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Small Jewish Communities: Invisible Voices Which Deserve To Be Heard

Tue, December 18, 8:30 to 10:00am, Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, Waterfront 3 Ballroom

Abstract

Those who write and speak about American Jewry largely do so referencing those who live in the urban centers such as New York and Los Angeles. To reference Jewish life in York, PA, or Santa Fe, NM often brings strange looks and, sometimes, mocking tones. As with other marginalize voices across the American Jewish landscape, those who live in small Jewish communities not only desire to be a part of the larger conversation, their stories and strengths which have developed because of who and where they are provide both a depth of understanding of American Jewish history and timely instruction for the American Jewish future unavailable from the standard sources.

Systemic marginalization of small Jewish communities is an American tradition. Between 1968 and 2018 there have been eight nation-wide surveys of the aggregate American Jewish population as well as over 200 surveys of medium and large local Jewish communities within 35 states. The drawback to these studies is the marked neglect of the smaller Jewish communities (those with between 1,000 and 3,000 known Jewish individuals) throughout the United States.

As with other groups, Jewish identity salience levels are higher within those Jewish communities which have a smaller share of the overall population than those communities which enjoy a larger share; this is true even among those individuals who do not engage regularly in religious practices. Those who live in small Jewish communities have mastered the ability to think small – and do so successfully – thereby increasing the chances that their children’s children will be Jewish. Thus, the net effect of small Jewish communities on the whole of American Jewry could be greater than expected. If assimilation and out-migration are less likely among those who reside in small Jewish communities, it could be that in 100 years’ time the non-Orthodox Jewish world will be more accurately represented by Charleston, WV than Los Angeles, CA.

To fully understand life in small Jewish communities, their role in American Jewish history, and the future impact they may have on American Jewry, I am calling for a nation-wide survey focused specifically on these important communities.

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