Russian American Jewish Experience

Russian American Jewish Experience RAJE Background & Long Term Impact of the RAJE Fellowship Program Results of the Research Institute for New Americans (RINA) Long Term Impact Study FROM LET MY PEOPLE GO TO LET MY PEOPLE KNOW 2915 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11235 (800) 407-6020 www.rajeusa.org info@rajeusa.org

Table of Contents: Page 1. Introduction to the RAJE Fellowship Program..3 5 2. Study Background and The Research Institute for New Americans (RINA)..6 3. RAJE Fellowship Program Parameters & Student Background.....7 5. Relative Jewish Educational background, Jewish Denominational Affiliation and FSU Connection of RAJE students prior to participating in the RAJE Fellowship program.8 9 6. RINA Study Goals & Methodology.10 7. Impact Part 1: Establishing a Jewish Household 11 8. Impact Part 2: Involvement in Jewish Organizations & Communal Life..12 14 9. Impact Part 3: Fulfillment of Spiritual Needs Through Judaism 15 18 10.Impact Part 4: Developing a Strong Connection to Israel.19 11.Conclusion and Next Steps...20 21

Introduction & Background: According to the Pew study and the RINA institute, there are approximately 750,000 Jews from the Former Soviet union and their children, who live in rth America. Due to 70 years of systematic communist repression of Jewish education and communal life, this group represents the largest unaffiliated Jewish community of its type and hence its Jewish future is of great importance in shaping the next generation of Jewish life in rth America. 3

RAJE was founded in 2006 with the goal of finding a systematic and comprehensive approach of ensuring a Jewish future for this vital community. RAJE was inspired by the intrepid vision of Taglit-Birthright Israel. The 10 day FREE trip to Israel was an incredible first step, a catalyst of growth and connection for an entire 18-26 year old target population of Jews, who represent the future of the Jewish people. Alas, a 10 day trip, as powerful as it is, has it s limitations both in the depth of impact possible over a 10 day trip and in the fact that such a trip quickly fades into memory unless a powerful follow-up system is in place. So we asked the questions: if a 10 day trip is a first step, what would be an ideal system to build on that experience and transform a generation by creating lasting, deep level change? Are there unique features of our Russian American Jewish target population, which would enable an out of the box approach that would work to impact our community? To achieve its mission, RAJE developed a unique system of community wide change, known as the RAJE Fellowship program. This program focuses on the millennial age group of 18 30 year olds. This is an age when most important decisions regarding future identity and affiliation are made, and hence can be seen as an hour glass shaping the future generation. 4

Similar to the Birthright concept of the FREE 10 day Israel trip, RAJE also begins with an offer of a trip to Israel. While the Birthright trip is a great first step, it is a standalone vacation like trip with no built in educational component before or after the trip. The RAJE trip is longer; two weeks vs. 10 days for Birthright, includes significant Jewish educational programing on the trip and most importantly, an intensive semester long program before the trip. The program before the trip consists of ten, 4.5 hour sessions, 2 weekend retreats, as well as other social, educational and community building activities outside formal program hours. As a result, over the course of a single semester, the students experience over 250 hours of Jewish educational programming - a higher level of deep level engagement then any program of its type within the Jewish community. While such commitment would be hard to achieve on a large scale, among the average unaffiliated young Jews from non-fsu backgrounds, the unique realities of our target population, such as: concentration of Russian Jews residing in major metropolitan areas, their natural desire to connect with each other and their fascination with visiting Israel, enabled RAJE Fellowships to quickly scale programming in the New York area. Since 2006, 3260 participants, or over 11% of all 18 30 year old FSU Jews in New York and Philadelphia have completed the RAJE Fellowship program. With hundreds completing the program each year, it has become a rite of passage for Russian Jews in these cities. In the Spring of 2014, a successful pilot program was launched in Toronto. For Fall 2014, RAJE plans to expand the Toronto program and to open Fellowship programing in Chicago and Baltimore. Paul T. (2009) I have more pride than ever to be a Jew. I am hosting Shabbat meals and participating in Jewish organizations. RAJE really changed my life. Marianna L. (2007) What I appreciated the most at RAJE was the family feeling you get. Since I became involved, RAJE has been like a home. 5

Study Background and The Research Institute for New Americans (RINA) To examine the long-term effects of the RAJE fellowship program on participants Jewish identities and on their engagement with Israel, RAJE commissioned the Research Institute for New Americans (RINA), led by Dr. Sam Kliger, to conduct a study of RAJE program alumni, who participated in the program between October 2006 and December 2011. The Research Institute for New Americans (RINA), a founding organization of COJECO, is a widely respected independent research and analytical center. RINA was established with the goal of providing a deeper understanding of the social, demographic, identification, and integration processes of the FSU Jewish immigrant community in rth America and Israel. Studies conducted by RINA include two major surveys for the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a comprehensive study of the FSU community for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and studies commissioned by COJECO. RINA s work in political polling, includes commissions by the US government to conduct exit polling both in the US and Israel in partnership with Michigan State University. RINA s research on new immigrants has been featured in a New York Times front page article and in other major media outlets. RINA s team: Dr. Sam Kliger, Kristina Shmatok, RINA s program coordinator, and Ketevan Chkhikvadze, RINA s program coordinator. The RAJE study was partially sponsored by RINA s board of directors, by private donors, including Dr. Igor Talis, and by COJECO, of which RINA is a member of organization and beneficiary. RINA expresses deep gratitude to all individuals and organizations that supported the study. Dr. Sam Kliger is the founder and chairman of the Research Institute for New Americans (RINA). 6

SINCE 2006, 3260 PARTICIPANTS, OR OVER 11% OF ALL 18 30 YEAR OLD FSU JEWS IN THE NEW YORK AREA HAVE COMPLETED THE RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THE SEMESTER LONG PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TEN, 4.5 HOUR SESSIONS, 2 WEEKEND RETREATS AND A TWO WEEK EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO EUROPE AND ISRAEL. OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE SEMESTER THE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE OVER 250 HOURS OF HIGHLY IMPACTFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING, A HIGHER LEVEL OF DEEP LEVEL ENGAGEMENT THEN ANY PROGRAM OF ITS TYPE WITHIN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. RAJE Fellowship Program Parameters & Student Background NUMBER OF STUDENTS COMPLETING THE RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EACH YEAR BETWEEN 2006 2011 2010-454 2011-474 2006-64 2007-375 2008-428 SINCE COMPLETING THE FIRST LEVEL RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN A SECOND OR THIRD LEVEL RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM? 50%, two semesters or more of second or third level RAJE Fellowships 31% 35-38 30-34 25-29 20-24 CURRENT AGE OF RAJE ALUMNI WHO COMPLETED THE RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM BETWEEN 2006-2012 5% 15% 30% 50% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 2009-445 THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY IS ON THE 2240 STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED THE RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM BETWEEN 2006-2011 48% 52% Male Female GENDER OF STUDENTS, one semester of second or third level RAJE Fellowships 19% 7

Are RAJE Fellowship participants similar in their background to their peers who participate in less intensive Jewish educational programing, such as the free 10 day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip? This question needs to be addressed to help evaluate the RAJE program s relative impact. To address this issue, prior to commencing the study of program impact we compared data from RAJE applicants prior to attending the program to that of US based Taglit- Birthright participants of FSU background. This comparison was made possible by analyzing data from the 2011 Cohen Center study of Russian-Speaking Taglit- Birthright participants. The data analysis suggests that RAJE participants are very similar in their background to those participating in the Birthright Israel trip, with the notable exception of RAJE applicants having significantly less formal Jewish educational then those participating in the Taglit- Birthright Israel trip (32% for RAJE vs. 55% for Birthright). This maybe do to the way RAJE was able to penetrate a target population who are not connected with any other Jewish organizations and managed to build a level of trust making the program seem more accessible to them as RAJE is seen more culturally attuned to this demographic. Relative Jewish Educational background & Jewish Denominational Affiliation of RAJE students prior to participating in the RAJE Fellowship program. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Percentage of RAJE participants who received any formal Jewish education prior to RAJE program participation as compared to Taglit-Birthright participants of FSU Background. 55% 32% Taglit-Birthright Alumni of FSU Background RAJE Program Applicants Jewish Denomination of RAJE participants prior to program participation as compared to Taglit-Birthright participants of FSU Background. 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 14% 11% 8% 4% 2% 2% 74% 71% 12% Reform / Reconstructionist Conservative Orthodox Just Jewish Other Taglit-Birthright Participants of FSU Background RAJE Applicants 3%

FSU Connection of RAJE Fellowship Students Level of FSU connection of RAJE Applicants as compared to Taglit-Birthright Alumni of FSU Background 80% 76% 70% 65% 60% 50% 40% 35% 30% 20% 24% 10% 0% Born in FSU Taglit-Birthright Participants of FSU Background Born in the US - parents from FSU RAJE Applicants

RINA Study Goals & Methodology What is the impact of 250 hours of deep level Jewish Educational programming in a single semester and trip? Of having hundreds, 18-30 year old Jews spending so much of their free time together, bonding, learning and experiencing Jewish life? The specific goal of the study, was to measure the impact of RAJE programing on four basic areas of Jewish identity and peoplehood affiliation, which the RAJE program set out to impact. Two years or more after completing the RAJE program, were participants more likely to: Establish a Jewish household? Affiliate with and be involved in the life of the Jewish community? Fulfill their spiritual needs through the study and practice of Judaism? Develop a strong connection to the State of Israel? Study Methodology: A randomly collected sample of 300 completed survey questionnaires were collected from a group of 2,240 alumni who graduated the RAJE Fellowship program between 2006 and 2011. This random statistical sample was achieved by attaching a number to each contact from 1 to 2,240 to the full list of program participants and then selecting every sixth name for the study sample (e.g.1, 7, 13, 20, 26). In this way, a list of 373 sample program participants was compiled. We then proceeded to contact the 373 sample program participants by emailing them a specially designed questionnaire. The first email sent, resulted in 83 surveys filled out online, an additional 34 responded to a second email sent a week later. Then, trained RINA interviewers followed up with the remaining sample list via phone calls and individual emails, until we reached the required 300 survey responses. Out of the original sample of 373 program participants, 34 individuals were unreachable due to incorrect contact info, 9 refused to participate in the survey for various reasons and 30 were not followed-up with, beyond the initial email, since the target quota of 300 was already reached. Three hundred interviews were collected by the end of May 2014. The data collected was then statistically analyzed by RINA s team. The present report is a result of the quantitative and qualitative analysis done by RINA. 10

RAJE Impact Part 1: Establishing a Jewish Household HAVE YOU GOTTEN MARRIED SINCE PARTICIPATING IN THE RAJE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM? IF YES, IS YOUR SPOUSE JEWISH? DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE AT RAJE? 6% 65% 35% My spouse is not Jewish My spouse is Jewish 48% 52% 94% RAJE PARTICIPANTS HAVE A 300% LOWER INTERMARRIAGE RATE THEN NON-PARTICIPANTS 11

RAJE Impact Part 2: Involvement in Jewish Organizations & Communal Life OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU MADE A CHARITABLE DONATION? IF YES, WAS YOUR DONATION TO A JEWISH CHARITY? IF YES, TO WHICH JEWISH CHARITY? A SYNAGOGUE 39% A JCC 8% 22% 18% 78% 82% A JEWISH FEDERATION 13% TO RAJE 27% 82% OF RAJE PARTICIPANTS WHO DONATED FUNDS TO CHARITY, DONATED TO JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS VS. 27% OF BIRTHRIGHT ALUMNI WHO DONATED FUNDS TO CHARITY, DONATED TO JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS. A JEWISH ORGANIZATION OTHER THAN A SYNAGOGUE OR JCC 35% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 12

RAJE IMPACT PART 2: AFFILIATE WITH AND BE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN AN ACTIVITY SPONSORED BY A JEWISH ORGANIZATION OR A SYNAGOGUE? 27% IF YES, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN AN ACTIVITY SPONSORED BY A JEWISH ORGANIZATION OR A SYNAGOGUE? 10 times or more 34% 1-3 times 35% OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU VISITED A JEWISH WEBSITE? 18% IF YES, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU VISITED A JEWISH WEBSITE? 10 times or more 30% 1 or 2 times 37% 73% 4-10 times 31% 82% A few 33% 13

RAJE Impact Part 2: Involvement in Jewish Organizations & Communal Life OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED EITHER AT RAJE OR AT ANOTHER JEWISH ORGANIZATION? IF YES, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED? 35% 10 or more times 32% 1-3 times 48% 65% 4-10 times 20% 14

RAJE IMPACT PART 3: FULFILL THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS THROUGH THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF JUDAISM RAJE PARTICIPANTS ARE 550% MORE LIKELY TO LIGHT CHANUKAH CANDLES THAN PEERS WHO ONLY PARTICIPATED IN BIRTHRIGHT WHICH OF THESE JEWISH RITUALS AND TRADITIONS HAVE YOU OBSERVED OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS? 78% 74% 63% 69% 73% 55% 35% 40% 38% Lit Chanukah candles Attended a Shabbat dinner Hosted Shabbat dinner Attended Yom Kippur services at a synagogue Attended Shabbat services at a synagogue Celebrated Purim Attended a Passover Seder Celebrated Rosh Hashanah Celebrated Shavuot 15

RAJE IMPACT PART 3: FULFILL THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS THROUGH THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF JUDAISM DO YOU OBSERVE THE LAWS OF KASHRUT? DO YOU OBSERVE THE LAWS OF SHABBAT? 20% I do not think its necessary 40% 22% I do not think its necessary 33% to some extent 21% to some extent 17%, but I would like to 19%, but I would like to 28% 16

RAJE IMPACT PART 3: FULFILL THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS THROUGH THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF JUDAISM OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU ATTENDED A JEWISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, CLASS OR LECTURE? IF YES, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU ATTENDED A JEWISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, CLASS OR LECTURE? 41% 59% 1-3 times 33% 10 times or more 46% 4-10 times 21% 17

RAJE IMPACT PART 3: FULFILL THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS THROUGH THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF JUDAISM More than 10 28% DO YOU OWN ANY JEWISH BOOKS? 15% OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU READ A JEWISH BOOK? A few 16% More than 10 7% 1 or 2 29% 1 or 2 33% A few 24% 48% 18

RAJE IMPACT PART 4: DEVELOP A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A US SENATORIAL, CONGRESSIONAL OR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A STRONG TRACK RECORD IN SUPPORTING ISRAEL? IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN A MEETING, DEMONSTRATION OR OTHER ACTION IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL? 62% 38% t likely 45% Possibly depending on their stance on other important issues 15% I would not take support of Israel into consideration 1% t under any circumstance 39% 19

Conclusion and Next Steps Eight years ago RAJE set out to achieve an ambitious goal; to develop a scalable model for impacting a generation of young FSU Jews in rth America and ensuring their Jewish future. From the onset, it was easy to see that we were on the right track and the evidence of the RINA study only concretizes in hard numbers the change we have already witnessed all around us. One only needs to stop a random young Russian Jew on a New York subway and ask them about RAJE, to feel the level of program penetration and how spending a 250 hour semester, learning and growing as Jews has become an accepted norm. To witness countless RAJE alumni weddings and see the impact on Jewish family life. To debunk the myth that young Russian Jews are just not interested in the spiritual side of Jewish life by seeing hundreds of young RAJE students at an all night Shavuot program, a holiday which so few of them could even name prior to the RAJE program. To watch the sea of RAJE t-shirts marching in the Israel day parade and know that Russian Jews are ready to stand up for Israel. To see the potential for Jewish leadership in RAJE alumni now involved in countless Jewish projects and organizations, in a wide spectrum of areas ranging from: Israel Advocacy, Jewish Education, Community development, Social Services and Caring for the needy. w that we have both the anecdotal evidence and the hard numbers, the success of the RAJE model is both a source of happiness and of sobering responsibility. If we have a proven, scalable model to make a historic impact on the future of the Jewish people, how can we make sure to realize it s full potential? 20

What s next? We believe that if the RAJE model is scaled to reach 50% of the FSU target population in rth America, a tipping point of Jewish affiliation can be achieved and a Jewish future secured for an entire generation. To do this, we must build the capacity to scale and expand programming, both locally and nationally. In New York and Philadelphia, this would require RAJE to double the number of students completing the fellowship program each semester. On a national level, RAJE would need to expand programing to all 10 major metropolitan areas in rth America with significant populations of FSU Jews. Toronto 40,000 San Francisco 50,000 Los Angeles 150,000 Chicago 70,000 Detroit 15,000 Philadelphia 25,000 Boston 50,000 New York & New Jersey 276,000 Baltimore & Washington 25,000 South Florida 50,000 21