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Culture Report.Web A Study of JEWISH CULTUREin the Bay Area 2002 GARY A. TOBIN, PH.D. INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH & COMMUNITY RESEARCH SAN FRANCISCO A Study of JEWISH CULTUREin the Bay Area 2002 GARY A. TOBIN, PH.D. INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH & COMMUNITY RESEARCH SAN FRANCISCO TABLES OF CONTENTS Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................1 Why Study Jewish Culture?....................................................................................................................4 An Historical View of North American Jewish Culture ....................................................................6 What is Jewish Culture? ..........................................................................................................................9 How Can We Study Jewish Culture? ..................................................................................................15 Ecology-Based Taxonomy ....................................................................................................................16 The Role of Cultural Patronage in Support of Jewish Art and Culture ................................16 Audiences and Users ............................................................................................................................21 Demographic Characteristics of Sample ......................................................................................21 Jewish Identity and Education ......................................................................................................24 Importance of Jewish Traditions....................................................................................................4 0 Attendance at Specific Types of Jewish Art and Culture ..........................................................4 3 The Relationship Between Participation in Jewish Culture and Other Measures of Jewish Identity ........................................................................................52 Venue-Based Taxonomy ........................................................................................................................53 Jewish Venues ..................................................................................................................................53 Non-Jewish and Mixed Auspices ..................................................................................................57 Content-Based Taxonomy ....................................................................................................................64 Jewish Conversations ....................................................................................................................64 Jewish-American Conversations ..................................................................................................65 American Conversations ................................................................................................................65 Themes in Bay Area Jewish Art and Culture ....................................................................................66 Advertising and Promotion of Jewish Art and Culture ..................................................................69 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................................74 Appendix A: Methodology ..................................................................................................................77 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................81 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1: Definitions of Jewish Culture ....................................................................................10 Table 2: Sponsors and Promoters of Jewish Culture in the Bay Area ................................19 Figure 1: Age of Respondents ....................................................................................................21 Figure 2: Length of Residence in the Bay Area ........................................................................22 Figure 3: Marital Status ................................................................................................................23 Figure 4 : Highest Degree or Diploma ........................................................................................24 Figure 5: Reported Income in 1999 ............................................................................................25 Figure 6: Denomination................................................................................................................26 Figure 7: Identity as Cultural, Ethnic or Religious Jew by Age ............................................31 Figure 8: Membership in Synagogue and/or Other Jewish Organizations ........................32 Figure 9: Percent Reporting Membership in a Synagogue and/or Other Jewish Organization by Age..............................................................33 Figure 10: Attendance at Religious Services ..............................................................................33 Figure 11: Percent of Respondents Who Keep a Kosher Home or Have a Mezuzah on Their Door............................................................................34 Figure 12: In general, how frequently do you participate in Jewish holidays? ....................34 Figure 13: Percent of Respondents Who Always or Usually Participate by Jewish Identity ........................................................................................................35 Figure 14 : How important is being Jewish in your life? ..........................................................36 Figure 15: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? …. ..........37 Figure 16: Type of Jewish Education Received ..........................................................................38 Figure 17: Giving to Jewish and Non-Jewish Causes in 1999 ..................................................39 Figure 18: Volunteering at Jewish and Non-Jewish Organizations ........................................4 0 Figure 19: Importance of Participating in Jewish Culture as Compared to Other Jewish Traditions ......................................................................4 1 Figure 20: Participation in Culture Compared to Jewish Religious Practice ........................4 2 Figure 21: Have you attended any of the following Jewish events in the past year? ..............................................................................................4 2 Table 3: Types of Jewish Art and Culture in the Bay Area ..................................................4 4 Figure 22: Attendance at Jewish Events by Age ........................................................................4 8 Figure 23: How interested are you in participating in more Jewish culture?........................4 9 Figure 24 : Reasons for Not Attending Jewish Cultural Events................................................50 Figure 25: Reasons for Attending Jewish Cultural Events........................................................52 Table 4 : Bay Area Jewish Venues Presenting Jewish Culture ..............................................56 Table 5: Non-Jewish Venues in the Bay Area..........................................................................58 Figure 26: Attendance at Jewish and Non-Jewish Venues........................................................59 Figure 27: Attendance at Jewish and Non-Jewish Venues by Age ..........................................60 Table 6: Non-Institutional Sources of Bay Area Jewish Art and Culture ..........................61 Figure 28: Have you ever attended any of the following? ......................................................61 Figure 29: Have you ever attended any of the following (By Age)? ......................................62 Figure 30: Participation in Jewish Culture at Home..................................................................63 Table 7: Themes in Bay Area Jewish Art and Culture ..........................................................66 Figure 31: Reading the Jewish Bulletin and Attendance at Jewish Cultural Events ............72 PREFACE merican Jews have shaped and This study also indicates that continued influenced American culture far out investment in the growth of cultural activity of proportion to their relatively in the Bay Area is a key strategy for strength- Asmall numbers, while also creating a vast ening Jewish identity and participation. This array of cultural institutions and programs of research further indicates that Jewish culture particular Jewish cultural interests. Cultural should assume its proper prominent place in experiences reach nearly all Bay Area the Jewish communal structure. Participation American Jews, many of whom may have no in Jewish culture is a vibrant form of Jewish other meaningful connection with the orga- identity. Along with Jewish education, our nized Jewish community. Yet there has been relationship to Israel, synagogue participa- no comprehensive approach to building the tion, and social action, Jewish culture needs role of Jewish culture within most Jewish to be recognized for its important and vital communities, including the Bay Area. It is no role in keeping a cohesive Jewish community. surprise, then, that research about this Attending a Jewish film festival, viewing a domain of Jewish
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