A New Model of Jewish Engagement: the Impact of Base Hillel Table of Contents
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2016 Base Report A New Model of Jewish Engagement: The Impact of Base Hillel Table of Contents A New Model of Jewish Engagement 2 Findings 1. Gateways to Participation 5 2. Atmosphere 6 3. Assessing Impact 9 4. Professional Staff 13 5. Diversity 14 Research Context Questions and Methods 22 Emerging Questions for Further Research 22 What is Base? 23 Base Team 24 A New Model of Jewish Engagement couples induct those less familiar with Jewish ritual and tradition in a way that feels unforced, In Winter 2015, Base Hillel—a new model less formally educational, and more “natural.” of Jewish engagement for students and their friends—commissioned a project evaluation Here is a review of the key findings in Base’s by Professor Steven M. Cohen and Dr. Arielle pilot year: Levites. The early findings capture the first few short months of Base’s operation in • Over 1,400 people have attended a Base New York City. program in the pilot year.1 • Participants respond very favorably to two Researcher’s Summary key ingredients of Base: Young rabbinic families in their own homes, features which Base has developed a formula for reaching create an experience participants see as a highly sought-after population for Jewish both warm and authentically Jewish. engagement: young, unmarried, socially- • Base participants report overwhelmingly liberal Jews. It does so in large part by positive images of Base, describing it as: appealing to the sensibilities and interests welcoming, accepting, and open-minded of this demographic. • Base primarily attracts three key constituencies for Jewish engagement: Base provides participants with a warm, joyful young adults in late-twenties, never place to share Shabbat and Jewish holidays married, politically liberal Participant Interview with other like-minded people. Base celebrates • Base participants report diverse Jewish I attended a Shabbat dinner and the Megillah Jewish tradition while valuing inclusiveness, backgrounds: 27% attended day school while reading. At both events I learned a good deal cosmopolitanism, and pluralism. The presence 21% had no formal Jewish education at all. about the Jewish tradition, and met people of Jewishly knowledgeable rabbinic couples that were interesting. I am most impressed by adds a much valued sense of authenticity While preliminary, the data thus far are highly Base’s . focus on relationships and people and depth. That these rabbinic couples are encouraging. Base appeals to and attracts a rather than buildings, committees, or rules. young, approachable, and welcome others into much-sought-after demographic. Participants I think this is what our temples and churches their own cozy homes provides an experience have been overwhelmingly positive in their as- often forget. that is both culturally rich, as well as informal sessment of Base. It is fair to say they are effu- and intimate. This is in sharp contrast to other sive in their reports of their Base experiences. Jewish settings, which are often seen as This goodwill that Base staff have generated cold and institutional. Base is an accessible points to participants continuing, and perhaps form of small-batch, artisanal Judaism, de- even deepening, their relationship with Base. signed for a Millennial aesthetic that eschews the mass-produced and overly-ceremonial. Looking ahead there is real promise for Base to address a pressing concern in Jewish com- Base has been successful in attracting and inte- munal life: reaching unengaged young adults grating a diverse group of young Jews. In doing and fostering their connection to Jewish life, so they have created an ideal blend of both meaning, and community. Base is a key experi- highly-socialized and culturally informed Jews, ment on this front, with the promise of making and those newer to Jewish practice, with fewer important inroads with this demographic as it formal Jewish educational and communal expe- both expands and matures as an organization. riences. This diversity creates an atmosphere of novelty and freshness which participants find — Steven M. Cohen and Arielle Levites, 2016 stimulating. Perhaps more importantly, this mix of participants with a variety of Jewish back- 1 Beyond the pilot year, over 1,800 unique individuals have grounds and experiences helps the rabbinic attended a program. 2016 Base Report 1. Gateways to Participation The Biggest Draws to Base are Shabbat & Holidays, Social Events, and Personal Connections A. Types of Participation B. Reasons for Participation Shabbat meals are the most widely reported Nearly half of participants cited invitations from form of participation, followed by attending friends as the reason for coming to Base. Almost a social event and attending a Jewish holiday as many cited Shabbat and holiday celebrations. experience. These major gateways to Base participation feed into other activities, such as Which one or two of these reasons for why you went Jewish learning and small group discussions. to Base were most important? My friend/s invited me In which of the following Base activities have you 38% participated at any point? 8% 69% 55% 53% I wanted to celebrate Shabbat and/or Jewish holidays 13% Attended a Went to a Attended a 24% Shabbat meal social event Jewish holiday experience Participant Interview I am involved with a group that partnered with Base I believe that Base is very important for my 11% 10% fiancé and me as we continue to learn about 45% 45% 41% where Judaism and Catholicism fit in both of Jewish Participated A program A Base professional took a personal interest in me learning in a small group co-sponsored our lives. It has given us a safe haven free 11% discussion by Base and 8% from judgment where we can follow through on another group our community service ambitions. We are able to meet and talk to similar couples in the I wanted to meet other Jewish people my age 7% safety of Avram’s home which is full of warmth. 29% 28% 23% 16% Met with Took part in a Heard a a rabbi or service activity guest speaker I wanted to learn about Jewish ideas partner 6% one-on-one 9% A family member invited me Researcher’s Commentary 3% 1% The activity patterns signal the intertwining of the social I wanted to help others through service/volunteer work 3% with the Jewishly meaningful . 4% Base offers the advantage of offering a home environment, I wanted to experience a Jewish ritual or practice 3% including a married couple with 8% young children. For largely I was looking for advice or guidance unmarried young adults, such an 2% environment may hold special 3% appeal and instructive meaning. 1st choice 2nd choice 2016 Base Report 5 2. Atmosphere Base offers a warm and joyful atmosphere. Participants feel comfortable being themselves without fear of judgment. A. Positive Feelings B. Positive Images Nearly two-thirds of respondents report that Given a variety of positive and negative images, Base connects them to Jewish meaning. almost all respondents endorsed the positive Almost all met people who they felt were very images and almost all rejected the negative im- different from them and made friends at Base. ages. Through repeated encounters with Base, And, almost all totally reject the ideas that its professionals, and Base participants, people they feel uncomfortable inviting their friends develop and strengthen their warm feelings or that diversity of viewpoints isn’t tolerated. toward Base. To what extent do you agree with each of the Images of Base following statements? Unwelcoming 4% To a great Somewhat Not at all Welcoming* 95% extent Base has a Contrived 3% Participant Interview warm joyful % % % Authentic* 90% atmosphere 95 5 0 I made a new friend outside of Base who invited me and I liked it so much that I attend Thin & shallow 6% At Base I feel Rich & deep* 85% on my own. I’ve brought many friends to comfortable experience Base. being myself % % % without fear 85 14 1 Boring 4% of judgment Stimulating* 89% Base connects Not too Jewish* 39% me to Jewish Too Jewish 15% meaning 64% 29% 7% and spirituality Innovative* 81% I met people Conventional 6% who are very different % % % 41 50 8 Open-minded* 93% from me Narrow-minded 3% I have made friends at Base 31% 52% 17% Accepting* 95% Judgemental 4% I feel uncomfortable * Positive Image Index inviting my 10% 10% 80% friends to Base There’s not much room for a variety of viewpoints 4% 8% 88% at Base * Red = Good Feelings Index 2016 Base Report 7 3. Assessing Impact Base participants report changes in Jewish practice, learning, and perspectives, with reports more frequent the more they participate. A. Wide Testimony of Impact Judaism, Shabbat, and the Jewish calendar When asked about their Base experiences, in in their lives. Over two-thirds credited a Base addition to reiterating the image of Base as rabbi or spouse with giving them support or welcoming, respondents also widely affirmed advice on personal issues, and almost as many that the Base couple models a relationship claimed they made a change in their lives and/ from which they can learn. Accordingly, or in their Jewish practice because of some- they widely attributed impact in several ways, thing they learned at Base. Over a third have among them: seeing the importance of “hung out” with someone they met at Base. To what extent do you agree with the following? I felt uncomfortable when someone seemed to pass A Base rabbi or rabbi’s partner provided me with support judgment on me or my lifestyle or advice on personal issues** 2% 34% 7% 35% 90% 31% I made a change in my Jewish practice because of I began to see Shabbat as an important part of my week** something I learned or heard at Base ** 37% 19% 45% 42% 18% 39% At Base I saw that Judaism could play an important role I made a change in my life because of something I in my life learned or heard at Base** 67% 19% 26% 47% 6% 34% The Base couple models a relationship I can learn from ** At Base I was able to express my commitment to 70% community service.