The key to Jewish pride? Landmark research reveals ecosystem of activities shape identity

Family life and peer-led spaces like youth groups play a greater role in shaping Jewish identity than schools or short-term Israel trips, according to a landmark study that challenges long-held assumptions about continuity.

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) has published What Works? The impact of Jewish programmes and experiences on Jewish identity outcomes in the UK, using advanced analysis of 4,926 British Jews. Commissioned by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) as part of its post-7 October Forge the Future plan, the report examines the long-term effects of Jewish upbringing, schools, youth movements, university Jewish Societies (JSocs) and Israel programmes.

Its findings suggest there is no single route to securing Jewish continuity. Instead, identity emerges from the interplay of multiple influences – with upbringing and experiential settings leading the way.

Dr Jonathan Boyd, JPR’s Executive Director, said: “The findings in this report challenge the notion that any single programme can decisively shape Jewish identity. Instead, they point to the cumulative power of multiple, overlapping experiences. Jewish identity isn’t delivered through one-off interventions, even though some experiences – and particularly those encountered at home – are more impactful than others.”

He added: “What matters most is not any single experience, but the way multiple experiences overlap and reinforce one another.”

The strongest predictor of Jewish identity outcomes was childhood upbringing. Children raised in Orthodox or Traditional homes were significantly more likely to sustain Jewish life into adulthood, and specific rituals such as weekly candle lighting were shown to have measurable, long-lasting effects.

If you want your children to be Jewishly engaged, it doesn’t just happen. You can’t outsource it

Bill Benjamin, Co-Chair of the workstream and Chair of London school of Jewish Studies, said the evidence carried a clear message for families. “If you want your children to be Jewishly engaged, it doesn’t just happen. You can’t outsource it. Judaism is, in many ways, a home-based religion.”

Carolyn Bogush, Co-Chair of the JLC’s Forge the Future Young People workstream, Chair of Limmud, and Vice-Chair of UJS, added: “If we want to ensure that in 20, 30 years’ time we have very engaged individuals, we need to really invest and help new parents. Lighting candles, having Shabbat dinners – that is across the board.”

The JLC commissioned uqanititive research as well as qualitative work. Young people who took part in Rosov Consulting’s focus groups echoed the importance of personal experience. One 25-year-old said: “My youth movement had a huge impact on my identity… setting me up with the kind of networks and connections that I’ve come back to later in life.” Another, aged 16, reflected: “Going to a non-Jewish school has properly strengthened my identity… it made me embrace and keep my faith a lot more than going to a Jewish one.”

The Rosov research, based on dozens of interviews and focus groups with 16–26-year-olds, found that while schools and tours provided foundations, it was friendships, role models, and inclusive spaces that young people identified as shaping their Jewish journeys.

The JPR report also highlights the enduring power of informal peer-led environments. Participation in youth movements and JSocs was found to have greater long-term influence than Jewish schools. While schools remain essential for literacy and community-building, youth spaces give young Jews role models and the chance to develop leadership skills.

“JSocs, youth movements, Friday night dinners, seder… these are experiential,” said Benjamin. “A school, a synagogue, a building and an organisation is not a guarantor of future Jewish involvement. It’s family, it’s peers, it’s madrichim. It’s much more relational than it is institutional.”

Rabbi David Meyer, Executive Director of PaJeS, said: “This valuable research shows that Jewish identity develops through multiple touchpoints – family traditions, camp experiences, youth programs, and community involvement. As many families in our community have discovered, Jewish day school education serves as the foundation that often ties these experiences together, giving children the knowledge and confidence to fully embrace their Jewish heritage.”

Short-term tours were found to strengthen attachment but were less powerful over time than longer immersive placements. “The longer you spend, the more likely it is to have an impact on your long-term Jewish identity,” said Bogush. “So, a year programme, and particularly a yeshiva or sem programme, is more likely to have an impact than something like Israel tour.”

The study also found generational differences in Israel attachment, with older Jews reporting much stronger emotional ties than younger cohorts. Focus groups suggested that many young Jews want ‘safe and brave spaces’ to explore Israel – places where critical voices are welcome and where engagement is not forced.

When asked what challenged his assumptions, Benjamin pointed to attitudes to Israel among young people. “One thing we’ve heard is that young people want safe and brave spaces to talk about all the complexities around Israel. We need to be able to keep a big tent on Israel and say that so long as you are a loyal critic, your comments are welcome and there shouldn’t be a cancel culture.”

Bogush said the need for institutions to adapt was urgent. “People are looking for somewhere where they can express their opinion on Israel or not talk about Israel at all. It doesn’t have to be all the time. The strength of feeling around creating a Jewish community where all voices can be heard is vital.”

Both warned of a critical gap after university, describing it as the stage most neglected by communal planning.

It’s at our peril that we ignore this

“The conversation about our young adults and what happens when they leave university is, dare I say, even more important [than antisemitism],” said Bogush. “In 20 to 30 years’ time, if we want a thriving Jewish community in this country where we have lay leaders and Jewish professionals, we have to be investing in them now, and it’s at our peril if we ignore this.”

In their official statement as Co-Chairs of the Forge the Future Young People project, Bogush and Benjamin added: “This report from JPR is an important piece of quantitative research, forming one part of the JLC’s detailed exploration into what the community leadership might do to strengthen young people’s Jewish identity and connections with Israel.”

Benjamin noted that too much past research has been left unused. “There’s been decades of very good research… that too often collects dust and isn’t discussed. Publicising these important findings and keeping them front and centre in the conversations are important.”

Bogush urged every organisation to take responsibility. “If you are running an institution or an organisation, read this and ask what can we do to enable and empower young adults? What worries me is we’re still doing the same today as we were 30 years ago. We’re aging, and we’re not giving space to young adults. They’re ready now. We need to support them.”

For both, the message is clear: young people themselves must help define the next steps. The Young People workstream is one of nine groups created under the JLC’s Forge the Future plan, alongside others focused on universities, political allies, antisemitism, media and interfaith relations.

The JLC is hosting its Spark the Future event next month, bringing together post-university Jews to share ideas and shape communal recommendations for the years ahead.

Benjamin summed up the stakes: “Our greatest resource is the energy and vitality of our young people, and we should be investing in it and cultivating it and nurturing it, respectfully.”

Bogush agreed: “We are producing unbelievable talents through our youth movements, schools and short programmes. And then suddenly you have to be older or wealthier or better connected in order to get into leadership. We have to turn that on its head. We absolutely, at our peril, ignore young people if we don’t give them real space and opportunity.”