2021 Study of Jewish Los Angeles

A man lights the first candle in a large menorah with his family

Challenge

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles wanted a better understanding of the size and diversity of the Los Angeles Jewish community.

To help guide their strategic planning and efforts to meet member and community needs, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and its local partners sought systematic data on the diverse identities, needs, and participation in community activities of Los Angeles Jews. Understanding the community’s composition and its diverse needs is essential to improving the membership’s well-being and deepening their Jewish engagement, as well as strengthening the community as a whole.

Solution

NORC integrated Address-Based Sampling with other methodological techniques to conduct a representative survey of the greater L.A. Jewish community.

NORC partnered with researchers from the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University to collect and create comprehensive descriptions of the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of members of the Jewish community in Greater Los Angeles.

From June to September 2021, we collected and analyzed a rich set of data from respondents in 3,767 eligible households that were randomly selected from all greater L.A. area households. The study design integrated an Address Based Sample with known households on Jewish organizational lists. Our team developed a questionnaire to capture stable characteristics of the community and account for changes in usual patterns of behavior during the pandemic. Households were then contacted by mail, email, and telephone, and invited to complete the questionnaire online or by phone. Responses were statistically weighted to represent all L.A. Jewish households.

Result

L.A.’s Jewish community is large, diverse and has grown over the last two decades.

Our survey revealed that L.A.’s Jewish community is made up of individuals of various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. They live in a number of household types and have varying connections to Judaism. Jewish Angelenos also are dispersed across a wide geographic area that varies in Jewish density, institutions, and opportunities. Our top findings include:

Age patterns suggest that diversity is likely to increase over time.
Leading a moral and ethical life, connecting to family and traditions, and working for justice and equality are essential to being a Jewish Angeleno.
Almost all L.A. Jewish adults are concerned about antisemitism.
Close to one in four greater L.A. Jewish households are struggling financially. One percent said they “cannot make ends meet” and 18 percent report “just managing to make ends meet.”
One of the most reported significant needs is for mental health services, especially among young adults.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is following up with in-depth interviews of specific segments of L.A.’s Jewish community, including Jewish LGBTQIA+ young adults and Interfaith families with young children.