to
nearly 45%.
- Interest in learning about Jewish outreach
programs is most evident among those under 30
years of age (57% indicated being interested).
The proportion interested declines to 43%
among those 40-49, and down to 23% among
those 60 or older.
$$$ for Outreach
- Of those interested in Jewish outreach programs,
more than half are willing to pay some "reasonable
amount to cover the cost of participating in
Jewish outreach programs."
- The majority (60%) of those interested
in such programs indicated a willingness to
pay up to $50 a year; another 33% that they
would be willing to pay between $50 and $150.
- Those at the younger end of the age spectrum
and who had children were generally more willing
to pay in the higher cost categories than those
in the older age brackets and those without
children.
Experiencing Outreach
- Just 4% of the intermarried population
reported participating in a Jewish outreach
program. Satisfaction with outreach programs
is very high among those who participated.
Most report that their outreach programs increased
their understanding about Jewish life and provided
preparations for holiday celebrations and participation
in synagogue life. Programs were not as helpful
in resolving personal religious or familial
issues.
- 83% said they would recommend their
program to a friend.
- 60% reported that they participated
in a program under the sponsorship of a synagogue,
with the program led by a rabbi.
- 38% participated in a single-event
outreach program, another 24% participated
in a program lasting eight weeks or less, and
38% participated in a program lasting
more than eight weeks.
The Outreach Challenge
- Intermarried families with children were significantly
more likely to report some difficulty with religious
background difference than families without
children.
- 39% of Jewish women reported some difficulty
around one or more of the sixteen lifestyle
issues, while only 27% of Jewish men
did so. Where the respondent was not Jewish,
about 28% indicated at least some difficulty
around one or more the sixteen issues.
- Intermarrieds reported some difficulty with
the following:
- Feeling comfortable in the synagogue and
Jewish organizations
- Deciding how to celebrate holidays
- Getting along with the in-laws
- Raising children
- Those reporting the most difficulty with religious
background differences were also the most likely
to be interested about learning about Jewish
outreach programs.
The survey suggests there is a great unrealized
potential for involving intermarried families in
Jewish life by meeting their needs. To realize that
potential resources will have to be directed at
reaching them through the general media and through
programs offered not just through the synagogue
but through other institutions as well. |
