ISRAEL IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF JEWISH DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NORTH AMERICA

November 12, 2013

Student Survey

A Project of the AVI CHAI Foundation in Partnership with Rosov Consulting

Study of Israel Education in Jewish Day Schools: Student Survey

Dear Student,

This is a survey that asks different questions about you, your family and your Jewish life. We hope to learn about your attitudes and feelings. There are no right or wrong answers. We need your honest responses to each and every question. Please answer each one without skipping over any of them. The survey will take roughly 20 minutes to complete. Nothing that you write will be shared with anyone. Your answers will be completely anonymous. Thank you for your cooperation!

A. To what extent do you spend time thinking about the following things?

Never Rarely Occasionally Often Usually Always Whether there are differences 1       between Jews and non-Jews 2 What it means to be Jewish       How the media, such as 3 television and newspapers,       describe Israel Whether Israel treats others 4       fairly 5 Whether to live in Israel one day       What I can do to improve the 6       environment How I can make a difference in 7       the world 8 Whether there is a God      

9 Why some people suffer in the       world What is the meaning and 10       purpose of my life How to get better grades in 11       school 12 How to make more friends       What I need to do in order to be 13       more healthy How I can help people who are 14       important to me and need help 15 How to improve my appearance       16 How to feel better about myself      

B. Please read each statement and mark your position relating to the statement by circling one number on the scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree).

# Strongly Disagree Somewhat Somewhat Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Agree I feel that the United States is my 1       home I would like to know more about 2       Jews in other countries I feel a part of my local Jewish 3       community When I think about the Jewish 4       People I feel pride I feel I have a strong connection to 5       Jews wherever they are It's important that my best friends 6       are Jewish There are strong similarities between 7       Jews in different places 8 I feel close to other Jews in America       I feel proud that people know that 9       I'm Jewish Jews, wherever they are, share a 10       common destiny It's important for me to have non- 11       Jewish friends It's important that Jews only date 12       other Jews I care equally about the suffering of 13       Jews and non-Jews If people love each other, religion 14 should not make a difference when       they marry I have a strong connection to people 15       in Israel 16 Israel is the homeland of all Jews       When I think about Israel I feel 17       pride

I'm happy when I hear that 18       somebody famous is Israeli If Israel were destroyed my life 19       would be different I don't really understand what is 20       going on in Israel I need to learn more in order to 21       understand what is going on in Israel 22 I feel that Israel is my homeland       I would like to get to know more 23       Israelis When there is a crisis or war in 24       Israel, I pay special attention I feel a responsibility to help Jews in 25       need When I see someone insulting others 26 on Facebook, I feel like I should       intervene I would like to know more about 27       Jewish views on environmentalism When I think about making a 28 difference in the world, I think first       about helping Jews. I believe that God listens to my 29       prayers I respect people who observe Jewish 30       law (Halacha) Observing mitzvot is a way to 31       connect to God I feel that I am protected from 32       above 33 I believe in life after death       There have been moments in my life 34       when I have felt God's presence

C. From your perspective, how important is it for Jews to do the following? # Not At All Not Very A Little Important Very Extremely Important Important Important Important Important 1 Have family meals       Keep family traditions at a 2       seder Respect people who are 3       different from them Feel responsible for needy 4       Jews around the world Keep Jewish law 5       (commandments) 6 Rest on Shabbat       Separate meat and dairy 7       foods 8 Visit Israel       9 Follow news about Israel       10 Love Israel       Go to a rally or community 11       event to support Israel 12 Live in Israel       13 Speak Hebrew       14 Have Israeli friends       15 Protect the environment       Protect students from 16       bullying 17 Avoid cheating on a test       Avoid illegally downloading 18       songs, films or TV shows. Volunteer for a Jewish 19       organization 20 Believe in God       Appreciate the beauty of 21       nature 22 Practice meditation       23 Pray in a synagogue       24 Believe in an afterlife       Sing Jewish songs with 25       friends

D. Each group has a center, insiders, margins and outsiders. For example, in the category of sports: The Center group – are the dedicated fans that go to most games, fill their homes with the team’s collectibles, jerseys of t-shirts, etc. The Insider group– are fans of the team who keep up to date with how their team is doing, they go occasionally to games, and are happy when their team wins and sad when they lose. The Marginal group – are those fans who like one team more than all the others, show some interest in it, but hardly ever watch games. The Outsider group - are those people who are not interested in sports and don’t follow how any teams are doing. Please select which of the following categories is most appropriate for you.

Among All Jews around the world, where do you place yourself?  Center  Insiders  Margins  Outsiders

Among Jews in America, where do you place yourself?  Center  Insiders  Margins  Outsiders

Among people who say that Israel is important in their life, where do you place yourself?  Center  Insiders  Margins  Outsiders

E. Imagine you’re with a group of friends who are having a conversation about the topics below. How confident are you in your knowledge to talk about these things?

Not at all Only a Somewhat Confid Very Completely confident little confident ent confident confident The history of the 1 United States in the       past 100 years Current events in the 2       United States 3 The Holocaust       American culture 4 (such as films, music       and books) Jewish religious 5       customs The history of the 6 Jewish people in the       past 100 years Jewish culture ( such 7 as food, films, music,       books, poetry) The differences between Jewish religious movements 8       (e.g. Conservative, Reform, Orthodox, etc) Reasons for the 9       emergence of Zionism Contemporary Israeli 10 culture (such as films,       music and books) Current events in 11       Israel

The Arab/Israeli 12       conflict The status of different 13 Jewish religious       movements in Israel 14 Daily life in Israel       The importance of 15       Israel in the Tenakh The geography of the 16       Land of Israel The equality of 17       women in society Jewish attitudes 18 towards       homosexuality 19 Global climate change       20 Cyber-bullying       21 God       22 The meaning of life       Why some people 23       suffer and others don’t 24 Jewish law (Halacha)      

F. How much do you admire each of the following people?

# I don't Not Very Not Somewhat A Lot Very know At All Little Much Much who this is A grandparent of 1        yours 2 Marc Zuckerberg        The head of your 3        school 4 Natalie Portman        5 Binyamin Netanyahu        6 Idan Reichel        7 Ilan Ramon        8 Bar Rafaeli        9 Amos Oz        10 Theodore Herzl        11 Anne Frank        12 Rabbi Akiva        13 King David        14 Ruth (from the Bible)        15 Maimonides        16 Golda Meir        17 David Ben Gurion        18 Yitzchak Rabin        19 Henrietta Szold        20 Hannah Senesh        21 Hilary Clinton        22 Barack Obama        23 Steve Jobs        24 J.K. Rowling        25 George Washington        26 Rosa Parks        27 Isaac Newton        28 William Shakespeare       

G. To what extent would you describe Israel as? # Not At Very Little Not Somewhat A Lot Very Much All Much 1 A spiritual center       The homeland of the Jewish 2       people A place to be safe from anti- 3       Semitism 4 A home away from home       A place with close friends 5       and/or family A place where teenagers have 6 more freedom to do what       they want 7 A land promised by God       8 A fun vacation destination       The birthplace of the Jewish 9       people A place to explore Jewish 10       identity A country with a Jewish 11       atmosphere 12 A dangerous place       A place full of ultra- 13       orthodox Jews 14 A poor country       A place where people are not 15       so friendly A place where all Jews are 16       not treated equally A place where Arabs are 17       treated unfairly A state governed by Jewish 18       law (Halacha) A country facing ongoing 19       threats to its existence

H. To what extent does Israel or things connected to Israel show up in the following?

# Not Very Not Somewhat A lot Very Not at all little much much applica ble Facebook pages, or tweets, that 1        I view Conversations with your 2        parents Special assemblies at your 3        school Lunch-breaks or recess at your 4        school 5 Television news that I watch        Bulletin boards around your 6        school 7 Your summer camp        Service of volunteer work that 8 your school does in the        community Your youth 9        group/club/movement General studies classes in your 10        school 11 Youtube videos that you watch        Jewish studies classes in your 12        school 13 School shabbatons        Your sports league outside of 14        school 15 Prayer at your school        Conversations with your closest 16        friends 17 Hebrew classes at your school        18 Your family vacations        19 Faculty in your school       

I. When considering all that you know about Israel (history, current events, etc.), how much have you learned from each of the following?

# Not Very Not Somewhat A Very Not At Little Much Lot Much applicable All 1 Family        The media (such as 2 television, Facebook,        newspapers, etc) General experiences in 3        school Classes about Israel in 4        school 5 Synagogue        Other Jewish organizations 6 such as camp, youth groups,        etc.

J. When considering your personal feelings towards Israel, how influenced are you by each of the following?

# Not Very Not Somewhat A Very Not At Little Much Lot Much applicable All 1 Family        The media (such as 2 television, Facebook,        newspapers, etc) General experiences in 3        school Classes about Israel in 4        school 5 Synagogue        Other Jewish organizations 6 such as camp, youth        groups, etc.

K. About You

1. What is your gender?  Female  Male

2. What grade are you in at school?  Grade 8  Grade 12  Grade 7  Grade 11

3. What is your age?

4. Are you a member of a Jewish youth group (such as USY, Bnei Akiva, BBYO, NFTY, Habonim)?  Yes  No

5. Have you been to a camp that offers Jewish educational content?  Never  Once  Twice or More

6. Are either of your parents not Jewish?  Yes  No

7. Please select all of the grades that you have been a student in a Jewish day school (the school you are currently in or any other)  Kindergarten  Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  Grade 4  Grade 5  Grade 6  Grade 7  Grade 8  Grade 9  Grade 10  Grade 11

(if 12th grader)

8. Do you plan to participate in a pre-college/gap-year program in Israel?  Yes  No

(If 8th grader)

8. Do you plan to attend a Jewish day school next year?  Yes  No

9. Did you celebrate your bar/bat mitzvah?  Yes  No

9a. Did you celebrate your bar/bat mitzvah? Did you do a “mitzvah project” for your bar/bat mitzvah?  Yes  No

9b. If Did you do a mitzvah project for your bar/bat mitzvah? Was your project for a Jewish cause?  Yes  No

10. In the past 12 months, have you participated in a social action or volunteering activity outside of your school obligations?  Yes  No

11. Thinking about Jewish religious denominations, do you currently consider yourself to be:  Reform  Conservative  Orthodox  Modern Orthodox  Reconstructionist  Just Jewish  non-Jewish  Other

12. How often have you visited Israel?  Never  Once  Twice or More  I've lived there

About Your Family Please check the appropriate answer for each row.

North Latin Israel FSU Other/Unknown America America Where were you born?      Where was your father      born? Where was your mother      born? Where was your grandfather (father's      father) born? Where was your grandmother (father's      mother) born: Where was your grandfather (mother's      father) born: Where was your grandmother (mother's      mother) born?

19. Do you have relatives in Israel?  Yes  No

20. Do your parents give money to causes in Israel?  Yes  No  I don't know

21. Is Hebrew the main language in your home?  Yes  No

22. Does either of your parents play a leadership role in a synagogue or other Jewish organization? (raise money, run a committee…)  Yes  No  I don't know

23. To what extent do your parents participate in Jewish community events (such as Jewish film Festival, Yom Ha'azmaut parade…)?  Not at all  Occasionally (a few times a year)  On a regular basis

24. How often does your family go to a synagogue?  Never  Three times a year  At least once a month  At least once a week

25. How often does someone light Shabbat candles at home?  Not At All  Occasionally (a few times a year)  On a regular basis

26. How often during the year do you see some of your grandparents?  Non-applicable. My grandparents are not alive  Never  Less than once a year  Once a year  Once a month  More than once a month

27. Personal Anonymous Code DELETED

STUDENT SURVEY ENDS HERE. IN DATA FILE, ENDS AT V230 SCHOOL INVENTORY PROFILE DATA WERE APPENDED by ROSOV CONSULTING TO THE STUDENT ANSWERS BEGINNING WITH VARIABLE 231 AND CONTINUING TO VARIABLE 278

PLEASE SEE SCHOOL INVENTORY QUESTIONS ON FOLLOWING PAGES SCHOOL INVENTIORY PROFILE AS PART OF THE SCHOOL PROFILE SENT TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS, THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND THEN APPENDED TO THE STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS IN THE DATA FILE. ALL STUDENTS IN A SPECIFIC SCHOOL HAVE THE SAME DATA, WHICH SERVE AS CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES IN THE DATA FILE, THESE QUESTIONS ARE VARIABLES #231 THROUGH 276 THE ORIGINAL NUMBERING IN THE SCHOOL PROFILE IS MAINTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, BUT THE VARIABLE NUMBER IN THE DATA SET HAS BEEN ADDED BY THE BERMAN JEWISH DATABANK

1. Does any reference to Israel and/or Zionism appear in your school’s mission statement? (V231) o Yes o No

2. Is any member of your faculty designated as an Israel education coordinator? (V232) o Yes o No

o If Yes, please specify what proportion of a full-time appointment this is: ______

3. Do you have a required course exclusively dedicated to Israel education? (V234) o Yes o No

o If Yes, specify grade level and number of hours: (V235) ______

4. During the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, did your school: [tick box, they can tick more than one]

o Hold a special assembly (V236) o Run a special program (V237) o Include a special article in the newsletter (V238) o Participate in a wider community gathering (V239) 5. During the last year, has Israel been a source of contention in your parent body? (V240) o Yes o No

o If Yes, please describe what occurred: (V241) ______

6. Does your school run any kind of trip to Israel? (V242) o Yes o No

o If Yes, for how long? And for whom? (V243)

7. Which of the following occur at your school? o Hatikvah sung every day or every other day (V245) o Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration (V246) o Visits from Israeli youth (V247) o Israel culture events (e.g. rikudia, zimriya, film festival, etc.) (v248)

8. Does your school have an active relationship with any Israeli institution or community? (v249) o Yes o No o If Yes, please state with which: ______

9. How many short-term faculty from Israel (such as Shlichim, B'not Sherut, etc) does your school employ? (v251-v255)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+ Head/ Assistant Head of School Head/ Assistant

Head of Department Teacher Classroom assistant Informal Education 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

10. How many faculty are in your school? [Fill in number.] (v256)

11. How many have participated in professional development in Israel during the last 5 years? [Fill in the number] (v257)

12. Approximately what proportion of school time is devoted to Judaic and Hebrew Studies in an ordinary week? [For each of Grade 8 and Grade 12, give options from 5% to 50% in factors of five, as well as “more than 50%”] (v258 Grade 8, v259 Grade 12)

13. Up to and including what grade level is Hebrew a required subject for all students? (v260) o 6 o 8 o 12 o Other (please specify) (v261)

14. How often are students required to participate in Tefila/prayer services at school? (v262) o Every day o A few days a week o Once a week o Never o A voluntary service is offered every day 15. What proportion of your school’s Hesed/Tikkun Olam programs are devoted to Jewish causes: (v263) o 100% Jewish o 75% Jewish o 50% Jewish o 25% Jewish o 0% Jewish o Other: ______

16. Does your school have a dietary policy for students? (v268, v269, v270) o Students are not allowed to bring in food from home o Students are only allowed to bring in kosher food o Students are only allowed to bring in dairy food but not meat o Students can bring in any food they want

17. In what proportion of your school’s families is one parent not Jewish? (v271) o 10% o 20% o 30% o 40% o 50% o More than 50%

18. Please provide the following details about your school:

SEE V266 SIZE OF SCHOOL, V267 TYPE OF SCHOOL… SEE V3 FOR SCHOOL DENOMINATION FROM INVENTORY – ALSO SEE V4, V4

ORIGINAL DATA NOT INLCUDED IN DATA FILE

Type Denomination Size School Details

19. Please provide the following information - NAMES, POSITIONS DELETED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

20. How many other day schools are there in your community? (v273) o None o 1 o 2-5 o 6 or more

21. Which of the following sections are in your school? You can choose more than one if appropriate: o Elementary (v274) o Middle (v275) o High School (v276)

22. Please provide the following information: DELETED FROM DATA FILE. o Name: ….Name of school: o Your position in the school: o Name and email address of someone at your school for future contact about this study: