The “Greater Boston Jewish Community Study”

By David Trietsch*

The recently released “Greater Boston Jewish Community Study” conducted by the Cohen Center at Brandeis confirms several trends that we at Temple Israel have felt for some time and others that can further inform our thinking and strategies as we seek to be a center of Jewish life in greater Boston.

The study is long and comprehensive. Following are a few of the pertinent findings: • The Jewish population of greater Boston is shifting towards the inner city. Fifty percent of young adults (18 to 34) are now living in Cambridge, Somerville and

Central Boston. (Boomers are also moving inward from the suburbs.) • The fastest growing category of self-identified Jews is “just Jewish” with a dramatic decline in Movement affiliation as a primary identifier. • Synagogues remain the central institutions of Jewish life, however, membership in congregations or other Jewish institutions is no longer an automatic assumption for feeling connected Jewishly. I believe that Temple Israel is well positioned to leverage these new trends as we lean into our communal vision of “living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.”

Here are a few reasons why:

First, TI has been and remains a leader in placing our focus on broader participation, reaching out to the greater Boston Jewish community through our Center for Adult Jewish Learning, Riverway, The Tent (teen collaboration), and our Families with Young Children programs. Second, we are focused on creating multiple networks of connection that reflect the individual, spiritual, and social needs of our congregants and beyond. Examples include changes to our Qabbalat Shabbat service and the new Jewish Spiritual Practice Lab that supports Tefillah Groups and Mindfulness and Movement classes.

And third, our lay and professional leadership understand that innovation and experimentation is the only way forward in an era that demands relevance, excellence, and connection.

Rabbi Zecher’s creation of “Shabbat Awakenings,” a weekly e-letter to the congregation, is a perfect example that introduces the first important ingredient that Rabbi Sharon Brous, the creator of Ikar in L.A., identifies as needed to “reclaim religion and revitalize religious practice”— “wakefulness.”

Our challenge at TI is remain focused on our aspirational vision, be aware of the opportunities and challenges in our environment, and continually evolve our thinking and experimentation to create the interconnected, vibrant Jewish community that we seek to be.

Tent students and Rabbi Soffer in deep discussion.

* David is the founding director of CJP’s Leadership Development Institute. He and his wife Rhoda have been members of Temple Israel since 1989. When he’s not at work or picking up his CSA at TI you can find him volunteering in Brookline to secure affordable housing for low income seniors and families.