PARTICIPATE

Proposed Study

Brandeis University's Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) has extensive experience in questionnaire design and administration. In February and March 2024, the JCA will convene community study advisors to determine the optimal set of questions to be asked on the survey, taking into account local priorities, comparability to other community studies, length limitations, response rate considerations, and best practices. The survey will be based on instruments used in other local and national studies.

CMJS will replicate questions used in recent studies of similar communities and the 2020 Pew Research Center study of Jewish Americans to maximize comparability and the utility of the data for benchmarking and tracking changes over time. Surveys can include multiple-choice as well as open-ended questions on topics such as the strengths of the Jewish community and unmet needs, to allow respondents to provide comments in their own words and provide rich data for the community’s use.

The questionnaire will include but not be limited to questions about:

• Demographics, such as age, gender, income, geographic distribution
• Measures of Jewish engagement, both private and communal
• Human and social service needs and use
• Participation in Jewish organizations and cultural activities
• Feelings of connection to the local and worldwide Jewish community and to Israel

History & Background

In 2007, the JCA completed a Jewish Community Study to learn more about the estimated size of the Southern Maine Jewish community and collect demographic information related to levels and types of religious affiliation, age, economic security, and needs and concerns. The results of that study provided the foundation for strategic planning that led to building the new JCA facility, and informed resource allocation for nearly 15 years.

Communities change over time, and studies are usually able to be relied upon for about ten years. It is time for another study that will provide data that reflects the new, post-COVID demographics of our community, and helps us to understand its needs. The JCA has therefore contracted with the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University to complete a 2024 Community Study of the Jewish community in Maine. The results will allow the JCA and community partners around the state to make informed and data-driven strategic planning decisions for the future and will provide crucial feedback regarding the impact of the community’s structure and current offerings. The study will engage each Maine synagogue together with every Jewish nonprofit and community organization in developing questions, distributing surveys, and analyzing results. The goal is to engage the full scope of the Jewish community statewide to work together to envision and build a positive and dynamic future.

Together with the Center For Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, and Lisa Gorman, the JCA is so excited to be launching a Maine Jewish Community Study this year!

Stay in the Know

This is just the beginning. Let us know if you want to stay informed as we continue to work together to make meaning of the results of the study and put data into action.