Jewish Australia: Generation behind or Jewishly different?

• In Event: Towards Global Jewish Peoplehood: What Can We Learn from Jewish community studies Around the World

Abstract

Australian data shows similarities but also marked differences when compared to patterns of assimilation and disengagement found in most diaspora Jewish communities. One possible explanation for these differences is that Australia is ‘one generation behind’, whilst the alternative posits that other factors underlie the comparatively high degree of connectedness and engagement of Australian Jewry. In this paper we examine the Jewish identification, attitudes and engagement of young adults (aged 18 to 35) in Australia’s two largest Jewish communities, Melbourne and Sydney, in the context of the Gen08 and Gen17 Australian Jewish Community Surveys which were completed by 5840 and 8621 respondents respectively. These surveys provide more evidence of consistency in attitudes than change, evident when data available for analysis is disaggregated by stream of Judaism rather than at the community level. This analysis is made possible by the very large respondent base. This paper will argue that various historical and cultural factors have combined to make the Australian Jewish community distinct amongst diaspora communities. Almost all Australian Jews (92%) have visited Israel, feel a personal ‘sense of responsibility to ensure that the state of Israel continues to exist’ (88%) and identify as Zionist (69%), young adults identifying as Zionist in even higher numbers (75%). Young adults live in close proximity to one another, half of Melbournians (56%) living in three suburbs and half of Sydneysiders (53%) living in just five suburbs. More than half of school age youth attended a Jewish day school, with Jewish education being valued by Orthodox and non-Orthodox parents alike. This paper sheds new light on the basis of Australian Jewry’s distinctiveness as well as the ‘why’ of young adult Jewish journeys, with implications for stakeholders in Jewish connectedness.

Authors

• Adina Bankier-Karp, Monash University

• Andrew Markus, Monash University