The Pew 2020 survey in the context of demographic studies, and US Jewry in the global Jewish context

Key Findings:

This article discusses the importance of comparative research and the limitations of comparing the 2020 Pew data with that of 2013. It suggests that despite the changes in concept and methodology in collecting and weighting the data, the stability of the overall picture of American Jews is more significant than the changes observed.

One key finding highlighted is that the importance of Holocaust memory, ethics, and social justice outweighs the belief in God among American Jews. This value hierarchy is consistent across major Jewish communities worldwide, emphasizing the transnational nature of American Jewry.

Concerns about the accuracy of the data and the definitions used in the survey are raised. The significant increase in the Jewish population reported is questioned, and the researchers suggest that the change in definitions and data collection procedures may have influenced the results. The use of internet surveys is criticized, as they tend to over-represent certain social classes, including Jews who are highly concentrated in those classes.

The notion of Jewishness as solely a religious identity is also challenged. The researchers highlight that a majority of American Jews by religion hold a secular outlook. 53% of them say religion is not important to them (versus 91% of Jews of no religion). Less than half of Jews by religion (43%) say being Jewish is about religion. Seventy-four percent of Jews by religion do not think religious faith provides them a great deal of meaning or fulfillment. The term "Jews of no religion" can be argued as a linguistic tool in the effort to find those who did not identify as religiously Jewish in the first place, rather than words meant to imply that they have no Jewish identity.

It is crucial to understand the meaning of identities, concepts, and relations within the Jewish community. It is also very important to acknowledge the complexity and nuance of Jewish identity, and a comprehensive analysis that goes beyond a binary division between Jews and non-Jews is urged. The challenge lies in maintaining a coherent internal discourse within the American Jewish community and fostering connections with Jewish communities in other countries.

Overall, the Pew survey should be viewed as a transnational and processual phenomenon, requiring impartial social scientific investigation and sensitive policy-making, rather than being used as a battleground for conflicting narratives.