Dear Friends,

We are very pleased to participate in the first Orange County Jewish Community Study. We are grateful to the Samueli Foundation for making possible this milestone project. Jewish Federation of Orange County is proud to be a partner on the Steering Committee for the study and to help achieve its vital goals. The study is anticipated to launch this fall. It will be conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University—a leading center for Jewish communal research—in partnership with NORC (National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago.

The need for a study is clear. Over the past 80 years, the OC Jewish community has grown from one congregation to more than 30, from a few Jewish organizations to nearly 20 serving distinct needs and populations, and from a population of hundreds to a community of thousands. It is time to learn more about the needs and dynamics of Jewish OC. Your participation in the study will help to shape a picture of our community’s beliefs, belonging, and behavior – how, when, and why you choose to engage in Jewish life.

We welcome your active participation in the study. The study team intends to conduct surveys and interviews with Jewish OC residents randomly chosen from lists like ours, and those submitted by other community partners including congregations. Recognizing the importance of this endeavor, Jewish Federation has agreed to share our data list with the Brandeis University/NORC research team. We have signed a non-disclosure agreement with the Brandeis/NORC team to protect the confidentiality of our data.

If you do not want your contact information shared with Brandeis, please click here to respond to us by Friday, June 14 at 5:00 p.m. If you do not respond by the deadline, your information will be shared and you may be contacted.

With appreciation for your partnership and support in amplifying Jewish life and strengthening our Jewish future,

 

 

 

Erik Ludwig, PhD
President & CEO