1. Population survey in UJA-Federation of New York
2. UJA-Federation of New York demographic study.
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Exploring Chabad Involvement in the Jewish Community
Last week, eJewishPhilanthropy reported on the release of the highly anticipated UJA-Federation of New York’s Jewish population survey. While the survey provided valuable insights into the challenges facing the Jewish community, it notably omitted questions regarding the extent of involvement of Metro NYC Jews with Chabad.
The Growing Presence of Chabad
Within the eight-county area covered by the survey, there are currently 166 Chabad centers, not including the thriving community of approximately 20,000 in Crown Heights. These centers play a vital role in providing synagogues, schools, social services, and yeshivas to the Jewish population.
The Chai Center in Dix Hills, N.Y., one of the Chabad centers located within the geographic area covered by the recent UJA-Federation of NY survey. The Chai Center – Dix Hills, NY Jewish Center/Facebook
The Need for Inclusive Survey Methods
While the survey made an effort to study demographic trends within the Haredi community, it missed the opportunity to explore the involvement of non-Haredi Jews with Chabad. Recent studies, such as the Pew survey, have shown that a significant percentage of U.S. Jews actively engage with Chabad, regardless of their denominational affiliation.
Traditional methods of denominational self-identification may not accurately capture the diverse ways in which Jews interact with Chabad. By asking more nuanced questions about Chabad attendance and support, researchers can gain a better understanding of the extent of Chabad’s influence across different Jewish groups.
The Impact of Chabad’s Growth
Over the past two decades, Chabad has experienced remarkable growth, with a 200% increase in the number of centers in the U.S. This growth stands in contrast to the decline seen in some other Jewish denominations. The success of Chabad in attracting a diverse range of Jewish individuals suggests that their approach resonates with many in the community.
Despite the significant presence of Chabad on Long Island, the UJA-Federation survey did not collect data on the number of individuals served by Chabad centers compared to other congregations. This lack of information hinders efforts to understand the full scope of Chabad’s impact.
Advocating for Inclusion
Chabad’s global reach, with over 3,000 centers in fifty states and over 100 countries, underscores the need for comprehensive surveys that accurately reflect the diversity of Jewish engagement. When surveys overlook dynamic and successful movements like Chabad, they risk missing crucial insights into the evolving landscape of Jewish life.
As Rabbi Leibel Baumgarten and Arthur Katz point out, excluding Chabad from surveys limits opportunities to allocate resources effectively and support initiatives that have proven successful in engaging Jewish communities.
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– population survey
– UJA-Federation of New York.
