East Bay Jewish Community Study - Jewish Federation of the ...
East Bay Jewish Community Study - Jewish Federation of the ...
East Bay Jewish Community Study - Jewish Federation of the ...
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Similarly, <strong>the</strong> practices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interfaith reflect and respect <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>re is more than one<br />
religion in <strong>the</strong>ir homes. These couples are more likely to have a Christmas tree (59 percent<br />
always or usually) than light Chanukah candles (46 percent always or usually) or have or attend<br />
a Passover Seder (38 percent always or usually). Some interfaith couples observe <strong>the</strong> High<br />
Holidays by staying home (19 percent always or usually) or attending services (16 percent<br />
always or usually). Very few light Shabbat candles or keep kosher (6 percent each).<br />
Figure 34: <strong>Jewish</strong> Practice Among <strong>the</strong> Interfaith<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> residents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> are significantly more likely to engage in <strong>the</strong> home-based and<br />
episodic (e.g., holidays) aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> life than <strong>the</strong> formal components. For instance, 17<br />
percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Jews attend synagogue monthly or more. 18 Only 9 percent attend weekly<br />
or more, compared to 36 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> general population who report attending services weekly<br />
or more. 19 Much <strong>of</strong> synagogue participation is driven by holidays such as Yom Kippur and Rosh<br />
Hashanah. Very few regularly attend events sponsored by <strong>the</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> community (13<br />
percent at least monthly) or informal communal, spiritual activities like participating in a<br />
Chavurah (9 percent at least monthly).<br />
18 Note that synagogue membership is <strong>of</strong>ten over reported because it is socially desirable.<br />
19 Pew Research Center for <strong>the</strong> People and <strong>the</strong> Press, Religion and Politics. ―November 2010 Post Election Survey.‖<br />
Updated November 4-7, 2010. http://people-press.org/files/legacy-questionnaires/675.pdf.<br />
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