CJP funds survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Jewish community

In order to serve and make a difference in our community, it’s critical to have accurate data to know our community. CJP is committed to using data to better understand – and then support – our partners and people in need. 

Knowing as much as we can about how Greater Boston’s Jewish community is faring during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a priority since March. CJP, along with nine Jewish federations across America, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and Pittsburgh, sponsored the national survey conducted by Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies.

The Building Resilient Jewish Communities study findings for our region include:

  • People in more difficult financial situations prior to COVID-19 were more likely to have their financial situation worsen; furthermore, concern about life “returning to normal” was more prevalent in those concerned about immediate financial needs
  • Younger adults (18-34) had more trouble coping with the psychological effects of the pandemic than older adults despite having similar or greater social support
  • Those who had medium to high levels of Jewish engagement and participated more frequently in online Jewish life were more likely to feel that Judaism helped them cope with the crisis
  • Older adults were more likely to attend online religious services; younger adults were more likely to attend online programs, use social media, and use the internet for information

The data from the study is already helping us. Not only is it informing our existing efforts, but it is also helping to identify additional community needs that require our attention. Thanks to the support of more than 1,500 donors, CJP has allocated more than $2,000,000 in support of community needs during the pandemic. You can read more about CJP’s impact on JewishBoston.com.