and Israeli- Living in the

)Perceptions, Attitudes and Behavior) Purpose • Examining the types and levels of connection to and of Israelis who live in the U.S. • Examining how the length of time in the U.S. affects connection to Judaism and Israel.

2 Methodology • The survey was conducted using the internet, among 1598 recipients who currently live in 40 U.S. states. 817 of them view themselves as Israelis, and 781 of them view themselves as Israeli-Americans.

• There is no data that enables examining representativeness of the sample or conducting weighing to fix deviations.

• It is possible that some of the recipients replied according to social norms, and not necessarily according to their real attitudes and believes.

3 Introduction: Self Identity

When did you move to the U.S.? Self-Definition Less than 5-10 years 10-20 years Over 20 years 5 years ago ago ago ago Israelis 83% 71% 55% 27% Israeli-Americans 17% 29% 45% 73%

• The “Israeli” self-definition decreases as the length of stay in the U.S. increases. The major turning point is after 10 years.

• Therefore, the sample was divided to 2 groups: - Live in the U.S. up to 10 years. - Live in the U.S. more than 10 years. 4 Connection to Israel

5 Feel in some sense that Israel is mine

Up to 10 Over 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Strongly 79% 78% agree Somewhat 19% 18% agree Total agree 98% 96%

6 Knowing Hebrew

Children of the recipient 99% Recipient 96% 78% 93%

48% 76% 53%

29% 25% 26% 19% 12% 17% 6% 1% 4%

Up to 10 years Over 10 years Up to 10 years More than 10 years

Mother tongue Good level Mother tongue Good level Resonable level Resonable level • There is a large decrease in the number of people who know Hebrew among the second generation.

7 Relatives in Israel

Up to 10 Over 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Have strong relationships 95% 89% with relatives in Israel

8 Frequency of Visits to Israel

Up to 10 Over 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. At least once 82% 69% every 2 years

• There is a decrease in the number of visits to Israel as stay in the US increases (from 82% to 69%).

9 Social Circle

• Participants were asked: your social circles includes mostly… (Israelis or former Israelis who live in the U.S.; ; Non-Jews; American Jews and former Israelis alike; Jews and non-Jews alike.) Up to 10 Over 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Includes 51% 33% mostly Israelis • As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the number of recipients whose social circle includes mostly Israelis decreases (from 51% to 33%).

10 Intention of living in Israel in the future

45% 40% 39%

30% 28%

11% 5% 2%

Up to 10 years Over 10 years Definitely yes Probably yes Probably no Definitely no

• As length of stay in the U.S. increases, the will to definitely live in Israel in the future decreases (30% vs. 11%).

11 Interest in Israel’s politics & internal issues

34% 39% Somewhat 80% 86% interested Very interested 52% 41%

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

• The level of interest in Israel’s politics and internal issues increases as the stay in the U.S. increases (52% vs. 41% who are very interested).

12 Need to be an “Ambassador” for Israel

13 Jews in the U.S. influence on Israel’s strength

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Strengthen 32% 42% significantly

Strengthen 42% 43% somewhat

Total 74% 85% Strengthen

• The longer the stay in the U.S., the feeling that Jews in the U.S. strengthen Israel increases.

14 Need to defend Israel when it is criticized

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Strongly agree 64% 75%

Somewhat 26% 19% agree

Total need to 90% 94% defend Israel and show its positive sides

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the need to defend Israel when it is criticized increases (from 64% who greatly

15 agree to 75%). Israel is a controversial issue, and I prefer not raise it in conversations

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Somewhat 28% 25% disagree

Don't agree at 51% 55% all

Total disagree 79% 80%

16 Criticize Israel in conversation with non-Jews

More than 10 years Up to 10 years

1% 22% 31% 78% 67% 2%

Say positive things Say positive things Criticize Israel Criticize Israel Both Both

• As the stay in the U.S. increases, the tendency to criticize Israel decreases (from 33% to 23%) and the tendency to say only positive things increases (from 67% to 78%).

17 Should American Jews publicly stand for Israel, even if they criticize it?

80%

65% 55%

Extremely agree 35% 30% Somewhat agree 25% 25% Somewhat disagree 12% 10% 8% Don't agree at all

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the opinion that American Jews should publicly support Israel even if they criticize it increases (65% vs. 80%).

18 Effect of a presidential candidates’ attitude toward Israel on the will to vote for them

Up to 10 Over 10 years years Extremely 43% 60%

Somewhat 26% 24%

Total – has 69% 84% an effect

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the effect of a political candidates’ attitude toward Israel on the will to vote for him or her increases.

19 Jewish and Israeli Identity

20 Importance of Jewish Identity

Up to 10 Over 10 years years Very 78% 87% important Somewhat 17% 11% important Total 95% 98% Important

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the importance of Jewish identity increases (from 78% whose Jewish identity is very important, to 87%).

21 Feeling Israeli

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Feel very Israeli 75% 67%

Feel somewhat 22% 29% Israeli Total who feel 97% 96% Israeli

• Feeling Israeli is common in both groups. However, its intensity decreases the longer the stay in the U.S.

22 Mixed Marriages

17%

Recipient 8% Recipients' 4% Children 0%

Up to 10 years More than 10 years

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the rate of mixed marriages – marriage to a non-Jew – increases (from 4% to 8%). • Among those who have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, there is a significant increase of mixed marriages 23 among the second generation (from 8% to 17%). Going to Synagogue

Up to 10 Over 10 years years

Go to Synagogue at 18% 28% least once a month

24 Religious Denomination

46% 41%

33%

24% 22% 17%

Up to 10 years More than 10 years

Orthodox Conservative Reformist

25 Attending Jewish Schools

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

All my family 29% 32% members

Some of my 18% 15% family members

Total family members who 47% 47% go to Jewish Schools

26 Being a Jew and affiliation to the State of Israel

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Strongly agree 50% 69%

Somewhat agree 24% 19%

Total - agree 74% 88%

• As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the feeling that there is an affiliation between Judaism and the state of Israel increases (from 74% to 88%). 27 Participation in events affiliated with Israel

Up to 10 Over 10 years years

Participation in events 70% 76% affiliated with Israel

28 Participation in Jewish organizations’ activities

Up to 10 Over 10 years years

Participate sometimes or 61% 66% often

29 Would participate in more activities if…

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Would participate in more activities if they 87% 82% were in Hebrew

Up to 10 years Over 10 years

Would participate in more activities if they 89% 87% were in Israeli spirit/culture

30

Israelis and Israeli-Americans Living in the United States

Perceptions, Attitudes and Behaviors

Selected Findings Summary

INTRODUCTION:

1. Method and Sample

The survey was conducted using the Internet between October 23rd, 2013, and November 3rd, 2013. The recipients' contact details were taken from the lists of the Israeli-American Council, the Israeli House, and other organizations.

1595 self-defined Israeli or Israeli-American recipients completed the survey.

2. Analysis

The analysis was conducted separately for each of the following two groups: recipients who view themselves as Israeli or Israeli-American and have lived in the U.S. for up to 10 years and those who view themselves as Israeli or Israeli-American and have lived in the U.S. for over 10 years.

3. Notes

The sample does not necessarily represent the population of Israelis and Israeli-Americans in the U.S. There is no data that enables examining whether the sample is representative, nor data that enables weighing and correcting sampling biases.

Therefore, the report will demonstrate comparisons between different groups of recipients, and will rarely refer to the data as a whole.

It is likely that some of the answers express the "social desirability" effect, meaning the desire to act according to social norms. Therefore, some of the answers regarding connection to Israel and/or Judaism might be biased. With that, if there is such a bias, it represents existing norms.

SELF IDENTITY:

It seems that there is a difference between those who view themselves as Israeli and those who view themselves as Israeli-American. This difference is probably due to their length of stay in the US:

Length of stay in the U.S. More Up to 5 5-10 10-20 than 20 years years years years Israeli 83% 71% 55% 27% Israeli-American 17% 29% 45% 73%

The “Israeli” self-defenition decreases as the length of stay in the U.S. increases. The turning point is after 10 years.

Therefore, the sample was divided to two groups for further analysis:

1. Live in the U.S. up to 10 years. 2. Live in the U.S. more than 10 years.

CONNECTION TO ISRAEL:

There is a large decrease in the number of people who know Hebrew among the second generation:

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do you know Hebrew? Yes - mother tongue 93% 76% level Yes – a good level 6% 17% Yes - a resonable level 1% 4% Just a little 1% 2% Not at all 0% % Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do your children know Yes - mother tongue 53% 19% Hebrew? level Yes – a good level 25% 29% Yes - a reasonable level 12% 26% Just a little 8% 22% Not at all 2% 4% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do you have relatives Yes – I have strong 95% 89% living in Israel? relationships with them Yes – I have weak 4% 8% relationships with them Yes – but I have no % 2% connections with them No, I don't 1% 2% Total 100% 100%

There is a decrease in the number of visits to Israel the longer the stay in the U.S. (from 82% to 69%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years How frequently do you More than once a year 24% 23% visit Israel? Once every 1-2 years 58% 46% Once every 2-5 years 11% 20% My last visit was over 5 7% 11% years ago

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the number of recipients whose social circle includes mostly Israelis decreases (from 51% to 33%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Your social circles include Israelis who live in the 51% 33% mostly: U.S. American Jews, not 4% 6% Israelis Non-Jews 4% 2% American Jews and 24% 36% former Israelis alike Jews and non-Jews alike 17% 22% Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, there is less intention to definitely live in Israel in the future (30% vs. 11%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do you intend to live in Definitely yes 30% 11% Israel in the future? Probably yes 40% 39% Probably not 28% 45% Definitely not 2% 5% Total 100% 100%

The level of interest in Israel’s politics and internal issues increases as the length of stay in the U.S. increases (52% vs. 41% who are very interested):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years To what extent are you Very interested 41% 52% interested in and get Somewhat interested 39% 34% updated on Israel’s Not so much interested 17% 11% internal politics and Not at all interested 3% 3% national issues related to Total 100% 100% it?

NEED TO BE AN "AMBASSADOR" FOR ISRAEL:

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the feeling that Jews in the U.S. strengthen Israel increases:

Up to 10 More than 10 years years From what you see or Significantly strengthen 33% 42% hear, do you think former Slightly strengthen 41% 43% Israelis in U.S. and Have no impact 18% 10% American Jews have an Slightly weaken 6% 4% impact on Israel‘s Significantly weaken 2% 1% strength – strengthening Total 100% 100% or weakening it?

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the need to defend Israel when it is criticized increases (from 64% who strongly agree to 75%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years When Israel is criticized, I Strongly agree 64% 75% feel the need to defend it Somewhat agree 26% 19% and show its positive side Somewhat disagree 7% 4% Don't agree at all 2% 2% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Israel is a controversial Strongly agree 5% 4% issue, and I prefer not Somewhat agree 15% 16% raise it at all in Somewhat disagree 28% 25% conversations with non- Don't agree at all 51% 55% Jews Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the tendency to criticize Israel decreases (from 33% to 23%) and the tendency to say only positive things increases (from 67% to 78%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years If you were asked today Say positive things 67% 78% to talk about Israel with a Criticize Israel 2% 1% non-Jew American, would Both 31% 22% you mostly…? Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the opinion that American Jews should publicly support Israel, even if they criticize it increases (65% vs. 80%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years American Jews need to Strongly agree 38% 55% publicly stand for Israel Somewhat agree 29% 25% even if they criticize it Somewhat disagree 24% 12% Don't agree at all 10% 8% Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the effect of a candidates’ attitude toward Israel on the will to vote for him increases:

Up to 10 More than 10 years years To what extent do a Strongly 40% 57% presidential candidate's Somewhat 16% 23% or member of Congress' A little 12% 11% attitudes towards Israel Not at all 6% 4% have an impact on your I'm not a U.S. citizen 25% 5% voting decision? Total 100% 100%

JEWISH AND ISRAELI IDENTITY:

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Although I don't live Strongly agree 79% 78% there, I feel in some sense Somewhat agree 19% 18% that Israel is mine Somewhat disagree 2% 3% Don't agree at all % 1% Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the importance of Jewish identity increases (from 78% whose Jewish identity is very important to them, to 87%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years To what extent is your or Very important 78% 87% your children's identity as Somewhat important 17% 11% a Jew important to you? Not so much 5% 2% Not at all 1% 1% Total 100% 100%

Feeling Israeli is common in both groups. However, the intensity decreases as the length of stay in the U.S. increases:

Up to 10 More than 10 years years To what extent do you Very Israeli 75% 67% feel Israeli? Somewhat Israeli 22% 29% Not so much 3% 3% Not at all 0% % Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the rate of mixed marriages (marriage to a non-Jew) increases (from 4% to 8%).

Among those who have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, there is a significant increase in mixed marriages among the second generation (from 8% to 17%):

17%

Recipient 8% 4% Recipients' 0% Children

Up to 10 years More than 10 years

Up to 10 More than 10

years years Do you go to Synagogue? Yes – every day 2% 2% At least once a week 10% 15% Once a month 6% 11% On holidays 29% 36% Seldom 26% 21% Not at all 26% 16% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years To what kind of Orthodox 46% 41% Synagogue do you usually Conservative 24% 33% go? Reform 22% 17% Other 8% 9% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do you or your children All my family members 29% 32% go to a Jewish school (day who are school)? preschool/school age attend Jewish preschool/school Some of my family 18% 15% members who are preschool/school age attend Jewish preschool/school None 53% 53% Total 100% 100%

As the length of stay in the U.S. increases, the affiliation between Judaism and the state of Israel increases (from 74% to 88%):

Up to 10 More than 10 years years It's hard for me to think Strongly agree 50% 69% about the meaning of Somewhat agree 24% 19% being a Jew without an Somewhat disagree 15% 7% affiliation to the state of Don't agree at all 11% 5% Israel Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Did you participate in an No 30% 24% event related to Israel in Yes 70% 76% the past two years? Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Do you or your children Yes – often 27% 32% participate in Jewish Sometimes 34% 34% organizations' activities Seldom 25% 23% (not including day school Never 14% 11% and Synagogue)? Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Would you or your Definitely yes 45% 41% children participate in Probably yes 42% 41% more activities if there Probably not 11% 16% were a larger variety of Definitely not 2% 2% activities in Hebrew near Total 100% 100% your residential area?

Up to 10 More than 10 years years Would you or your Definitely yes 49% 44% children participate in Probably yes 40% 43% more activities if there Probably no 10% 12% were a larger variety of Definitely no 1% 1% activities in Israeli Total 100% 100% spirit/culture?

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

Up to 10 More than 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Gender Male 34% 42% Female 66% 58% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Age group 16-34 33% 8% 35-44 54% 35% 45-54 8% 22% 55-64 3% 20% 65+ 2% 14% Refuse 0% 1% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Where do you live Southern 23% 37% today?* 12% 14% Northern California 10% 5% 10% 7% 10% 5% 6% 11% 3% 1% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 1% 2% 3% Washington DC 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% 0% Navada 1% 2% Other* 9% 7% Total 100% 100% *Does not include states in which 1% or less of recipients live

Up to 10 years in More than 10

the U.S. years in the U.S. When did you move Less than a year ago 7% 0% to the US? 1-3 years ago 25% 0% 3-5 years ago 21% 0% 5-10 years ago 48% 0% 10-20 years ago 0% 43% Over 20 years ago 0% 57% Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Do you have or did you Yes 100% 100% use to have Israeli Refuse 0% 0% citizenship? Total 100% 100%

Up to 10 More than 10 years in the years in the U.S. U.S. Do at least one of your Yes 92% 91% parents have Israeli No 8% 8% citizenship? Refuse 0% 1% Total 100% 100%