ARE YOU WITH ME? Social Connectedness and Belonging Among American Jewish Adults Under 40

• In Event: Addressing Lacunae in the Literature: Research on Understudied Jewish Populations

Abstract

Who do American Jews under 40 feel close to? With whom do they think they belong?
Using findings from a mixed methods study conducted via a research-practice partnership with the non-profit organization, OneTable, this paper describes how American Jewish adults under forty conceptualize their connection to others at relational, collective, and universal levels.

Social connection is an umbrella term that encompasses the structure, function, and quality of social relationships. Across scientific disciplines it is widely recognized that social connection is a fundamental human need (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). A robust body of interdisciplinary evidence has recently emerged documenting the protective effects of social connectedness for health and well-being, and conversely the risks to mental, cognitive, and physical health associated with isolation and loneliness (Holt-Lunstad, 2018; 2022).

The study, which took place over an 18 month period (Jan 2023 – July 2024) utilized multiple sub-studies, including a one time-point survey, a cluster randomized trial, a pre/post observational study, focus groups, and interviews. The paper will describe key characteristics of this population’s social networks, elucidate how their conceptions of connection, belonging and community extend to others, including family, friends, Americans, Jews of the past and other Jews around the world, and chart relationships between constellations of connection to civic participation, Jewish activities, and orientations to Jewish heritage.

Questions about Jewish community, connection and belonging have special resonance at this time. In 2017 United States surgeon general Vivek Murthy diagnosed an epidemic of loneliness. The potential negative effects of this social phenomenon have been documented to be particularly pronounced for both older adolescents and, our paper’s population of interest, younger adults (Weissbourd et al., 2021; Child and Lawton, 2019; Luong, Charles & Fingerman, 2011). The war between Hamas and Israel may also shape key aspects of social connection. In early 2024, almost half (47%) of American Jewish adults between the ages of 18-34 reported they had stopped talking to someone because of the war (Pew, 2024). The paper will take this context into account as well.

Authors

• Arielle Levites, George Washington University

• Gage Gorsky