East Bay Jewish Community Study - Jewish Federation of the ...

Synagogue membership and attendance are significantly higher among same-faith families than
interfaith families. For example, 47 percent of same-faith families currently belong to a
synagogue compared to just 10 percent of interfaith families. Similarly, 47 percent of Jewish
residents in interfaith marriages never attend synagogue, while only 10 percent of same-faith
married residents never attend synagogue. Intermarried residents whose non-Jewish spouses
participate in Jewish life with them are significantly more likely to belong to a synagogue and to
belong to other organizations — 52 percent are dues paying members and 45 percent belong to
other Jewish organizations. By comparison, 27 percent of those who report that their non-
Jewish spouse sometimes participates and 6 percent of those who report that their non-Jewish
spouse rarely or never participates in Jewish life are dues-paying members of a synagogue;
organization membership stands at 17 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Figure 39: Jews in Interfaith Relationships Much Less Likely to be Dues Paying
Members
Are you currently paying membership dues to a synagogue (IF NO) Since becoming an adult, have you ever paid
membership dues to a synagogue
80
60
47
Yes, currently paying dues
No, not currently paying dues, but did pay membership dues in the past
No, not currently paying dues and never have paid dues
64
40
20
30
23 24
10
0
Jewish spouse
Non-Jewish spouse
41