The document summarizes key findings from a 2007 community survey of 791 Jewish households in Greater New Orleans on topics such as demographics, religious and spiritual beliefs, Jewish practices and affiliations, views on Jewish programs and agencies, media usage, visiting Israel, and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. It shows that most respondents are highly educated, have few children living at home, identify as Reform or just Jewish, value both spiritual and religious aspects of Judaism, belong to synagogues and Jewish organizations, support Jewish programs, and feel mostly recovered though view the general community recovery as less.

1. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Federation
of Greater New Orleans
of Greater New Orleans
2007 Community Survey
Data Collected July‐August
N = 791
Weighted (adjusted) to reflect age/gender distribution
e g ted (adjusted) to e ect age/ge de d st but o
of Orleans + Jefferson Parishes
Rick Weil
LSU Sociology
LSU Sociology
1

2. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Technical Notes
2

3. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Some Estimates of
Some Estimates of
Jewish Community Population Size
Total JCC
Membership
Synagogue Affiliation Estimate number
y g g
Rate of Jews in GNO 3000 = from Rolls
40% 9,721
Pct Estimated
50% 9,258
Membership in Population
60% 6,481 Survey Size
70% 6,018
13% 23,077
80% 5,555
28% 10,714
3

4. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Weighting the Sample
Weighting the Sample
4

5. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Analysis of
“Distinctive Jewish Names” Sample
Analysis of Response Rates
Total Pct of Base
Base: Original, as sent 2761 100%
Number Disconnected, Purged by Gensys
, g y y 805 29%
Not Attempted 268 10%
Disconnected 417 15%
Total Valid Numbers Attempted 1271 46%
Base: Valid Numbers Attempted 1271 100%
Number of Rs also on JFGNO list (& Purged)
( g ) 320 25%
Completes from DJN list 29 2%
Total completes & Duplicates on DJN list 349 27%
5

6. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Review of Findings
g
Presented at Annual Meeting
6

7. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Household Demographics
Parish of Residence People in HH Children
1
Orleans Children 17‐
2
in House
3
Jefferson 4
5 Children 18+
6 in Own Home
Other GNO
8
0 33 66 0 20 40 0 20 40 60
Marital Status 20% of Households
are Interfaith
are Interfaith
Married
25
Single
20
Divorced, Sep. 15
Widowed 10
Other 5
0
0 20 40 60 Interfaith
7

8. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Education and Employment
•Education Levels are very high. Almost
half the people have Graduate Degrees.
•Almost no one is unemployed.
Education Level Employment Status
Less than College degree
Employed full or part time
College degree
College degree
Graduate degree
Retired
Medical Doctor
Law Homemaker, Student
PhD
Business School
Unemployed
Other Graduate Degree
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 20 40 60 80
8

9. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
What Defines being Jewish
How much does being Jewish involve...
A Lot Some
100
75
50
25
0
Ethnic Judaism Ethical Judaism Practicing Judaism
Leading an Ethical life, Keeping Kosher,
Knowing Jewish History,
Tikkun Olam, Attend Synagogue,
Learning Jewish Culture,
Donating money, Jewish Friends,
Remembering Holocaust
Believing in God Care about Israel,
Feel part of Jewish People
Feel part of Jewish People
9

10. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Religion and Spirituality
g p y
• More people say they are spiritual than religious.
• But the largest group says they are both.
Neither, 11
Religious, 12
Spiritual, 35
Both Spiritual
and
d
Religious, 37
10

11. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Practices
80
60
40
20
0
Popular Orthodox (Christmas Intellectual Social J‐Dating
Tree) Engagement Justice
Passover,
Passover
Keep Kosher, Engagement
Hanukkah Read Jewish
Sabbath
Candles, Books, Talk Social
Candles
Fast on Yom w Friends, Justice,
Kippur Jewish Religion
Websites, Classes
Jewish Music
11

12. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Memberships
• Three quarters are synagogue members • The 2 JCC’s have the largest membership
• About a fifth each are members of • Hadassah and the National Council of
Touro, Sinai, or Gates of Prayer Jewish Women are next
Synagogue Member Membership in Jewish Organizations
80
Uptown + Metairie JCCs
60 Hadassah
adassa
National Council of Jewish Women
40
Anti‐Defamation League
20 Jewish Children’s Regional Service
Hillel
0
Israel Bonds
Synagogue Member Not a Member
B'nai B'rith
Touro Sinai
y
Gates of Prayer Shir Chadash AIPAC
Orthodox/Chabad Northshore
Other None 0 10 20 30
12

13. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Synagogue Life
• A large majority of New Orleans Jews are Reform
Only a third go to services
• 15% are Conservative, and 5% are Orthodox more than a few times a
• 10% say they are “Just Jewish” year
Jewish "Denomination" Go to Synagogue
Other, No Every week
"Just Answer Never
Never or more
or more
Jewish" 8%
Just High 7% 13%
10%
Holidays
Orthodox 18% Once or
4% twice a
month
Reform 24%
63% A few times
per year
38%
Conservative
15%
13

14. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Children
• About half the children went to a Jewish
summer camp and plan to go again
• Over a quarter of the children participate in a
Jewish youth group, or go to a Jewish preschool
J ih th t J ih h l
Children's Participation
Jewish camp Last Summer
Jewish camp Next Summer
Currently in a Jewish youth group
l h h
Attended a Jewish preschool or child
care program
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Yes Probably
14

15. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Community Programs
Importance of Programs
in the Jewish Community
Very Important Somewhat Important
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
G l
General Y h
Youth S ii l
Spiritual A i
Assistance O h
Outreach
Programs Religious Spiritual growth, Emergency Outreach to
Ed for Children, Bringing Jewish assistance, unaffiliated,
Cultural
Jewish Camp, 'Denominations‘ Counseling, non‐Jewish
offerings,
Youth Programs together, Family matters, community,
Community
Gender issues, Leadership Interfaith,
gatherings,
Israel Missions
Israel Missions development Welcome wagon,
Welcome wagon
Adult Ed,
Seniors
Tikkun Olam
15

16. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Volunteering, Philanthropy
•Volunteering and Philanthropy are high
•But participation in non‐Jewish activities is
slightly higher than in Jewish
Volunteerism and Philanthropy
Volunteer for Jewish organization
D J i hF d i
Donate to Jewish Federation
Donate to Jewish Organization
Volunteer for Non‐Jewish organization
Donate to Non‐Jewish Organization
0 30 60 90
16

17. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Agencies
• Two‐thirds know and like the Jewish Federation, the Uptown JCC, and JFS.
• About half know and like other programs
Jewish Agencies: Familiarity and Rating
Jewish Agencies: Familiarity and Rating
Jewish Federation of GNO
Uptown JCC
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Family Service
Metairie JCC
Hillel
Jewish Endowment Foundation
Jewish Children’s Regional Service
New Orleans Jewish Day School
Hebrew Free Loan Association
0 20 40 60 80 100
Familiarity Excellent or Good
17

18. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Media
•Most people see and like Jewish media.
•Only 37 percent of respondents were aware this
survey was being conducted before being contacted.
Frequency of Use Rating
100 100
75 75
50 50
25 25
0 0
jewishnola.com Jewish News Deep South jewishnola.com Jewish News Online Deep South Jewish
Online Jewish Voice
Jewish Voice Voice
Most Frequent Never Excellent Good Fair Poor
18

19. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Visiting Israel
Visiting Israel
•A majority of adults has visited Israel
•Only twenty percent of children have visited
Visited Israel (If Visited) How Often in
60 the Last … ?
50 3.0
40 2.5
2.0
30
1.5
20
1.0
10 0.5
0 0.0
Adults Children 5 Years 6‐10 Years 10+ Years
19

20. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Hurricane Damage and Recovery
• Two thirds of people had a least some storm damage, but
88% say they are mostly or fully recovered.
• But they feel the Jewish and general communities have not
recovered as well.
recovered as well
Damage to your Residence Recovery from Hurricane Katrina
from Katrina Fully Mostly About Half Some‐what Not at All
100
Complete
Major None or
destruction
physical almost
75
damage none
50
Some
physical 25
damage
0
Your own
Your own Your
Your The Jewish
The Jewish The Greater New
The Greater New
household neighborhood community Orleans Area
20

21. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
New Orleans Issues
• People are quite satisfied with the Jewish community.
• People are dissatisfied with infrastructure, K‐12
education, and the economy.
• People are especially di
P l i ll dissatisfied with political leadership.
i fi d i h li i l l d hi
• People are worried about crime or another hurricane.
Satisfied with …
Satisfied with … Worried about …
Worried about …
100 100
75 75
50 50
25 25
0 0
Jewish Local Media K‐12 The Economy Infrastructure Political Another Hurricane Crime
Community Education Leaders
Not at all Worried Not very Worried In the Middle
Very Satisf. Satisf. In the Middle Dissat. Very Dissat. Worried Very Worried
21

22. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Migration
New Orleans Jews are Staying.
• A third of people have lived in Greater New Orleans all their lives.
• Three‐fifths are very unlikely leave GNO, and two‐thirds are very unlikely
to move to a different neighborhood.
Likelihood of Moving to a Different …
City Neighborhood
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Very unlikely S
V lik l Somewhat h Haven’t
H ’ Somewhat V lik l
S h Very likely
unlikely decided likely
22

23. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Bottom Line: Previous Findings
• Highly educated and productive. • Most do not engage in Orthodox
or traditional practice.
• Very involved in the Jewish
Community. – M
Most are Reform.
R f
– People are Joiners. – Most do not attend Synagogue
often.
– People Participate in Programs.
• More define themselves as
– Kids participate too
Kids participate, too. “spiritual” than religious.
“ i it l” th li i
• As much or more involved in the • Most have recovered from storm
General Community. damage, but most feel the Jewish
– 20% are in Interfaith households. & General communities have not
• Heavily engaged in Volunteering recovered as well.
recovered as well
and Philanthropy. – Very dissatisfied with GNO
conditions & political leadership.
• Strong knowledge and approval
of Jewish Agencies.
g – Very satisfied with the Jewish
Community
– Almost everyone is Staying.
23

24. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
New Findings
Not Yet Shown
24

25. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Importance of Community Programs
p y g
(internet sample only)
Very Important Somewhat Important
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
General Programs Youth Spiritual Assistance Outreach
Cultural offerings, Religious Spiritual growth, Outreach to
Emergency assistance,
Community Ed for Children, Bringing Jewish unaffiliated,
Counseling,
gatherings, Jewish Camp, 'Denominations' non‐Jewish
Family matters,
Adult Ed, Youth Programs together, community,
… Leadership
Tikkun Olam
Tikkun Olam Gender issues,
Gender issues Interfaith,
development
Israel Missions Welcome
wagon, Seniors
25

26. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Importance of Community Programs
(internet sample only)
(internet sample only)
Very Important Somewhat Important
Cultural offerings
Community gatherings & festivals
Tikkun Olam, incl post hurricane recovery
Tikkun Olam incl post‐hurricane recovery
Adult/continuing education
Religious ed for children & young people
Jewish day or summer camp
Activities for youth, college students, & young adults
Programs that bring Jewish 'denominations' together
Spiritual, personal growth
Missions to Israel & overseas
Women's or men's issues
Emergency financial assistance
Counseling & support services
Counseling & support services
Leadership development
Discussion groups on practical family matters
Outreach to the wider (non‐Jewish) community
Welcome wagon
Outreach to the unaffiliated
Programs for interfaith couples & families
Activities & support for seniors
0 20 40 60 80 100
percent
26

27. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Programs Used in Jewish Community
Used Pre‐K Used Post‐K Use in Future
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
General Youth Spiritual Assistance Outreach
Programs
Cultural Religious Spiritual growth, Emergency Outreach to
offerings, Ed for Children, Bringing Jewish assistance, unaffiliated,
Community Jewish Camp, 'Denominations' Counseling, non‐Jewish
gatherings, Youth Programs together, Family matters, community,
Adult Ed,
Adult Ed Gender issues,
Gender issues, Leadership
Leadership Interfaith,
,
Tikkun Olam Israel Missions
… development Welcome
wagon, Seniors
27

28. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Programs Used in Jewish Community
Used Pre‐K Used Post‐K Use in Future
Cultural offerings
Community gatherings & festivals
ikk l i l h i
Tikkun Olam, incl post‐hurricane recovery
Adult/continuing education
Religious ed for children & young people
Jewish day or summer camp
For youth, college students, & young adults
Programs bringing 'denominations' together
Spiritual, personal growth
Missions to Israel & overseas
Women's or men's issues
Emergency financial assistance
Counseling & support services
g pp
Leadership development
Discussion groups on practical family matters
Outreach to the wider (non‐Jewish) community
Welcome wagon
Outreach to the unaffiliated
Programs for interfaith couples & families
Programs for interfaith couples & families
Activities & support for seniors
0 10 20 30 40 50
percent
28

29. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Support for Community Programs
by Demographic Groups
b h
(correlations)
Male
General Programs
Youth Programs
Spiritual Programs
Older Members Assistance Programs
Outreach Programs
Household Income
Education
‐.20 ‐.10 .00 .10 .20 .30 .40
29

30. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Support for Community Programs
b l
by Religious Groups
(correlations)
Synagogue member
General Programs
Orthodox Youth Programs
Spiritual Programs
Spiritual Programs
Assistance Programs
Outreach Programs
Conservative
Reform
"Just Jewish"
‐.15 ‐.10 ‐.05 .00 .05 .10 .15 .20 .25
30

31. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Support for Community Programs
by Community Types
(correlations)
Insiders
General Programs
Married w Kids
Youth Programs
Spiritual Programs
Assistance Programs
Singles
Outreach Programs
Newcomers
Unaffiliated
Interfaith Families
‐.30 ‐.20 ‐.10 .00 .10 .20 .30 .40 .50
31

32. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Characteristics of Community Types
(Correlations)
Married w
Young Move
Insiders Children Singles Under 30 Newcomers Unaffiliated away
Growing Up Jewish .14** .14** .03 .25** .12** -.28** .00
Attended J Day School GU -.03 .14** .08* .24** .36** .00 .12**
Popular Observance
p .13** .24** -.18** .04 .03 -.42** .05
Orthodox Observance .08* .08* -.02 -.02 .10** -.03 .10**
Have Christmas Tree -.12** .12** -.13** -.01 -.05 .11** .04
Intellectual Practice .25** .15** -.07 -.09* -.08* -.26** .02 bold starred (*) =
Social Justice Practice .12** -.04 .05 .11** .20** -.14** -.04 strong relationship
JDate Website .05 -.11** .28** .01 .07 .04 .07 blue = positive
red = negative
Ethnic Judaism .03 -.04 .07 .16** .12** -.06 .01
Ethical Judaism .13
13** .00
00 -.04
04 -.18
18** -.15
15** -.21
21** -.18
18**
Practicing Judaism .15** .12** -.02 .02 .00 -.25** .07
Advocacy-Fundraising Group .39** -.18** -.02 -.07 .00 -.18** -.06
Participatory Membership .48** .15** -.16** -.03 -.07 -.30** -.02
Disability Services .01 -.07 .03 -.09* -.07 .04 -.05
Elder Services .01 -.05 .00 -.08 -.05 -.04 .02
Assistance Services .00 -.12** .20** .20** .15** .06 .13**
Jewish Volunteer-Donating .28** -.03 -.17** -.24** -.26** -.45** -.14**
Non-Jewish Volunteer-Donating .14** .06 -.06 .16** -.05 -.09* -.05
City Satisfaction -.02 .03 .04 .05 .04 .05 .02
Jewish Community Satisfaction .09* -.07 .08* -.04 -.13** -.01 -.15**
Storm & Crime Worry .00 -.02 .10* .13** .05 .03 -.10*
General Programs .28
.28** .09
.09** -.08*
.08 -.12**
.12 -.01
01 -.25**
.25 -.02
02
Youth Programs .13** .45** -.20** -.07 -.09* -.18** .02
Spiritual Programs .36** -.09* .06 -.01 .03 -.09* -.05
Assistance Programs .14** .00 .01 -.07 .06 -.10** .05
Outreach Programs .09* -.01 .02 .05 .18** -.04 -.01
Will move away from New Orleans -.05 .05 .04 .13** .14** .09* -
32

33. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Characteristics of Community Types
(Correlations)
Synagogue Just Interfaith
member Orthodox Conservative Reform Jewish Families
Growing Up Jewish .26** .01 .14** .08* -.09* .01
Attended J Day School GU -.13** .04 .07 -.19** .10** -.03
Popular Observance .35** .04 .10** .10** -.30** -.01
Orthodox Observance .05 .33** .16** -.32** .03 -.07
Have Christmas Tree -.10** -.04 -.03 .01 .05 .50**
Intellectual Practice .25** .20** .09* -.05 -.15** -.07
Social Justice Practice .07 -.01 .00 .01 -.07 -.07 bold starred (*) =
JDate Website -.15** .05 .00 -.05 .00 -.09* strong relationship
blue = positive
Ethnic Judaism -.03 .08* .05 .01 -.13** -.04 red = negative
Ethical Judaism .24** .05 -.02 .15** -.21** -.10**
Practicing Judaism .28
28** .23
23** .14
14** -.11
- 11** -.15
- 15** -.19
- 19**
Advocacy-Fundraising Group .19** .11** .00 .03 -.06 -.13**
Participatory Membership .18** -.05 -.01 .17** -.09* -.05
Disability Services -.02 .04 -.03 -.08 .11** -.04
Elder Services -.01 -.03 .06 .00 -.05 -.03
Assistance Services -.13** .00 .01 -.07 .01 -.08*
Jewish Volunteer-Donating .44** .06 -.01 .12** -.18** -.19**
Non-Jewish Volunteer-Donating .03 -.17** -.05 .15** -.08* .00
City Satisfaction -.08* .06 -.03 .00 .03 .01
Jewish Community Satisfaction .07 -.10** -.12** .15** -.08 -.04
Storm & Crime Worry -.01 .08* .02 -.08* -.05 -.15**
General Programs .19** -.03 -.01 .09* -.09* -.07
Youth Programs
g .19** -.02 .04 .08* -.11** .07
Spiritual Programs .12** .16** .02 -.09** .00 -.22**
Assistance Programs .08* .06 .04 .04 -.06 .03
Outreach Programs .00 .00 -.10** .03 -.01 .07
Will move away from New Orleans .02 .04 -.03 .04 -.18** .04
33

34. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Bottom Line: New Findings
Programs Usage Community Types
• General Programs are seen as Most Important and • Insiders and Synagogue Members are Most
are Most Used. They include: Engaged. The Unaffiliated are Least Engaged.
– Cultural offerings • Married People with Young Children, Singles,
– Community gatherings & festivals Under 30, and Newcomers are also Engaged but
less so.
– Tikkun Olam, incl post‐hurricane recovery
– They are more likely to need Assistance and less likely
– Adult/continuing education to Donate.
• Youth Programs are also Very Important, esp for
Youth Programs are also Very Important esp for – They use Community Programs less, except that
y y g , p
their constituency. They include: families with kids use Youth Programs.
– Religious education for children & young people • The Orthodox & Conservatives have more
Orthodox orientations.
– Jewish day or summer camp
• The Reform are less Orthodox, but are still Engaged,
– Programs for youth, college students, & young adults and Participate very strongly, including in the
• Changes since the Storm & into the Future
since the Storm & into the Future g
general community.y
– General Programs fell off after Storm, but will • The “Just Jewish” and Interfaith Families are least
probably Recover. engaged and least Jewishly oriented.
– Assistance Programs Increased after Storm, but will – Interfaith Families are most likely to have a Christmas
probably Decline. tree.
– Youth Programs Declined after the Storm. It is unclear – “Just Jewish” people are not likely to move away.
how strongly they may Recover.
how strongly they may Recover
• The people most likely to Move Away from N.O. are
Single, Under 30, and Unaffiliated. They are not
necessarily “less Jewish,” but are more dissatisfied.
34

35. Jewish Federation of GNO ‐ 12/3/2007 Board Meeting 12/3/2007
Jewish Federation
of Greater New Orleans
2007 Community Survey
Rick Weil
LSU Sociology
fweil@lsu.edu
35