More
than five months after the Pew Research Center’s “A Portrait of Jewish
Americans” survey highlighted rising intermarriage rates and declining
connections with organized Jewish life, proponents of a newly released
study believe they may have the antidote for what ails the Jewish
community: Head outside.Experiences that blend Jewish learning with the outdoors, food and environment are attracting a growing number of Jews, particularly younger Jews, to meaningful and inspiring Jewish life, reports the first national survey on the matter.
“Seeds of Opportunity: A National Study of Immersive Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education (JOFEE),” a report released March 10 by a group of six major funders and the nonprofit Hazon, suggests that these experiences have great potential for growth and for stimulating Jewish engagement.
“For the last decade, a growing number of young Jewish people have been connecting Jewish tradition on the one hand with food, the environment and the outdoors on the other,” said Nigel Savage, president of Hazon, which is based in New York and has an active San Francisco branch.
“What the study makes clear is that these programs are having an enormously significant impact — on people’s individual identity and Jewish commitment; on leadership development; and, in relation to food and the environment. JOFEE programs are strengthening Jewish life, and are having a significant viral impact as last year’s program participants become next year’s program founders.”
The study identified 2,405 people, participants in 41 JOFEE programs in 2012, including Jewish holiday retreats, conferences, outdoor/food adventures, camp fellowships and apprenticeships. Examples of the vast array of JOFEE experiences include Jewish farming programs, wilderness celebrations of Jewish holidays, multiday Jewish bike rides and a sustainable food tour of Israel. The report examined only immersive experiences, which are considered to last four days or longer.
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