Recognizing the need for valid and actionable data that serves the entire community, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, in partnership with local Jewish communal organizations and congregations, has undertaken a study of the Washtenaw County Jewish community.
This study is being conducted by an experienced research team at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University and NORC at the University of Chicago. The Community Study Implementation Committee is chaired by volunteers Barry Nemon and Randy Milgrom and was comprised of representatives from Jewish communal organizations and congregations, as well as content experts.
The data collection process took place from November 2022 through January 2023. Data collection was conducted through surveys, which were mailed to households throughout Washtenaw County. The sample who received the surveys was comprised of households known to local Jewish communal organizations and congregations. In addition, the sample included randomly selected households using address-based sampling and other research methods.
The researchers’ goal was to collect 750 surveys; this data collection goal was significantly exceeded, with almost 1000 surveys completed. Based on the data, Brandeis and NORC delivered an initial “top-line report” to the committee in late April, with further data analysis currently being conducted.
Federation Board President Decky Alexander notes the significance of the effort’s success thus far. “The Community Study is an important start to discovering and/or re-discovering the backgrounds, beliefs, values, and priorities of Jewish individuals in Washtenaw County,” she says.
The Implementation Committee is turning its attention to ensure the study is well communicated and used strategically for community planning. Three working groups – data analysis, communications, and strategic planning – have been assembled. They include organizational representatives and content experts. In the coming months, these dedicated volunteers and professionals will review the data and work with the researchers to produce a final report, develop a communications strategy for sharing the results and engaging the community, and initiate an actionable strategic planning process.
The aim is to publicize study findings through community meetings and other communications in the fall of 2023. The findings will be utilized to identify what issues/concerns need to be explored more deeply and to set communal priorities and actions. Board president Alexander emphasizes that the next steps are a necessary continuation of the process started by the study. “As with other communities across the US who have engaged in data-driven planning, I hope that the study gives us, if not a roadmap, a light on how to best engage, serve and support each other now and in the future,” she says.
The Jewish Community Study of Washtenaw County is made possible by collaboration of all local Jewish communal organizations, with financial support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Ann Arbor, the JCC of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Temple Beth Emeth, Beth Israel Congregation, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
For more information about this study, please visit www.jewishannarbor.org/communitystudy/ or contact Eileen Freed, eileenfreed@jewishannarbor.org, 734-773-3537.
