Revitalizing American Jewish life in 5785

In response to the tsunami of hatred directed against Jews and Israel since October 7, Jews across the United States have banded together, returned to Jewish spaces, and reinvigorated Jewish institutions. The resilience demonstrated in diverse quarters of our community--perhaps the start of an exciting revival in American Jewish life--deserves attention. It will impact American Jewish life for decades to come. 

Already, one study published in eJewishPhilanthropy described as "an explosion in Jewish belonging and communal participation that is nothing short of historic." Dubbed "the surge" by the study's authors, this widespread rise in communal participation is evident at every level of American Jewish life and especially among young people and Jews in their prime. An astonishing 43% of Jews, according to the study, expressed new interest in increasing their engagement with Jewish life. Almost one-quarter have taken the first step by attending a class, joining a Shabbat service, or participating in some advocacy effort.

Anecdotal evidence supports these findings. Both Hillel and Chabad report significant increases in turnout for their activities. The Jim Joseph Foundation found that in general Jewish students on college campuses "feel a heightened sense of Jewish identity." Enrollments in Jewish Studies courses nationwide are up and so is Jewish engagement on college campuses.

Synagogues and other communal institutions are also much more crowded than before. Adult education classes concerning Israel and Judaica are boasting many more students than before.  Jews around the country are finding comfort amid what Rabbi Sharon Brous calls "existential loneliness" by seeking the company of other Jews.

Jewish day schools, especially the non-Orthodox ones, are likewise reviving, and for the first time in years showing rising enrollments. A recent survey from Prizmah, the Center for Jewish Day Schools, showed that fully 60% of responding schools "had new students enrolled or projected to enroll for the 2024-25 school year as a result of the change in climate post October 7." In explaining why, schools pointed to "antisemitism in public and/or independent schools," "safety," "Israeli families who are moving to North America, or newly considering day school because of the war," and a desire to find "Jewish community for their children." As a result, we can anticipate in the years ahead an American Jewish community that is better educated, Jewishly, than the current one.

Jewish camps tell a similar story. The Foundation for Jewish Camp describes "a renewed sense of focus, vigor, and energy from Jewish day and overnight camps across North America." Once again, this augurs well for the future.

We may even be witnessing a reversal in the decades-long rise of intermarriage, which peaked at 72% of non-Orthodox Jews in the US marrying spouses of another religion. In the wake of October 7, though, reports are proliferating about applications for conversion among non-Jewish members of intermarried families.

Multiple sources have also recounted how young Jews, since October 7, have spurned non-Jewish partners and beg to be introduced to fellow Jews who share their love for Israel.

In short, in the face of heightened antisemitism and attacks on Israel, significant numbers of American Jews are turning to their fellow Jews and looking to strengthen their connections to Jewish life. This, of course, has happened before in Jewish history. Previous bouts of antisemitism going all the way back to ancient Persia spurred spiritual revivals. So did the rise of antisemitism in America in the late 19th century, which sparked innovations such as the Jewish Publication Society, the Jewish Encyclopedia, and Hadassah.

The Shoah , too, resulted in a very significant period of American Jewish renewal. And now it is happening again.

Nobody can predict how the current revival will play out or what its long-lasting impact will be. One suspects, though, that a continuing pattern in Jewish history is being reenacted before our eyes. Those who seek to undermine Jewish life are, paradoxically, stimulating its revitalization. 

Jonathan D. Sarna is University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University and the author of American Judaism: A History.