'A new normal': American Jews are more connected to Jewish life than ever, survey finds

JFNA's third survey examining Jewish life since October 7 was conducted between May and June 2026 among 2,836 Jewish Americans. It found that after declining last year, 38% of Jewish Americans reported increased engagement, a trend JFNA calls the "Surge."

"Many people expected the increased interest in Jewish life to fade as time went on, but our data shows the Surge sustaining and even building momentum since last year," said Mimi Kravetz, Chief Impact and Growth Officer at Jewish Federations of North America.

"Jewish Americans are actively creating and seeking Jewish life in many different ways, and Jewish institutions, including Federations, are continuing to respond to this need."

Jewish Americans who reported increased engagement were more likely to feel emotionally attached to Israel and to say that Israel made them proud to be Jewish than those whose involvement had not grown.

They were also more likely to recognize increasing antisemitism in the US and to report being targeted online.

Antisemitism was a widespread concern among respondents, with 65% saying there is "a lot" of antisemitism in the US, compared with 45% in 2020. That concern was particularly high among those who had become more involved in Jewish life.

This year's survey also sought to understand what encourages people to become more involved in Jewish life and what prevents them from keeping those connections.

Based on more than 700 responses, the survey found that informal social events, such as Shabbat dinners with friends, were the most-cited factors that increased engagement.

Regular participation was another important factor, mentioned by 184 respondents. Many said they became more comfortable in Jewish settings the more often they attended events.

In the survey, people also said personal relationships mattered. For 117 respondents, having a "welcoming individual" made a difference, while 45 said that without that connection, they were discouraged from participating.

The findings also highlighted the challenges facing Jewish communities, particularly around political disagreements.

Political tensions surrounding Israel and antisemitism were the most commonly mentioned challenge to becoming more engaged, as mentioned by 140 respondents.

Some respondents felt their communities were too critical of Israel, while others felt they were too supportive. Others expressed frustration that political debates had come to dominate communal life.

However, instead of leaving Jewish life altogether, many people said they tried looking for different congregations or communities that better reflected their views.

While nearly everyone experiencing the Surge increased their social participation, those who were already involved in Jewish groups tended to deepen their existing commitments.

For these respondents, greater engagement often meant attending more activities at their synagogues or community organizations and becoming more involved in advocacy.

Those who had been less connected before October 7 showed instead that much of their increased engagement took place through independent learning.

Rather than joining institutions immediately, they listened to podcasts, watched or read the news, and used other educational resources to explore their Jewish identity and deepen their understanding of Israel.

The distinction suggests that increased interest in Jewish life does not necessarily translate into immediate involvement in established communal institutions.

The findings suggest that Jewish organizations have an opportunity to reach people whose interest in Jewish life has grown since October 7 but who have yet to find a community where they feel comfortable.

For those who were less engaged before, the main challenge may be about helping them find meaningful ways to participate, rather than just generating interest.

The survey also found improvements in Jewish Americans' awareness of security resources within their communities and their confidence in the ability of Jewish organizations to protect them.

Awareness of specific security programs protecting Jewish institutions increased from 39% to 57%. Additionally, 60% felt that Jewish organizations were effectively keeping their communities safe, up from 47% the previous year.

"The Surge continues because, even amid deep concern about antisemitism and security, that concern is not keeping people away," Kravetz said.

"People are still showing up, still learning, and still finding their way into Jewish community. There's a real opportunity to reach even more of them, and we now have lessons from individuals and institutions doing this work on how to sustain this new normal."