Modern Jewish families are shaped by social trends including increased cultural diversity, economic precarity, geographic mobility and political polarization, according to a new report by Crown Family Philanthropies, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Jim Joseph Foundation.
“Understanding the Aspirations of Jewish Families Today and the Parenting Challenges They Face” paints a picture of the resilience and creativity of Jewish families as they strive to build meaningful Jewish lives amid these challenges and pressures.
Led by a research team at Rosov Consulting, the report presents findings from 40 focus groups and 40 one-on-one interviews with select focus group participants.
It details key features of many families, showing that they are 1) increasingly diverse; 2) divided in their commitment to multiple aspirations for their children; 3) geographically dispersed; 4) comfortable with a DIY approach but still wanting guidance; and 5) desperate for their children to experience a community.
These features are reflected in core aspects of their lives:
Parental Priorities and Aspirations:
● Many Jewish parents share several core priorities and aspirations in raising their children as they try to build strong, inclusive Jewish identities while fostering empathy and respect for diversity.
● Raising children with a strong sense of self, compassion and moral responsibility is essential.
● Community is a critical component in their children’s Jewish identity and parents aim to instill a connection to something larger than the self (this is especially true for families far removed from extended family networks).
● Many parents emphasize cultivating homes that are culturally rich, Jewishly meaningful, tolerant and inclusive of multiple heritages, faiths and ethnicities, reflecting the diversity within their families and communities.
Bumps, Obstacles and Difficult Contexts:
● Significant barriers limit families’ ability to engage fully in Jewish life, including financial costs, such as synagogue memberships and Jewish school tuition, and geographic distance from Jewish centers or family networks.
● Political polarization, both within Jewish communities and the broader public, is a challenge. Families with marginalized identities—interfaith, LGBTQ+ or multiracial—often feel sidelined within traditional Jewish institutions.
● As a result, some families choose to disengage from formal Jewish spaces, focusing instead on cultivating Jewish practices and connections at home.
How Families Make It Work
● Jewish families exhibit resilience and resourcefulness in fostering Jewish life. Parenting practices can be characterized as seeking to repair, replicate or innovate.
● Parents find online resources essential to support their children’s Jewish education and to celebrate Jewish traditions at home.
● For some, informal peer networks and small, grassroots, community-led gatherings provide a supportive environment.
● Parents tailor Jewish practices to meet their family’s unique cultural mix, blending traditions and finding meaning in practices that reinforce both Jewish values and a broad sense of inclusion.
Israel: Ever More Complicated
● The topic of Israel has grown more complicated for many Jewish families. While many parents want their children to appreciate Israel’s historical and cultural significance, they often feel caught between polarized viewpoints in Jewish and general communities.
● Parents desire a balanced approach to Israel, allowing for nuance and critical thought. They worry about their children encountering polarized discourse that reduces a complex reality to stark oppositions.
● Parents want spaces where questioning and open discussion are allowed so they can explore Israel’s role in Jewish identity without feeling pressured into a particular stance. This topic, more than ever, influences where families choose to engage and reflect broader challenges in maintaining community cohesion.
“Parents in this study clearly value Jewish life, learning and rituals, and want their children to experience it and find community within it,” says Stacie Cherner, director of research and learning at the Jim Joseph Foundation. “Finding the right fit in an incredibly complex, polarized world amid myriad personal challenges is not always easy. The findings here compel us to think more about how we can support Jewish families in their journey to find meaningful, accessible Jewish life.”
A team of advisers compiled recommendations in the report to help practitioners, funders, and other leaders act on the findings. They cover areas such as immersive retreats, intergenerational programs, digital resources, inclusive events and more.
“Families are not rejecting Jewish institutions; synagogues and Jewish preschools still have great appeal,” the research team notes. “Rather, these parents are searching for inclusive, accessible and welcoming communities that respect their varied experiences. By addressing these barriers and enhancing inclusive programming, Jewish institutions can better meet the needs of today’s families, supporting them in cultivating vibrant Jewish lives and fostering strong, interconnected communities.”