Brandeis University Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies Building Jewish Pride Through Sports An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games

Michelle Shain Shahar Hecht Naomi Weinblatt Leonard Saxe

OCTOBER 2018

© 2018 Brandeis University Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies www.brandeis.edu/cmjs

The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS), founded in 1980, is dedicated to providing independent, high-quality research on issues related to contemporary Jewish life.

The Cohen Center is also the home of the Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI). Established in 2005, SSRI uses innovative research methods to collect and analyze socio-demographic data on the Jewish community.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Maccabi USA for initiating this study and for providing material support to make it possible. We are especially appreciative of Dan Kurtz, Shane Carr, Jed Margolis, and David Snyder for their feedback and dedication to the project. This project also benefitted enormously from the assistance of our research team at Brandeis University. Rachel Minkin conducted qualitative interviews. Breanna Vizlakh communicated with research participants and helped develop the online version of the pre-trip survey. Alexander Lee provided technical support. A team of research assistants followed up with respondents and encouraged them to complete surveys: Sarah Binney, Sarah Durkin, Yaoyao Gao, Mariah Manter, Izzy Nickel, Tova Perlman, Nomi Small, Joanna Spyra, and Tamar Schachaf Schneider. Micha Rieser prepared the data files for analysis. Dr. Janet Krasner Aronson provided valuable critical feedback on the report. Deborah Grant edited and laid out the report. Max Stern designed our cover. Masha Lokshin and Ilana Friedman expertly manage the center’s day-to-day operations and provide critical support. Most importantly, we are appreciative of the hundreds of athletes who talked with us and were willing to share details of their lives. Without their candid input, our work would not have been possible. Our gratitude notwithstanding, the authors take full responsibility for the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of the study.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games iii

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 1 Introduction ...... 5 Maccabi USA and the Israel Connect Program ...... 5 Study and Research Questions ...... 6 Report Outline ...... 7 Method ...... 9 Qualitative Investigation ...... 9 Surveys ...... 10 Assessing Short-Term Impact ...... 12 Assessing Long-Term Impact ...... 13 Description versus Impact Analysis...... 14 Who Competes in the Maccabiah? ...... 15 Gender ...... 15 Age...... 15 Socioeconomic Status ...... 16 Jewish Background ...... 17 Prior Israel Experience...... 18 Pre-Trip Political Views ...... 18 Applying to the Maccabiah ...... 19 Hearing about the Maccabiah ...... 19 Motivations to Apply ...... 20

iv “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

2017 Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their Experience ...... 21 Overall Impressions: 2017 Maccabiah Athletes ...... 21 Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah Athletes ...... 25 2013 Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their Experience ...... 33 Impact of the Maccabiah: Israel ...... 37 Emotional Attachment ...... 37 Knowledge and Beliefs about Israel ...... 39 Behaviors ...... 42 Impact of the Maccabiah: Jewish Peoplehood ...... 45 Feelings and Beliefs about Jewish Peoplehood ...... 45 Jewish Friends and Organizations ...... 45 Family Formation ...... 46 Impact of the Maccabiah: Judaism ...... 49 Jewish Identity ...... 49 Jewish Ritual ...... 49 Maccabiah Games versus Birthright Israel...... 53 Discussion ...... 57 Notes ...... 61 References ...... 63

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games v

List of Figures and Tables

Figure 1: Jewish background: 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only) ...... 17 Figure 2: Factors in the decision to apply: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 20 Figure 3: What the Maccabiah experience felt like, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes...... 22 Figure 4: Highlight of the Maccabiah experience, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 24 Figure 5: Interactions with others during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 26 Figure 6: Rating parts of the Maccabiah, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 27 Figure 7: Athletic concerns during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 28 Figure 8: Thoughtful discussions about Jewish subjects and Israel during Israel Connect, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 29 Figure 9: Discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 30 Figure 10: Politics during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 31 Figure 11: Reflections on the Maccabiah experience: 2013 Maccabiah athletes ...... 34 Figure 12: Decisions influenced by the Maccabiah experience: 2013 Maccabiah athletes ...... 35 Figure 13: Emotional attachment to Israel: Impact on Maccabiah athletes ...... 38

vi “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 14: Extent to which being Jewish a matter of caring about Israel: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes...... 38 Figure 15: Understanding the situation in Israel: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes ... 39 Figure 16: Beliefs about Israel: Impact on 2013 Maccabiah athletes ...... 40 Figure 17. Belief that Israel upholds freedom of religion: Impact on Maccabiah athletes ...... 41 Figure 18: Israel’s presence on social media feeds: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 42 Figure 19: Likelihood of returning to Israel: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 43 Figure 20: Importance of being Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah (pre-trip) versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only) ...... 50 Figure 21: Frequency of Jewish religious service attendance: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 51 Figure 22: Feelings of connection to Israel: 2017 Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright (pre-trip) ...... 54 Figure 23: What the experience felt like: 2017 Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright Israel trip (no prior Israel experience only) ...... 54 Figure 24: Feelings of connection to Israel: Impact on Maccabiah athletes versus Birthright Israel participants (no prior Israel experience only) ...... 55

Table 1: Main reason for not competing: 2017 Maccabiah comparison group ...... 10 Table 2: Pre- and post-trip survey response rates by treatment versus comparison group ...... 11 Table 3: Long-term follow-up survey response rates by treatment versus comparison group ...... 12 Table 4: Age during the Games: 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah ...... 16 Table 5: Median household income of ZIP code: 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah ...... 16

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games vii

Table 6: Prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only) .. 18 Table 7: Pre-trip political views: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 18 Table 8: How athletes first heard about the Maccabiah Games: 2017 Maccabiah athletes ...... 19 Table 9: Whether 2017 Maccabiah athletes would encourage others to compete in the next Maccabiah Games ...... 23 Table 10: Marital status of 2013 Maccabiah athletes ...... 46 Table 11: Importance of marrying someone Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah athletes (pre-trip) ...... 47 Table 12: Importance of raising children Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah athletes (pre-trip) .... 47 Table 13: Perceived impact of 2017 Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright Israel trip...... 56

viii “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 1

Executive Summary

Often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics,” from athletes who applied to compete in the World Maccabiah Games attract the 2017 and 2013 Maccabiah Games. It thousands of Jewish athletes from around employs a strong quasi-experimental the world to Israel every four years, to design, whereby the athletes who applied compete in a high-level athletic but did not compete—either because they competition. The US delegation to the were not appointed to the team, or because Maccabiah is sponsored by Maccabi USA, of a scheduling conflict, sports injury, etc.— whose mission is to use sports as a vehicle serve as a the comparison group against to strengthen Jewish identity and which to measure the impact of the connections. As part of the Maccabiah Maccabiah. experience, Maccabi USA organizes a seven- day educational-cultural travel program in Maccabiah Athletes Israel for US athletes prior to the athletic competition. Called “Israel Connect,” this Most of the 2017 and 2013 Maccabiah program is designed to strengthen athletes’ athletes were young adults between the Jewish identities and instill in them the ages of 18 and 32, from fairly high-income passion and knowledge necessary to geographic areas. Although Maccabiah advocate for Israel. Focusing on applicants athletes had a wide range of Jewish to team USA in the 2013 and 2017 backgrounds, they came disproportionately Maccabiah, this study examines the extent from the “middle” of the spectrum of US to which the Maccabiah experience altered Jewish engagement – e.g., those with only the Jewish trajectories of the US Jewish one Jewish parent and those raised athletes who participated. Orthodox were somewhat underrepresented. The majority of 2017 Method Maccabiah athletes had traveled to Israel before the 2017 Maccabiah, including 18% This study draws on interviews, who had competed in a previous Maccabiah observations, and survey data collected Games.

2 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Most Maccabiah athletes first heard about Impact of the Maccabiah the Maccabiah Games from friends or family, or through their sport. Having fun The evidence clearly demonstrates that the and being part of an international athletic Maccabiah experience engenders lasting, competition were the most important positive feelings toward Israel. Before the motivating factors in applying to compete. Maccabiah, 24% of the athletes felt “very connected” to Israel; after the Maccabiah, Athletes’ Impressions of the Maccabiah 32% felt “very connected.” Similarly, even Experience four years after the experience, the 2013 Maccabiah athletes were more likely to feel Most 2017 Maccabiah athletes had very connected to Israel than the comparison positive feelings about their Maccabiah group. experience. The majority felt that their overall Maccabiah experience was a life- At the same time, the Maccabiah changing encounter with Israel and their experience had little to no impact on Jewish heritage. They described the sporting knowledge about Israel, willingness to competitions, the opening ceremonies, and express opinions about Israel, or return trips the relationships they forged with other to Israel. Furthermore, the Maccabiah athletes in very positive terms. The vast experience did not appear to impact majority of the 2017 athletes said that they feelings or beliefs about Jewish peoplehood, would encourage other US Jewish athletes likelihood of having Jewish friends, to compete in future Maccabiah Games. involvement with Jewish organizations, marrying Jews, raising Jewish children, or The Israel Connect program engendered any one of a number of Jewish ritual some very positive feelings and some practices. criticism. Interactions between athletes, coaches, and others were extremely The impact of the Maccabiah experience positive. The discussions and activities may only become evident as more of the during Israel Connect were generally viewed athletes marry and have children. A “ceiling favorably but were more appealing to those effect” may also be preventing the in Israel for the first time. However, many Maccabiah experience from having its athletes found that they did not receive intended impact on the athletes. In other adequate sleep, food, or practice time words, because the majority of the athletes during Israel Connect. Finally, more than came from relatively strong Jewish two thirds of athletes thought that Israel backgrounds and had already been to Israel Connect felt like “pro-Israel propaganda.” when they applied to compete in the Maccabiah, their Jewish attitudes and behaviors were stronger than average even before their Maccabiah experience, leaving minimal room for growth.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 3

Lessons Learned Adjust the way the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is addressed during Israel Connect. Another possibility is that elements of the Especially given that the majority of the Maccabiah experience need to be adjusted young adults who compete in the in order to produce the desired impact on Maccabiah (1) have been to Israel before Jewish identity. This study suggests three and (2) identify as liberals, they would likely potential strategies: benefit from a more nuanced and in-depth exploration of the conflict, including input Address the athletes’ physical needs during from more left-of-center organizations and Israel Connect. As Maslow (1943) famously speakers. observed, people cannot focus on social, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual growth if Moving forward, experimenting with ways their basic physiological needs have not to adjust programming in order to foster been satisfied. lasting change, particularly for the relatively highly engaged cohort of Jewish young Help the athletes articulate the link adults who compete in the Maccabiah, will between their experiences during the be Maccabi USA’s primary challenge. Maccabiah and their own Jewish identities. To accomplish its goals, Israel Connect may need more than tour guides who can provide facts and experiences; it may need educators who are equipped with “pedagogical content knowledge,” strategies to help participants grapple directly with more abstract questions of Jewish identity (Shulman, 1986, 1987).

4 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 5

Introduction

Often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics,” and relationships, including connections to the World Maccabiah Games were founded Israel. The 2017 Maccabiah Games included in 1932 in what was then the British a US delegation of approximately 1,200 Mandate of Palestine. The inspiration for athletes and staff. More than 300 athletes the Maccabiah grew out of the early Zionist competed in the most prestigious and movement and its interest in cultivating a competitive division, called the “Open” “muscular Judaism” as a response to division, which is the focus of the present centuries of perceived Jewish weakness in evaluation. The Maccabiah Games also the Diaspora (Kaplan, 2015). Since the include less competitive “Junior” and 1950s, the Maccabiah has taken place in “Youth” divisions for high school athletes Israel every four years, most recently in and a “Masters” division for athletes ages summer 2017. The 2017 Maccabiah Games 35 and older. attracted 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries around the world, competing in As part of the Maccabiah experience, 45 different sports. Today, the Maccabiah is Maccabi USA also organizes a seven-day the third-largest sporting competition in the educational-cultural travel program in Israel world, after the Olympics and the FIFA for US athletes prior to the athletic World Cup. competition. Called “Israel Connect,” the program is required for all US athletes Maccabi USA and the Israel Connect competing in the Open, Junior, and Youth Program divisions. Athletes train with their teammates in the morning and then visit The US delegation to the Maccabiah is sites in the afternoon and evening, including sponsored by Maccabi USA. Founded in Jerusalem’s Old City, Yad Vashem, Har 1948, Maccabi USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for- Herzl, Masada, the Dead Sea, Tel-Aviv’s profit organization whose motto is “Building Independence Hall, Shuk HaCarmel and the Jewish Pride Through Sports.” Maccabi USA beach. There is also a b’nai mitzvah views sports as a vehicle to provide Jewish ceremony for athletes who have not experiences that strengthen Jewish identity celebrated a bar or bat mitzvah before or

6 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

who want to celebrate again in Israel. The Study and Research Questions staff and lay leaders of Maccabi USA describe Israel Connect as critical to Like the research on Birthright Israel, this achieving their overarching goals of study follows in the tradition of modern strengthening athletes’ Jewish identities and social program evaluation (Shadish, Cook, & instilling in them the passion and knowledge Leviton, 1991). Using a strong quasi- necessary to advocate for Israel. experimental design, the study assesses the extent to which this programmatic Maccabi USA’s mission to strengthen Jewish intervention—experiencing the Israel identity and connections reflects the Connect program and then competing in the ongoing concern of Jewish communal Maccabiah Games—altered the Jewish leaders for the survival and vitality of the US trajectories of the young US Jewish athletes Jewish community (Sarna, 2004). who participated. The findings draw on Secularization, changing family formation interviews, observations, and survey data patterns, and the increasing incidence of collected from athletes who applied to marriages between Jews and non-Jews all compete in the 2017 and 2013 Maccabiah present strong challenges to US Jewish Games. Because the Israel Connect program continuity (Dashefsky & Sheskin, 2015). In was somewhat different in character before response, Jewish educators have embraced the 2013 Maccabiah, earlier cohorts of peer trips to Israel as a means to provide athletes were not included in the study. effective, experiential Jewish education to young American Jews (Chazan, 2002). These The study addresses a number of specific interventions are not unique to the Jewish questions. What were these athletes’ community; other minority ethnic and perceptions of the Maccabiah experience in religious groups have embraced heritage general, and of Israel Connect in particular? tourism as a way to bolster group identity More critically, did the Maccabiah (Timothy, 2011; Timothy & Boyd, 2003). In experience inspire feelings of Jewish pride, the Jewish world, the most far-reaching connection to Israel, connection to Jewish example of such programs is Birthright peers, and connection to the Jewish people? Israel, a free, 10-day trip to Israel for Jewish Did it strengthen involvement with Israel young adults that has reached more than and the Jewish community? How does the 600,000 participants worldwide since it impact of Maccabiah participation compare began in 1999 (Kelner, 2010; Saxe & Chazan, to the impact of Birthright Israel, 2008). A program of academic research has particularly as a first-time Israel experience? demonstrated Birthright Israel’s lasting Finally, what can the Maccabiah experience impact on participants’ connection to Israel, teach us about heritage tourism, identity Jewish communal participation, and formation, and the future of the Jewish likelihood of forming Jewish families (Sasson community? et al., 2015; Saxe & Chazan, 2008; Saxe et al., 2010; Saxe, Shain, Wright, Hecht, & Sasson, 2017).

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 7

Report Outline

This report begins with a detailed explanation of the study’s methodology and continues with a description of the characteristics of the athletes who competed in the Maccabiah in 2017 and 2013. The study then examines how these athletes describe the Maccabiah experience, including its impact on their lives. At the heart of the report are three sections assessing the short- and long-term impact of Maccabiah participation across three domains: Israel, Jewish peoplehood, and Judaism. The Maccabiah experience is then compared to that of Birthright Israel. The report concludes with a discussion of the findings and their implications.

8 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 9

Method

Section Summary

The core of the evaluation consisted of three surveys: a pre-trip survey of Maccabiah 2017 applicants, whether appointed to the team or not; a post-trip survey of Maccabiah 2017 applicants, whether appointed to the team or not; and a long-term follow-up survey of Maccabiah 2013 applicants, whether appointed to the team or not. Survey design and analysis were informed by a supplemental qualitative investigation. The impact of the Maccabiah was assessed using quasi-experimental methods. Short-term impact was analyzed using a “difference in differences” technique, and long-term impact was analyzed using statistical models that examine the relationship between having the Maccabiah experience and various outcomes, while holding fixed other differences between the treatment and comparison groups.

Qualitative Investigation them. Interviews were conducted in January and February 2017. The study used qualitative research 2. Interviews with Maccabi USA staff and methods to inform survey design and lay leaders (N=7). These interviews interpretation of survey results. The were designed to elucidate program qualitative investigation included: goals, structure, and operations. 1. Interviews with 2013 Maccabiah Interviews were conducted in January athletes (N=8). Athletes were selected 2017. to represent a range of ages, sports, and 3. Observation of 2017 Israel Connect Jewish backgrounds. The goal of these program. In order to observe the interviews was to understand the trip experience and to gain an understanding experience from the perspective of the of its components, a researcher joined athletes. Questions covered athletes’ the 2017 Maccabiah athletes for the reasons for participating, their Israel Connect program. satisfaction with the program, and their sense of how the program affected

10 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Surveys one third (N=197) were appointed to the team but had another reason for not The core of the evaluation consisted of competing. Members of the comparison three surveys: group who responded to the post-trip 1. A pre-trip survey of Maccabiah 2017 survey cited a number of reasons for not applicants to the Open team, whether competing, including personal, academic, appointed to the team or not; professional, and sports conflicts (Table 1). 2. A post-trip survey of Maccabiah 2017 applicants to the Open team, whether Using Maccabi USA’s records, we attempted appointed to the team or not; and to include those who competed in both 3. A long-term follow-up survey of 2017 and 2013 in the long-term follow-up Maccabiah 2013 applicants to the Open survey, rather than the pre- and post-trip team, whether appointed to the team surveys of Maccabiah 2017 applicants. or not. These efforts were successful in some cases (N=33), but in other cases 2013 Maccabiah Once they apply to compete in the athletes who applied to the 2017 Maccabiah, athletes are appointed to Team Maccabiah were surveyed with the 2017 USA based on athletic ability alone. The athletes (N=46). Their data was athletes who applied but did not compete incorporated into the analysis to the extent are the comparison group against which possible. this study measures the impact of the Maccabiah. Of the athletes who did not end The survey instruments for all three surveys up competing in 2017, about two thirds are available in Technical Appendix B. were not appointed to the team, and about

Table 1: Main reason for not competing: 2017 Maccabiah comparison group

2017 Maccabiah comparison group

Not appointed to team 44% Personal, academic, professional, or sports conflict 32% Could not raise the monetary commitment 12% Sports injury 7% Other reason 6% Total 100%

N 217

Note: Columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 11

Pre- and Post-Trip Surveys of Maccabiah incentive to complete the survey. Email 2017 Applicants. Email invitations reminders were sent to all nonrespondents containing individual links to the pre-trip on November 8, November 15, and survey were sent to athletes on April 24, November 29. Nonrespondents received 2017. A $15 Amazon.com gift card was phone calls encouraging them to complete offered as an incentive to complete the the survey between November 20 and survey. Email reminders were sent to all December 15 (appointed athletes were nonrespondents on May 2 and May 10. called twice). Maccabi USA emailed all Nonrespondents who had been appointed appointed athletes on November 28, to the team also received phone calls encouraging them to complete the post-trip encouraging them to complete the survey survey if they had not already done so. A on May 15-16, and Maccabi USA emailed all final email reminder was sent to all appointed athletes on May 22, encouraging nonrespondents on December 21, and the them to complete the pre-trip survey if they survey was closed on January 2, 2018. had not already done so. A final email reminder was sent to all nonrespondents on Response rates for the pre- and post-trip May 23, and the survey was closed on surveys are presented in Table 2. Athletes June 5. who competed in the Maccabiah responded at a higher rate than those who did not. Email invitations containing individual links Women were significantly more likely than to the post-trip survey were sent to men to respond to the post-trip survey athletes on November 1, 2017. A $15 (49% versus 42%). There was no significant Amazon.com gift card was offered as an response bias with respect to age.

Table 2: Pre- and post-trip survey response rates by treatment versus comparison group

Pre-trip survey Post-trip survey Pre- and post-trip Total n respondents respondents survey respondents

2017 % N % N % N Never competed 626 38% 238 35% 220 24% 150 (comparison group) 1st time competing 311 72% 225 63% 195 55% 170 (treatment group)

Total 2017 937 49% 463 44% 415 34% 320

Note: Athletes who were under age 18 at the time of the surveys were invited to complete the surveys only if their parents gave consent. Consent was obtained for 59 of 81 minors. The 22 minors whose parents did not give consent are considered nonrespondents. Table excludes individuals who competed in Maccabiah Games before 2013 (N=97).

12 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Long-Term Follow-Up Survey of Maccabiah Assessing Short-Term Impact 2013 Applicants. Email invitations containing individual links to the long-term In order to analyze the short-term impact of follow-up survey were sent to athletes on the Maccabiah experience, we used a November 6, 2017. A $15 Amazon.com gift technique called “difference in differences” card was offered as an incentive to that mimics an experimental research complete the survey. Email reminders were design. The first step in the difference in sent to all nonrespondents on November 13 differences analysis was to compare the and November 20, 2017 and on January 4, survey responses of the “treatment” group 2018. Nonrespondents received phone calls (2017 Maccabiah athletes who competed encouraging them to complete the survey for the first time in 2017) before and after between November 30, 2017 and January the 2017 Maccabiah Games. The second 14, 2018 (appointed athletes were called step was to compare the survey responses twice). A final email reminder was sent to of the comparison group (athletes who all nonrespondents on January 17, 2018, applied but were not appointed to a team) and the survey was closed on January 22, before and after the 2017 Maccabiah 2018. Games. The final step was to compare change between the two time points Response rates for the long-term follow-up among the treatment group to change survey are presented in Table 3. Athletes between the two time points among the who competed responded at a higher rate comparison group. Any change that was than those who did not. Women were evident among both the 2017 Maccabiah significantly more likely than men to athletes and the comparison group was respond to the long-term follow-up survey attributed to exogenous factors, such as the (32% versus 26%). There was no significant news cycle. Any change among the 2017 response bias with respect to age. Maccabiah athletes that was different from change among the comparison group was attributed to the Maccabiah experience.

Table 3: Long-term follow-up survey response rates by treatment versus comparison group

2013 Total n % responding N responding Never competed 707 21% 150 (comparison group) 1st time competing 444 40% 178 (treatment group) Total 2013 1,151 28% 328

Note: Table excludes individuals who competed in Maccabiah Games before 2013 (N=97). Forty-six of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes who applied to the 2017 Maccabiah were also surveyed with the 2017 athletes. All of these individuals completed either the pre- or post-trip surveys, bringing the overall study response rate to 50% for this group.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 13

There were two systematic, pre-existing Assessing Long-Term Impact differences between the Maccabiah athletes who competed for the first time in Because surveys were not conducted 2017 and the comparison group: before the 2013 Maccabiah Games, the  44% of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes difference in differences technique was not who competed for the first time in 2017 appropriate for analyzing the long-term were women, compared to 31% of the impact of the Maccabiah experience. For 2017 comparison group; and this analysis, we compared the treatment  49% of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes group (2013 Maccabiah athletes who who competed for the first time in 2017 competed for the first time in 2013) to the had been to Israel before, compared to comparison group (athletes who applied 61% of the 2017 comparison group. but were not appointed to a team). There were several systematic, pre-existing The gender difference suggests that more differences between the treatment and men than women applied to compete. The comparison groups that complicated this difference in prior Israel experience may method: suggest that athletes who were more  The 2013 Maccabiah athletes who interested in Israel travel were more likely competed for the first time in 2013 to apply, even as a “long shot,” and thus were an average of nine months were more likely to be Jewishly engaged younger than the 2013 comparison than the treatment group regardless of the group; Maccabiah experience. This result may also  65% of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes suggest that those who had been to Israel who competed for the first time in 2013 before were less motivated to go if had two Jewish parents, compared to appointed. Regardless, the “difference in 80% of the 2013 comparison group; and differences” analytic technique used here  3% of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes who mitigates any selection bias—that is, any competed for the first time in 2013 pre-existing differences between the were raised Orthodox, compared to Maccabiah athletes and the comparison 12% of the 2013 comparison group. group—because we are only comparing change within the 2017 Maccabiah athlete Whether the 2013 comparison group was group to change within the comparison also more likely than the 2013 Maccabiah group. athletes who competed for the first time in 2013 to have been to Israel before the 2013 Games is unknown. The survey did not collect sufficient information about past

14 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Israel travel to be able to determine Description versus Impact Analysis definitively whether such travel occurred before or after the 2013 Maccabiah. In the descriptive sections of the report Whatever the differences in prior Israel (“Who Competes in the Maccabiah?,” travel, the comparison group was more “Applying to the Maccabiah,” “2017 likely to be Jewishly engaged than the Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their treatment group. Experience,” and “2013 Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their Experience”), we used all To mitigate this selection bias, we used a available data from the pre-trip, post-trip, statistical process called regression analysis. and long-term follow-up surveys to paint a Using data from the treatment group and portrait of the athletes who competed in the comparison group, we modelled the each Maccabiah, regardless of whether the relationship between having the Maccabiah athletes also competed in another experience and various outcomes, while Maccabiah. However, in the sections on the holding fixed other differences between the impact of the Maccabiah, we compared treatment and comparison groups: age, only those who competed in the Maccabiah number of Jewish parents, and childhood for the first time to those who had never Orthodoxy. For reporting purposes, we competed in the Maccabiah before. Thus, present predictive margins estimated at the the 97 survey respondents who competed means of these three variables for the 2013 in the Maccabiah Games before 2013 are Maccabiah athletes. excluded from the impact analysis.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 15

Who Competes in the Maccabiah?

Section Summary

Most of the 2017 and 2013 Maccabiah athletes were young adults between the ages of 18 and 32, from fairly high-income geographic areas. Although Maccabiah athletes had a wide range of Jewish backgrounds, they came disproportionately from the “middle” of the spectrum of US Jewish engagement—e.g., those with only one Jewish parent and those raised Orthodox were somewhat underrepresented. Furthermore, the majority of 2017 Maccabiah athletes had traveled to Israel before the 2017 Maccabiah, including 18% who had competed in previous Maccabiah Games.

Gender Maccabiah suggests that sports may be a vehicle for successfully engaging men in The majority of Maccabiah athletes were Jewish life. men: 57% in 2017 and 58% in 2013.1 This gender imbalance is unusual for an Israel Age travel program serving US Jewish young adults. In most such programs, the majority Most Maccabiah athletes were young adults of participants are women. US Jewish ages 18 to 32. The average age of the 2017 women exhibit stronger Jewish attitudes athletes at the time of the 2017 Games was and behaviors than US Jewish men across 22.6 years, nearly identical to the average most measures, such as strength of Jewish age of the 2013 athletes at the time of the religious beliefs, membership in Jewish 2013 Games (22.5 years). A small proportion organizations, and having Jewish friends of athletes were minors, and a small (Fishman, 2009, 2015; Fishman & Parmer, proportion were over the age of 32 2008; Hartman & Hartman, 2009). The (Table 4). overrepresentation of men in the

16 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Table 4: Age during the Games: Table 5: Median household income of ZIP code: 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah

2017 Maccabiah 2013 Maccabiah 2017 Maccabiah 2013 Maccabiah athletes athletes athletes athletes

Under 18 years 3% 15% Lowest quintile 1% 0% nd 18-32 years 92% 78% 2 quintile 7% 8% 3rd quintile 20% 21% Over 32 years 5% 7% 4th quintile 41% 46% Total 100% 100% Highest quintile 32% 24% N 365 486 Total 100% 100% Note: Data from Maccabi USA registration system. N 286 247

Note: Columns may not add to 100% due to rounding. Socioeconomic Status

Because Maccabiah athletes were young, many had not completed their education or settled into careers. Measures of their educational attainment or household income may understate their true socioeconomic status. However, upwards of 70% lived in ZIP codes where the median household income is in the fourth or highest quintile of the US income distribution (Table 5). This concentration in high-income areas suggests that the monetary commitment required of Open team members, $8,000 in 2017, may prevent those from lower income areas from applying. Although only 12% (N=25) of the 2017 comparison group said that the monetary commitment was the main reason they did not compete (see Table 1 on page 10), there may be other athletes who simply did not apply because of the cost.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 17

Jewish Background Compared to the broader Jewish population in their age group, Maccabiah athletes came Maccabiah athletes had a wide range of disproportionately from the “middle” of the Jewish backgrounds: Some had no Jewish spectrum of American Jewish education and did not celebrate a bar or bat engagement—e.g., those with only one mitzvah, while others were raised Orthodox Jewish parent and those raised Orthodox and attended Jewish day school (Figure 1). were somewhat underrepresented.

Figure 1: Jewish background: 2017 Maccabiah versus 2013 Maccabiah versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only)

2017 Maccabiah athletes 2013 Maccabiah athletes All US Jews ages 18-32 Ages 18-32 Ages 18-32 (Pew Research Center, 2013) (N=275) (N=380) 100%

80%

60%

40% 80% 73% 75% 68% 69%68% 65% 64%

49% 48% 20% 29% 30%28% 23% 18% 12% 5% 2% 0% Two Jewish Bar or bat Any formal Any Jewish Jewish Raised parents mitzvah Jewish education day school overnight camp Orthodox

Note: Estimates for all US Jews reflect authors’ analysis of the Pew Research Center’s (2013) Survey of US Jews, using the Steinhardt Social Research Institute’s minor reclassifications of Jewish respondents (Saxe, Sasson, & Aronson, 2014). Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.

18 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Prior Israel Experience Pre-Trip Political Views

The majority of 2017 Maccabiah athletes The 2017 Maccabiah athletes came to the had already been to Israel before the 2017 Games with a variety of political views and Maccabiah. They were more likely to have opinions about the Israeli-Palestinian been to Israel than all US Jews in their age conflict. About half (52%) of the athletes group (Table 6). Almost one quarter (23%) described their general political views as had participated in a Birthright Israel trip, liberal versus 21% who identified as and 18% had competed in previous conservative (Table 7). This breakdown is Maccabiah Games. typical of US Jews in general: 49% of all US Jews describe themselves as liberal while 19% of US Jews identify as conservative (Pew Research Center, 2013).

Table 6: Prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only)

All US Jews ages 2017 Maccabiah 18-32 athletes (Pew Research ages 18-32 Center, 2013) Been to Israel 59% 43% (before the 2017 Maccabiah Games) Been on Birthright Israel trip 23% 20% Competed in previous Maccabiah Games 18% [no data] N 254

Note: Estimates for all US Jews reflect authors’ analysis of the Pew Research Center’s (2013) Survey of US Jews, using the Steinhardt Social Research Institute’s minor reclassifications of Jewish respondents (Saxe et al., 2014).

Table 7: Pre-trip political views: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

% Extremely liberal 4% Liberal 29% Slightly liberal 19% Moderate 27% Slightly conservative 9% Conservative 11% Extremely conservative 1% Total 100% N 233 Question text: “In general, would you describe your political views as...?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 19

Applying to the Maccabiah

Section Summary

Most Maccabiah athletes first heard about the Maccabiah Games from friends or family, or through their sport. Having fun and being part of an international athletic competition were the most important motivating factors in applying to compete. The Jewish community played a relatively small role in making the athletes aware of the Maccabiah, and the Jewish aspects of the Maccabiah experience were less important motivating factors in applying to compete.

Hearing about the Maccabiah Table 8: How athletes first heard about the Maccabiah Games: 2017 Maccabiah Just over half of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes athletes first heard about the Maccabiah Games from family or friends, and another % quarter first heard about the Games From family or friends 52% through their sport (Table 8). However, Through my sport 25% among the roughly 13% who had competed Through my Jewish community 12% in the Olympics or another elite international competition, or who had Recruited by Maccabi USA 10% played professional sports, the majority Total 100% (55%) first heard about the Maccabiah N 225 Games through their sport (not shown). Note: Excludes 2017 Maccabiah athletes who competed in a previous Maccabiah Games (N=54). Total may not add to 100% due to rounding. Question text: “How did you first hear about the Maccabiah Games?”

20 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Motivations to Apply international athletic competition and representing America (Figure 2). Meeting The biggest factors that motivated athletes other Jewish athletes and learning more to apply for the 2017 Maccabiah Games about Jewish history, culture, or religion were having fun, being part of an were less important motivating factors.

Figure 2: Factors in the decision to apply: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

I thought it would be fun 2% 13% 85%

I wanted to be part of an international athletic competition 2% 13% 85% 0% I wanted to represent America 7% 16% 77%

I wanted to visit Israel 1% 7% 20% 73%

I wanted to achieve a certain level of athletic performance 2% 6% 24% 68%

I wanted to meet Jewish athletes from other countries 4%19% 31% 46%

I wanted to meet other American Jewish athletes 5%18% 35% 42%

I wanted to learn more about Jewish history, culture, or 5% 23% 30% 42% religion

My parent(s) wanted me to apply 24% 25% 27% 24%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: N=225. Excludes 2017 Maccabiah athletes who competed in a previous Maccabiah Games (N=54). Question text: “How important was each of the following in your decision to apply to compete in the 2017 (20th) Maccabiah Games?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 21

2017 Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their Experience

Section Summary

Most 2017 Maccabiah athletes had very positive feelings about their Maccabiah experience. The majority felt that their overall Maccabiah experience was a life- changing encounter with Israel and their Jewish heritage. They described the sporting competitions, the opening ceremonies, and the relationships they forged with other athletes in very positive terms. The vast majority of the 2017 athletes said that they would encourage other US Jewish athletes to compete in future Maccabiah Games.

The Israel Connect program engendered some very positive feelings and some criticism. Interactions between athletes, coaches, and others were extremely positive. The discussions and activities during Israel Connect were generally reviewed favorably but were more appealing to those in Israel for the first time. However, many athletes found that they did not receive adequate sleep, food, or practice time during Israel Connect. Finally, more than two thirds of athletes thought that Israel Connect felt like “pro-Israel propaganda.”

Overall Impressions: 2017 Maccabiah Israel,” “a journey to your Jewish roots,” Athletes and “a learning experience.” The 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were in Israel for The 2017 Maccabiah athletes were very the first time were more likely to describe positive about their Maccabiah experience. the Maccabiah experience in these terms The majority described it as “life changing,” compared to the athletes who had been to as well as “an encounter with the real Israel before (Figure 3).

22 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 3: What the Maccabiah experience felt like, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

A life-changing experience 3%16% 28% 54%

An encounter with the real Israel 5% 18% 37% 40% (N=112)

A journey to your Jewish roots 2% 16% 29% 54% Prior Israel experience Israel Prior

A learning experience 13% 29% 57%

A life-changing experience 2% 9% 20% 69%

An encounter with the real Israel 2%9% 23% 66%

(N=99) FirsttimeinIsrael

A journey to your Jewish roots 2%6%15% 77%

A learning experience 1%2%20% 77%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “Athletes have described the Maccabiah experience in many ways. Overall, for you, did the experience feel like...?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 23

The vast majority (88%) of the 2017 The 2017 Maccabiah athletes detailed some Maccabiah athletes were unequivocal in of the reasons they would encourage others saying that they would encourage other US to participate: Jewish athletes to compete in the Maccabiah (Table 9). Only 2% would not I would encourage other Jewish athletes encourage others to compete under any to compete. I not only made friends from circumstances, and the rest were equivocal. different countries, I made friends for a lifetime on the USA team. I am extremely happy I decided to participate in the Maccabiah Games. Table 9: Whether 2017 Maccabiah athletes would encourage others to Based on my experience, I would 100% compete in the next Maccabiah Games encourage other American Jewish athletes to compete in the next % Maccabiah Games because it was such a Yes, wholly positive 88% unique and amazing experience that Conditional, mixed 10% generates a sense of belonging through sports and commonalities. Furthermore, No, wholly negative 2% you get to meet some amazing people Total 100% from all over the world that you would N 183 have never met otherwise. Note: Question not asked of some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were When asked about the highlight of their surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Of those who were Maccabiah experience, about half of the asked, 85% provided an answer. Question text: “Based on your experience, would you athletes said it was the people they met and encourage other American Jewish athletes to compete in the the relationships they formed, and about next Maccabiah Games? Why or why not?” one quarter said it was the athletic competition (Figure 4). Those who were in Israel for the first time were substantially more likely to cite Israel Connect and sightseeing as a highlight of the experience than those who had been to Israel before.

24 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 4: Highlight of the Maccabiah experience, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

People, relationships 54% 41%

Sport, competing 24% 23%

Opening Ceremony * 24% 10%

Winning a medal 17% 15% Prior Israel experience (N=123)

Free time in Israel 11% First time in Israel 11% (N=81)

Israel general 7% 12%

Israel Connect, seeing sites *** 3% 22%

Other 13% 15%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Notes: * p <. 05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001 Question not asked of some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Of those who were asked, 83% provided an answer. Response categories not mutually exclusive. Question text: “For you, what was the highlight of your Maccabiah experience?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 25

2017 Maccabiah athletes described some of The highlight was the moment we won the highlights of the trip: the gold medal—I have never experienced a moment like that before—pure joy! The highlight of my Maccabiah experience was singing in Hebrew at the The highlight was the people. My opening ceremonies with a boy from teammates became brothers that I am Germany and a boy from South Africa. still close with today. The US delegation Such an incredible once-in-a-lifetime was like one big family, even if you had experience of unity and Jewish pride in never seen or spoken to someone before. our homeland. Meeting the local Israelis and Jews from all over the world was special. Seeing While the opening ceremonies were an your culture and talking to people who incredible experience and something I have similar family traditions as you will never forget, the most fulfilling thing from countries like Chile, South Africa, I took away from the whole thing was Kazakhstan, and all over was special. It the relationships I made with my was a place where everyone was friendly teammates. We grew extremely close and wanted to be friends and a nice over the three weeks, and I have no change from the ‘real world.’ doubt we will continue to be friends for many years to come.

26 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah Athletes athletes with an opportunity to get to know their teammates, their coaches, and Israelis. Israel Connect engendered some very Interactions between people during Israel positive reactions, as well as some criticism Connect were extremely positive (Figure 5). among the 2017 Maccabiah athletes. First and foremost, Israel Connect provided the

Figure 5: Interactions with others during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

1% Athletes on your team 1% 3% 20% 74%

Israelis who joined the buses 5% 29% 60%

Your coach 8% 4%4%10% 16% 56%

Athletes from other open teams 9% 42% 47%

Your Israeli tour guide 3%2%7% 12% 33% 42%

Your bus captain/manager 2% 2% 13% 41% 34%

Junior/Youth athletes 1% 6% 21% 35% 14%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Extremely negative Negative Somewhat negative Somewhat positive Positive Extremely positive

Note: N=201. Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Proportion having no interaction not shown. Labels <1% omitted. Question text: “Overall, how would you describe your interactions with…?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 27

Touring around Israel was the most highly enthusiasm for the athletic competitions rated component of Israel Connect, and the opening ceremonies. Athletes who followed by free time, the 4th of July had been to Israel before were also less celebration, and the b’nai mitzvah positive in their assessment of Israel ceremony (Figure 6). Enthusiasm for all the Connect activities than those who were in Israel Connect activities, including the Israel for the first time. touring component, was lower than

Figure 6: Rating parts of the Maccabiah, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

Competitions of your sport 1%4%13% 32% 50%

Opening Ceremony of the Maccabiah Games 7%15%11% 21% 46%

Touring around Israel during Israel Connect 9% 21% 30% 28% 12%

Free time during Israel Connect 2% 36% 33% 17% 13% (N=112)

4th of July celebration 14% 36% 37% 11%3% Prior Israel experienceIsraelPrior The b'nai mitzvah ceremony 14% 42% 25% 13%5%

Practice time during Israel Connect 7% 42% 36% 12%4%

Competitions of your sport 1%8% 17% 33% 40%

Opening Ceremony of the Maccabiah Games 3% 9% 16% 22% 49%

Touring around Israel during Israel Connect 1%11% 28% 38% 22%

Free time during Israel Connect 1%19% 30% 34% 15% (N=99)

4th of July celebration 16% 27% 29% 23% 5% First time in Israel intimeFirst

The b'nai mitzvah ceremony 13% 33% 27% 19% 7%

Practice time during Israel Connect 8% 45% 23% 21%2%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Waste of time OK Good Great One of the best experiences of the Maccabiah

Note: Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “How would you rate your experience in the following parts of Maccabiah 2017?”

28 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

There were logistical issues that detracted enough water or food while touring, and from the experience of Israel Connect. The that the food that was provided was majority of athletes did not feel that sometimes subpar and not sufficiently Maccabi USA was invested in their athletic nutritious for high-caliber athletes. Our performance (Figure 7). Half said their observer also noted that the cancellation of physical needs as athletes were not met, a practice in order to visit Masada frustrated and 45% said their team did not have a number of coaches and athletes. enough practice time. Our observer noted that athletes were not provided with

Figure 7: Athletic concerns during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

I felt that Maccabi USA was invested 10%13% 20% 25% 25% 8% in my athletic performance

My physical needs as an athlete 17% 17% 15% 21% 22% 8% (nutrition, sleep, etc.) were met

My team had enough practice time 18% 22% 16% 21% 20% 4%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree

Note: N=209. Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? During Israel Connect…?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 29

In terms of the educational experience, the about Jewish subjects, with the Israeli- majority of 2017 athletes thought that Israel Palestinian conflict engendering the fewest Connect at least “somewhat” included thoughtful discussions. On all these thoughtful discussions about a variety of subjects, athletes who were in Israel for the subjects related to Jewishness and Israel first time were more positive than those (Figure 8). The athletes reported fewer who had been to Israel before. thoughtful discussions about Israel than

Figure 8: Thoughtful discussions about Jewish subjects and Israel during Israel Connect, by prior Israel experience: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

The Holocaust 4%6% 42% 49%

Jewish history 2%12% 44% 42%

Jewish ideas and values 5%15% 45% 36%

(N=109) Contemporary Israeli society 2%13% 49% 36%

Prior Israel Prior experience Zionism 6% 20% 44% 30%

Israeli-Palestinian conflict 10% 32% 40% 17%

The Holocaust 8%0% 30% 62%

Jewish history 2%7% 39% 52%

Jewish ideas and values 1%11% 36% 52%

(N=99) Contemporary Israeli society 2%12% 39% 46% First time in Israel in time First Zionism 6% 15% 59% 20%

Israeli-Palestinian conflict 8% 33% 35% 23%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “To what extent did Israel Connect include thoughtful discussions about…?”

30 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Nearly two thirds of all 2017 athletes agreed political liberals or political conservatives as least somewhat that they heard before the trip did not differ in their “authentic” accounts of the Israeli- assessments of whether Israel Connect Palestinian conflict and that Israel Connect presented authentic accounts of the conflict allowed for diversity of opinion about the and allowed for diversity of opinion (not conflict (Figure 9). Those who identified as shown).

Figure 9: Discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

I heard authentic accounts of 5%11% 21% 34% 24% 5% the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel Connect allowed for diversity of opinion 6%13% 15% 35% 22% 8% about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree

Note: N=209. Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Israel Connect?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 31

The pro-Israel perspective of Israel identified as political liberals before the trip Connect’s programing was visible to most were more likely than those who identified participants. Half thought that Israel as political moderates or conservatives to Connect was political, and nearly two thirds view Israel Connect as pro-Israel saw it as pro-Israel propaganda (Figure 10). propaganda: Nearly 85% of political liberals It is not completely clear what the athletes at least “somewhat” agreed that Israel meant by “propaganda” or what qualified as Connect was propaganda, compared to 57% “apolitical,” nor is it clear whether these of political conservatives (not shown). were positive or negative statements, as perceived by the athletes. Athletes who

Figure 10: Politics during Israel Connect: 2017 Maccabiah athletes

Israel Connect was apolitical 11% 21% 19% 30% 16% 3%

Israel Connect felt like 3% 14% 14% 28% 24% 16% pro-Israel propaganda

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree

Note: N=209. Excludes some 2017 Maccabiah athletes who were known to have competed in 2013 and were surveyed with the 2013 athletes (N=33). Question text: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Israel Connect?”

32 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

In their open-ended responses, the 2017 athletes made clear that their conception of propaganda included discussions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also the itinerary and statements by representatives of Maccabi USA more broadly:

The only negative part was the Israel Connect program. I felt that the program was extremely biased and was only used for propaganda. It was so blatant that it backfired with many of the athletes. In fact, at the dinner where we were asked to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, my teammate expressed that the questions provided by [StandWithUs] were extremely biased.

I would encourage any athlete participating in the games to take any narrative presented by Maccabi USA (or the scripted presenters during opening/ closing ceremonies) with a grain of salt.

I felt forced to visit a tank museum [the Armored Corps Memorial Site and Museum at Latrun] and watch a movie that could literally ONLY be described as propaganda. If I had to summarize the movie, it would be ‘tanks are so cool!’ I do not think tanks are cool, I do not like war, and I do not think we should lionize the military or present one side of an issue without a fair discussion of alternative perspectives.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 33

2013 Maccabiah Athletes Describe Their Experience

Section Summary

Four years after their Maccabiah experience, the majority of 2013 Maccabiah athletes said that it was a life-changing experience that made them feel closer to Israel and their Jewish heritage. The majority of the 2013 athletes also felt that their Maccabiah experience influenced their life decisions in some way, often in terms of their Jewish attitudes and behaviors.

Reflecting back on their experience four The 2013 Maccabiah athletes were asked to years ago, the majority of 2013 Maccabiah reflect on whether their Maccabiah athletes said that the Maccabiah experience experience had influenced subsequent “very much” made them feel closer to decisions. Two thirds of 2013 athletes said Israel, made them feel closer to their Jewish that the Maccabiah experience had heritage, and was a life-changing experience influenced at least some of their life (Figure 11). Only 15% thought the decisions (Figure 12). Some perceived experience was even “a little” a influence on their Jewish attitudes and disappointment. behaviors, such as “I think Maccabiah made me want to be with a significant other who Furthermore, of all the athletes who was Jewish,” and “I was more involved with competed in the 2013 Maccabiah, 9% had Jewish life in college as a result of attending competed in a previous Maccabiah, and 10% the Maccabiah Games.” A smaller number went on to compete in the 2017 Maccabiah. perceived influence on their attitudes and This phenomenon of competing multiple behaviors vis-à-vis Israel, such as “the times also speaks to the value the athletes Games were reaffirmation for me of my love attached to the experience. for Israel,” and “I now try to convince others to visit Israel.”

34 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 11: Reflections on the Maccabiah experience: 2013 Maccabiah athletes

Made you feel closer to Israel 2% 11% 22% 66%

Made you feel closer to your Jewish heritage 5% 10% 28% 57%

Was a life-changing experience 4% 19% 22% 56%

Was a disappointment 85% 10%4%1%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: N=218. Excludes some 2013 Maccabiah athletes who applied to the 2017 Maccabiah and were surveyed with the 2017 athletes (N=46). Question text: “Thinking back on your Maccabiah experience, would you say that it...?

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 35

Figure 12: Decisions influenced by the Maccabiah experience: 2013 Maccabiah athletes

None 33%

Jewish attitudes 16% Desire to marry Jew or raise Jewish children; 13% Start or end relationship Jewish behavior 12%

Friendships 8%

Return to Israel 8%

Sports trajectory 8%

Israel attitudes 5%

Israel knowledge, opinions 4%

Jewish, Hebrew knowledge 3%

Israel advocacy, other behavior 3%

Other unrelated influence 11%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Note: N=144. Excludes some 2013 Maccabiah athletes who applied to the 2017 Maccabiah and were surveyed with the 2017 athletes (N=46). Of those who were asked, 65% provided an answer. Question text: “Can you think of any decisions that you made that were influenced by your Maccabiah experience (for example, decisions about jobs, relationships, religious observance, how you spend your free time, etc.)?”

36 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 37

Impact of the Maccabiah: Israel

Section Summary

Competing in the Maccabiah Games resulted in strong, positive change in participants’ emotional attachment to Israel, and this change persisted at least four years after the experience. At the same time, competing had little to no impact on knowledge of Israel, beliefs about Israel, or willingness to express opinions about Israel around unfamiliar people, in either the short or long term. The Maccabiah Games did not appear to increase the athletes’ likelihood of returning to Israel in the four years after the Games.

Emotional Attachment Three months after the Maccabiah experience, 2017 Maccabiah athletes were The Maccabiah experience caused positive more likely to say that being Jewish means change in feelings toward Israel. The 2017 caring about Israel (Figure 14). However, Maccabiah athletes became more this effect did not persist over time. Four emotionally attached to Israel as a result of years after the 2013 Games, the 2013 their Maccabiah experience (Figure 13). Maccabiah athletes looked much like the Four years after their trip, 2013 Maccabiah 2017 Maccabiah athletes in the pre-trip athletes were also more likely than the 2013 survey, and they were no more likely than comparison group to feel attached to Israel. the 2013 comparison group to say that Note that the 2017 Maccabiah athletes being Jewish means caring about Israel, were already somewhat more emotionally controlling for pre-existing differences attached to Israel than their peers in the between the groups. general US Jewish population before the Games.2

38 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 13: Emotional attachment to Israel: Impact on Maccabiah athletes

All US Jews ages 18-32 13% 26% 36% 25% (Pew Research Center, 2013)

2013 Comparison group (Adjusted) 7% 19% 43% 31% (N=139) 2013 Maccabiah athletes 2%12% 54% 32% (N=196)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Pre 4% 25% 47% 24% (N=161) 2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 3%12% 53% 32% (N=161) 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all attached Not very attached Somewhat attached Very attached

Estimates for all US Jews reflect authors’ analysis of the Pew Research Center’s (2013) Survey of US Jews, using the Steinhardt Social Research Institute’s minor reclassifications of Jewish respondents (Saxe et al., 2014). The short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A1 in Technical Appendix A. The long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a multinomial logistic regression model; predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes. See Table A2 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “How emotionally attached are you to Israel?”

Figure 14: Extent to which being Jewish a matter of caring about Israel: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes

2017 Maccabiah Athletes 4%14% 42% 40% Pre

2017 Maccabiah Athletes 4%12% 34% 51% Post

100% 50% 0% 50% 100% 150%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: N=164. The effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A3 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “To you personally, to what extent is being Jewish a matter of...caring about Israel?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 39

Knowledge and Beliefs about Israel a modest positive effect of the Maccabiah experience in preserving participating The Maccabiah experience did not result in athletes’ sense of confidence in the short much change in knowledge of or beliefs term (Figure 15). The 2013 Maccabiah about Israel. After the 2017 Maccabiah athletes were no more likely than the 2013 Games, the athletes were no more or less comparison group to feel confident that likely to feel confident that they understood they understood the current situation in the current situation in Israel—although the Israel, controlling for pre-existing comparison group became somewhat less differences. likely to feel confident, perhaps pointing to

Figure 15: Understanding the situation in Israel: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes

2017 Maccabiah comparison group pre 3%7% 16% 32% 22% 18% (N=148) 2017 Maccabiah comparison group post 4%12% 15% 32% 28% 9% (N=148)

2017 Maccabiah athletes pre 3%8% 18% 40% 18% 12% (N=163) 2017 Maccabiah athletes post 2%10% 19% 39% 21% 9% (N=163)

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree

Note: The effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A4 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? … I feel confident that I understand the current situation in Israel.”

40 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Competing in the Maccabiah Games had no likely than the 2013 comparison group to short- or long-term impact on believing that believe that Israel “has a vibrant cultural Israel “has a varied and beautiful natural scene” and “is under constant threat from landscape,” “is a world center of high-tech hostile neighbors who seek its destruction,” innovation,” “is part of God’s plan for the controlling for pre-existing differences Jewish people,” or “is guilty of violating the (Figure 16). At the same time, no Maccabiah human rights of the Palestinian people.” impact was evident among the 2017 The 2013 Maccabiah athletes were more Maccabiah athletes on these two measures.

Figure 16: Beliefs about Israel: Impact on 2013 Maccabiah athletes

2013 comparison group (Adjusted) 3%11% 33% 53% (N=139)

2013 Maccabiah athletes 2% 7% 27% 64%

(N=194) "Israel has cultural vibrant"Israel scene" a

1% 2013 comparison group (Adjusted) 3% 24% 37% 34% (N=138) 1%

1% destruction" 2013 Maccabiah athletes 2%18% 35% 44% (N=194)

1%

hostile neighbors who hostile its seek neighbors "Israel is "Israel underconstantthreat from

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140%

Note: The long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression models; predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes. See Tables A5 and A6 in Technical Appendix A. Question text. “Thinking about Israel, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 41

After the 2017 Maccabiah, the athletes Israel upholds freedom of religion for all of became less likely to agree that “Israel its citizens, controlling for pre-existing upholds freedom of religion for all of its differences. The qualitative investigation citizens,” whereas the 2017 comparison into the 2017 Maccabiah did not shed light group did not change on this measure on this finding, and it is possible that it is a (Figure 17). At the same time, the 2013 statistical type I error—that is, a “false Maccabiah athletes were more likely than positive.” the 2013 comparison group to believe that

Figure 17: Belief that Israel upholds freedom of religion: Impact on Maccabiah athletes

2013 comparison group (Adjusted) 3% 4%11% 32% 33% 17% (N=138)

2013 Maccabiah athletes 2% 3%8% 28% 36% 23% (N=193)

2017 Maccabiah athletes 1% Pre 7% 32% 31% 28% (N=161) 1%

2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 1% 4%12% 24% 40% 18% (N=161)

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree

Note: The short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A7 in Technical Appendix A. The long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression model; predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes. See Table A8 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “Thinking about Israel, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? … Israel upholds freedom of religion for all of its citizens.”

42 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Behaviors stories about Israel on their social media feeds. The athletes did not experience any The Maccabiah experience did not result in change in their willingness to express their much change in behaviors related to Israel. opinions about Israel around people they do After the Games, the 2017 Maccabiah not know, nor were the 2013 Maccabiah athletes were slightly more likely to see athletes any more likely than the 2013 stories about Israel on their social media comparison group to be willing to express feeds (Figure 18). However, the 2013 their opinions about Israel, controlling for Maccabiah athletes were no more likely pre-existing differences. than the 2013 comparison group to see

Figure 18: Israel’s presence on social media feeds: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes

2017 Maccabiah athletes 14% 17% 27% 20% 8% 10% Pre

2017 Maccabiah athletes 15% 13% 22% 25% 9% 12% Post

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never Once Once a week Every few days Once a day Several times a day

Note: N=162. The 4% who don’t use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media not included in figure. The effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A9 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “In the PAST MONTH, how often did your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media feed include stories about Israel?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 43

In the post-trip survey, 2017 Maccabiah Since summer 2013, more than half (61%) athletes and members of the comparison of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes returned to group who had been to Israel before were Israel. However, during the same time asked how likely it was that they would period, the same proportion of the 2013 return to Israel in the next five years. About comparison group also visited Israel. Thus, it half of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes said it is not clear how much the 2013 Maccabiah was “very much” likely that they would athletes’ high rates of return travel to Israel return, but these responses were not reflect the impact of the Maccabiah, versus different than the responses of members of their pre-existing interest in Israel travel. the comparison group who had previously been to Israel (Figure 19).

Figure 19: Likelihood of returning to Israel: 2017 Maccabiah (post-trip)

2017 Maccabiah comparison group Post 8% 18% 24% 51% (N=51)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 8%14% 29% 49% (N=187)

100% 50% 0% 50% 100% 150%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: Limited to members of 2017 comparison group who had been to Israel before. The lack of short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression model. See Table A10 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “How likely is it that you will return to Israel in the next five years?”

44 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 45

Impact of the Maccabiah: Jewish Peoplehood

Section Summary

Competing in the Maccabiah Games did not appear to alter athletes’ feelings or beliefs about Jewish peoplehood, in either the short or long term. Furthermore, competing did not affect athletes’ likelihood of having Jewish friends, being involved with Jewish organizations, marrying Jews, or raising Jewish children. Note that Maccabiah athletes had stronger-than-average feelings of Jewish peoplehood before the Games.

Feelings and Beliefs about Jewish 86% of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes agreed Peoplehood that they have a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people before the trip, The Maccabiah experience did not affect compared to only 70% of all US Jews in their the athletes’ feelings or beliefs about age bracket.3 Jewish peoplehood. In the short term, competing in the 2017 Maccabiah had no Jewish Friends and Organizations impact on the athletes’ likelihood of agreeing that they “have a strong sense of The Maccabiah experience did not affect belonging to the Jewish people” or of saying the athletes’ likelihood of having Jewish that being Jewish is a matter of “belonging friends or being involved with Jewish to a people.” Similarly, controlling for pre- organizations. In the short term, there were existing differences, the 2013 Maccabiah no changes in the proportion of the 2017 athletes were no more likely than the 2013 Maccabiah athletes’ close friends who were comparison group to agree that they “have Jewish or whether the athletes expected to a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish make any charitable donations to Jewish or people” or to say that being Jewish is a Israeli organizations or causes in the coming matter of “belonging to a people.” Note that year. For undergraduate students, there

46 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

was no change in the degree of involvement Table 10: Marital status of 2013 Maccabiah in campus Jewish activities. For those who athletes were not students, there was no change in % likelihood of being a member of a Jewish Not married 83% organization, like a synagogue or JCC. Married to a Jew 8% In the long term, controlling for pre-existing Married to a non-Jew 9% differences, the 2013 Maccabiah athletes were no more likely than the 2013 Total 100% comparison group to have close friends who N 201 were Jewish or to expect to make any charitable donations to Jewish or Israeli organizations or causes in the coming year. This intermarriage rate is roughly on par Among those who were not students, the with national trends: 58% of Jews who 2013 Maccabiah athletes were significantly married between 2005 and 2013 married less likely than the 2013 comparison group non-Jews (Pew Research Center, 2013). to be a member of a Jewish organization: 42% versus 54%.4 Controlling for pre-existing differences, the 2013 Maccabiah athletes were no more Family Formation likely than the 2013 comparison group to be married at all or be married to a Jew. As is typical of their age cohort, most of the Only 4% of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes Maccabiah athletes who participated in this had children at the time of the survey, study had not married or had children. precluding an analysis of the Jewish Virtually all (94%) of the 2017 Maccabiah upbringing of children. athletes were unmarried and childless. Fewer than one-in-five (17%) of the 2013 Maccabiah athletes were married; of those, about half were married to Jews (Table 10).

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 47

The Maccabiah experience had no effect Before the 2017 Maccabiah, most of the on the athletes’ attitudes toward forming 2017 Maccabiah athletes said it was either Jewish families. Before the 2017 “very” or “somewhat” important to them to Maccabiah, the majority of the 2017 raise their children Jewish (Table 12). Maccabiah athletes said it was either “not Neither the 2017 Maccabiah athletes nor important” or only “a little important” to the comparison group showed any them to marry someone Jewish (Table 11). significant change on this measure after the Neither the 2017 Maccabiah athletes nor 2017 Maccabiah. Levels of importance were the comparison group showed any very similar among 2013 Maccabiah significant increase on this measure after athletes without children, who were no the 2017 Maccabiah. Levels of importance more likely than the 2013 comparison were very similar among unmarried 2013 group to say it was important to them to Maccabiah athletes, who were no more raise their children Jewish, controlling for likely than unmarried members of the 2013 preexisting differences.6 comparison group to say it was important to them to marry someone Jewish, controlling for preexisting differences.5

Table 11: Importance of marrying someone Table 12: Importance of raising children Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah athletes (pre-trip) Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah athletes (pre-trip)

% % Doesn’t want to get married 1% Doesn’t want to have children 1% Not important 34% Not important 7% A little important 21% A little important 18% Somewhat important 23% Somewhat important 30% Very important 43% Very important 21% Total 100% Total 100% N 159 N 152

Question text: “How important is it to you to marry Question text: “Thinking about the future, how important someone Jewish?” Excludes those already married (N=13). is it to you to raise your children Jewish?”

48 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 49

Impact of the Maccabiah: Judaism

Section Summary

Maccabiah athletes placed somewhat higher-than-average importance on being Jewish even before the Games. Competing in the Maccabiah Games had no discernable impact on how important it was to the athletes to be Jewish, in either the short or long term. For the most part, competing also had no discernable impact on the athletes’ likelihood of engaging in Jewish rituals. In the short term, there was a small, positive impact on frequency of attending Jewish religious services, but this impact was not evident in the long term.

Jewish Identity Jewish Ritual

Competing in the Maccabiah had no impact For the most part, the Maccabiah on the athletes’ likelihood of saying that experience did not affect Jewish ritual being Jewish was important in their lives. behaviors. Participation in the 2017 Before the Games, 2017 Maccabiah athletes Maccabiah Games did not affect whether or were more likely than their peers in the how often the athletes: general US Jewish population to say that  Had or attended a special meal on being Jewish was at least “somewhat” Shabbat, important in their lives (Figure 20). After the  Lit or participated in lighting Shabbat Games, the 2017 Maccabiah athletes were candles, no more likely to say that being Jewish was  Did anything to observe Rosh Hashanah, important than before. Furthermore, Yom Kippur, or Sukkot, or controlling for pre-existing differences, the  Said it was at all important to them to 2013 Maccabiah athletes were no more keep kosher. likely than the 2013 comparison group to Furthermore, the 2013 Maccabiah athletes say that being Jewish was important in their were no more likely than the 2013 lives. comparison group to engage in these rituals, controlling for pre-existing differences.

50 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

The 2017 Maccabiah athletes also did not maintaining levels of Jewish religious change whether or how often they attended service attendance. However, in the long Jewish religious services—however, the term, this effect was not evident: comparison group became less likely to Controlling for pre-existing differences, the attend Jewish religious services (Figure 21). 2013 Maccabiah athletes were no more Thus, in the short term, competing in the likely than the 2013 comparison group to Maccabiah had a positive impact on attend Jewish religious services.

Figure 20: Importance of being Jewish: 2017 Maccabiah (pre-trip) versus all US Jews (ages 18-32 only)

All US Jews ages 18-32 6% 17% 42% 34% (Pew Research Center, 2013)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Pre 1%11% 52% 36% (N=165)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 2% 12% 51% 35% (N=165)

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all important Not too important Somewhat important Very important

Note: The lack of short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A11 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “How important is being Jewish in your life?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 51

Figure 21: Frequency of Jewish religious service attendance: Impact on 2017 Maccabiah athletes

2017 Maccabiah comparison group Pre 37% 36% 18% 9% (N=162)

2017 Maccabiah comparison group Post 46% 26% 21% 7% (N=162)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Pre 48% 28% 22% 2% (N=149)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 45% 26% 24% 5% (N=149)

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never Once A few times Weekly or more

Note: The short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A12 in Technical Appendix A. Question text: “In the past MONTH, how often, if at all, did you attend some type of organized Jewish religious service?”

52 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 53

Maccabiah Games versus Birthright Israel

Section Summary

The 2017 Maccabiah athletes were nearly twice as likely as summer 2017 Birthright Israel participants to have been to Israel previously, and Maccabiah athletes already felt more connected to Israel before the Maccabiah than Birthright Israel participants felt before their trips. Among those with no prior Israel experience, Maccabiah athletes and Birthright Israel participants described their respective experiences in much the same way, and the magnitude of the impact of the two experiences on feelings of connection to Israel was similar. At the same time, individuals who had a Maccabiah and a Birthright Israel experience generally felt that the Maccabiah experience was more valuable.

Comparing the impact of participating in Nevertheless, it is possible to make some Birthright Israel to the impact of competing general comparisons between 2017 in the Maccabiah is challenging. First, the Maccabiah athletes with no prior Israel reach of the two programs is vastly experience and summer 2017 Birthright different: Birthright Israel sent over 20,000 Israel participants with no prior Israel participants from the United States to Israel experience. First, among those with no prior in summer 2017, compared to a few Israel experience, 2017 Maccabiah athletes hundred athletes who competed in the US and summer 2017 Birthright Israel Open team in the 2017 Maccabiah. Second, participants described their respective Maccabiah athletes are a different experiences in much the same way (Figure population than Birthright Israel 23). Maccabiah athletes who were in Israel participants. Only 31% of the summer 2017 for the first time were slightly more likely to US Birthright Israel participants had been to describe their experience as “life changing” Israel before, compared to nearly twice that and “an encounter with the real Israel” many of the 2017 Maccabiah athletes. As a compared to Birthright Israel participants consequence, Maccabiah athletes felt more who were in Israel for the first time. connected to Israel than Birthright Israel participants before their respective Israel experiences in summer 2017 (Figure 22).

54 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Figure 22: Feelings of connection to Israel: 2017 Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright (pre- trip)

2017 Birthright participants 10% 32% 35% 24% Pre

2017 Maccabiah athletes Pre 5% 23% 44% 27% (N=219)

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: Estimates for summer 2017 US Birthright Israel participants from pre-trip survey of summer 2017 Birthright Israel applicants (for methodological details, see Shain, Wright, Hecht, & Saxe, forthcoming). Question text: “To what extent do you feel a connection to Israel?”

Figure 23: What the experience felt like: 2017 Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright Israel trip (no prior Israel experience only)

2017 Maccabiah athletes 2%9% 20% 69% (N=99)

experience 2017 Birthright participants 3%13% 25% 58% A life-changing A

2017 Maccabiah athletes 2%9% 23% 66% (N=99)

2017 Birthright participants 3%13% 32% 52%

the real real theIsrael An encounter encounter An with 2017 Maccabiah athletes 2%6% 15% 77% (N=99)

2017 Birthright participants 1%7% 20% 72%

Jewish roots Jewish A journey to journey A yourto

2017 Maccabiah athletes 1%2% 20% 77%

(N=99) A learning A experience 2017 Birthright participants 1%3%16% 81%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: Estimates for summer 2017 US Birthright Israel participants from post-trip survey of summer 2017 Birthright Israel applicants (for methodological details, see Shain et al., forthcoming). Question text: “Athletes have described the Maccabiah experience in many ways. Overall, for you, did the experience feel like...?”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 55

Second, among those with no prior Israel and the magnitude of the impact was experience, both the Maccabiah experience similar in both cases (Figure 24). and the Birthright Israel trip had a positive impact on feelings of connection to Israel,

Figure 24: Feelings of connection to Israel: Impact on Maccabiah athletes versus Birthright Israel participants (no prior Israel experience only)

2017 Birthright participants 13% 41% 32% 15% Pre

2017 Birthright participants 4% 21% 37% 38% Post

2017 Maccabiah athletes Pre 13% 27% 46% 13% (N=84)

2017 Maccabiah athletes Post 2%18% 40% 39% (N=84)

100% 50% 0% 50% 100% 150%

Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Note: The short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A13 in Technical Appendix A: Random-effects ordered logistic model of connection to Israel, 2017 Maccabiah. Estimates for Summer 2017 US Birthright Israel participants from pre- and post-trip surveys of Summer 2017 Birthright Israel applicants (for methodological details, see Shain et al., forthcoming). Question text: “To what extent do you feel a connection to Israel?”

56 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

In an open-ended question, Maccabiah Maccabiah athletes who reflected on both athletes who had also been on a Birthright experiences highlighted the themes of Israel trip were asked to describe how they interpersonal connections as they evaluated perceived the impact of the Maccabiah the Maccabiah. The following are experience versus the impact of Birthright observations by the Maccabiah athletes: Israel. Almost half (46%) said that the I enjoyed my Maccabiah experience Maccabiah experience was more valuable, much more because for me, whenever usually because it was longer, more flexible, athletics are involved, the intensity, focused on sports, and fostered connections emotion and enjoyment level always go with other athletes (Table 13). Others noted up—especially when it comes to meeting that Birthright Israel had a stronger people and sharing experiences. I enjoyed educational component with more and Birthright, but the relationships in deeper discussions of Israel, Jewish Maccabiah and the focus on sports— heritage, and Jewish identity. makes everything better.

Being with other Jewish athletes gave us Table 13: Perceived impact of 2017 an immediate connection because we Maccabiah versus summer 2017 Birthright had something in common right away…I Israel trip learned so much on both trips, and they % were each amazing in their own way, but Maccabiah more valuable 46% I had a much more memorable and meaningful experience with Maccabiah. I Birthright Israel more valuable 16% also developed friendships that have Both equally valuable 23% lasted the last eight years, whereas I No value judgement 15% quickly lost touch with the people I went

Total 100% on Birthright with. N 120 Although Maccabiah was fun to meet Question text: “Briefly, how would you describe the impact of your Maccabiah experience versus the impact of your other athletes with similar backgrounds, I Birthright Israel trip?” enjoyed how the Birthright trip, even though it was half as long, covered many more activities and education than the Maccabiah trip.

These questions also provide yet another

example of the importance of the connections formed with other athletes during the Maccabiah.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 57

Discussion

The athletes who competed in the likelihood of having Jewish friends, Maccabiah described their experience in involvement with Jewish organizations, very positive terms, with more than half marrying Jews, raising Jewish children, or calling it “life changing.” Initially, most any one of a number of Jewish ritual athletes applied to the Maccabiah for the practices. Why has Maccabi USA sports, and after the Games, they spoke accomplished some of its goals, but not enthusiastically about the athletic others? competitions and the opening ceremonies. At the same time, when asked about the One possibility is that the impact of the highlight of their Maccabiah experience, Maccabiah experience will only become about half of the athletes pointed to the evident as more of the athletes marry and people they met and the positive have children. Virtually all of the 2017 relationships they formed. These Maccabiah athletes were unmarried and relationships may explain why the evidence childless at the time of the study; fewer clearly demonstrates that the Maccabiah than one-in-five of the 2013 Maccabiah experience engenders lasting, positive athletes were married, and only 4% of the feelings toward Israel, even four years after 2013 Maccabiah athletes had children. the experience. Unmarried, childless adults are far less likely to be engaged in Jewish life than married At the same time, the Maccabiah adults and those living in households with experience had little to no impact on children (Cohen & Kelman, 2007; Sheskin & knowledge about Israel, willingness to Kotler-Berkowitz, 2007; see also Wuthnow, express opinions about Israel, or return trips 2010). Research has shown that Birthright to Israel. Furthermore, the Maccabiah Israel’s impact on Jewish engagement experience does not appear to impact manifests primarily among alumni who are feelings or beliefs about Jewish peoplehood, married, engaged, or living with a partner

58 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

(Saxe et al., 2017). However, Birthright Address the athletes’ physical needs during alumni also exhibit positive changes in their Israel Connect. As Maslow (1943) famously attitudes toward Jewish life in the short observed, people cannot focus on social, term (Saxe, Fishman, Shain, Wright, & emotional, intellectual, or spiritual growth if Hecht, 2013; Saxe et al., 2008), and their basic physiological needs have not Maccabiah athletes do not exhibit these been satisfied. High-caliber athletes have changes. nutritional needs that require careful attention. The athletes also need sufficient A second possibility is that a “ceiling effect” practice time in order to perform well is preventing the Maccabiah experience during the Maccabiah, and to feel reassured from having its intended impact on the that Maccabi USA is invested in their athletes. A ceiling effect occurs when a high athletic performance. Addressing the proportion of both the “treatment” and athletes’ physical needs was particularly comparison groups in a study achieve the complicated in summer 2017 because of desired outcome, making it impossible to record-setting temperatures, with the most discern any impact of the program under intense heat wave occurring during the first investigation. In this case, although the four days of the month, during Israel Maccabiah athletes spanned a range of Connect (Rinat, 2017, August 3) Jewish backgrounds, those with one Jewish parent, who did not celebrate bar or bat Help the athletes articulate the link mitzvah, or receive formal Jewish education between their experiences during the were significantly underrepresented. The Maccabiah and their own Jewish identities. majority of the athletes had also already Classical social psychology teaches that been to Israel when they applied to emotional experiences are shaped by compete in the Maccabiah. As a result, their cognitive factors—that is, what a person Jewish attitudes and behaviors were knows determines how that person stronger than average even before their understands his or her experiences Maccabiah experience, leaving less room for (Schachter & Singer, 1962). To accomplish growth. It is possible that the Maccabiah its goals, Israel Connect may need more experience would have a greater impact on than tour guides who can provide facts and the athletes if the athletes were more experiences; it may need educators who are typical of young adult Jews, without prior equipped with “pedagogical content Israel experience. knowledge,” strategies to help participants grapple directly with more abstract A third possibility is that elements of questions of Jewish identity (Shulman, 1986, Maccabiah experience need to be adjusted 1987). One possibility is to introduce a in order to produce the desired impact on structured, reflective process like Birthright Jewish identity. This study suggests three Israel’s “tie-in sessions.” There is also potential strategies: untapped potential to explore the

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 59

intersection of Jews and sports, perhaps majority of the young adults who compete through text study or activities related to in the Maccabiah (1) have been to Israel the idea of “muscular Judaism” that inspired before and (2) identify as liberals, they the first Maccabiah Games in the 1930s would likely benefit from a more nuanced (Kaplan, 2015). Given that the majority of and in-depth exploration of the conflict, Maccabiah athletes are primarily motivated including input from more left-of-center by sports and not by interest in exploring organizations and speakers. their Jewish identities, these sorts of explicit discussions are especially important. The results of this study underscore the importance of engaging in rigorous Adjust the way the Israeli-Palestinian evaluation of the programs designed to conflict is addressed during Israel Connect. sustain and strengthen American Jewish life. The 2017 Maccabiah athletes were less The athletes who competed in the likely than summer 2017 Birthright Israel Maccabiah were highly satisfied with their participants to say that they heard authentic experience and felt more connected to accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Israel, even four years after their that the trip allowed for diversity of opinion experience. At the same time, this study has about the conflict (see Shain et al., demonstrated that eliciting an emotional forthcoming). Furthermore, athletes who response is not the same thing as identified as political liberals before the trip engendering lasting, measurable change in were more likely than those who identified beliefs or behaviors. Going forward, the as political moderates or conservatives to challenge is experimenting with ways to view Israel Connect as pro-Israel adjust programming in order to foster propaganda. This disparity may reflect the lasting change, particularly for the relatively fact that discussion groups about the highly engaged cohort of Jewish young conflict were facilitated by StandWithUs, a adults who compete in the Maccabiah. pro-Israel education and advocacy organization that portrays itself as politically neutral but is often described as being right- of-center (see, e.g., Guttman, 2011, November 27). Especially given that the

60 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 61

Notes

1 Data from Maccabi USA registration system. 2 We also examined the question, “To what extent do you feel a connection to Israel?” and found similar, positive, lasting change as a result of competing in the Maccabiah. The short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A13 in Technical Appendix A. The long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression model; predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes. See Table A14 in Technical Appendix A. 3 Estimates for all US Jews reflect authors’ analysis of the Pew Research Center’s (2013) Survey of US Jews, using the Steinhardt Social Research Institute’s minor reclassifications of Jewish respondents (Saxe et al., 2014). 4 “Are you or someone in your household currently a member of a...? Synagogue, temple or other Jewish congregation (e.g., minyan, chavurah); Other Jewish organization (e.g., JCC); None of the above.” The independent (negative) effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a logistic regression model; predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes. See Table A15 in Technical Appendix A. 5 The (lack of) net positive change due to competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random- effects ordered logistic model. See Table A16 in Technical Appendix A. The (lack of) long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression model. Predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes: 18% very important, 29% somewhat important, 22% a little important, 27% not important, 3% did not want to get married. See Table A17 in Technical Appendix A. 6 The (lack of) short-term effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with a random-effects ordered logistic model. See Table A18 in Technical Appendix A. The (lack of) long-term independent effect of competing in the Maccabiah was confirmed with an ordered logistic regression model. Predictive margins were estimated at the means of the covariates for Maccabiah athletes: 46% very important, 23% somewhat important, 15% a little important, 9% not important, 7% did not want to have children. See Table A19 in Technical Appendix A.

62 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 63

References

Chazan, B. (Ed.) (2002). The Israel experience: Studies in Jewish identity and youth culture. Jerusalem, Israel: Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Cohen, S. M., & Kelman, A. Y. (2007). The continuity of discontinuity: How young Jews are connecting, creating, and organizing their own Jewish lives. Retrieved from http:// www.acbp.net/pdf/pdfs-research-and-publications/Continuity%20of%20Discontinuity.pdf Dashefsky, A., & Sheskin, I. M. (Eds.). (2015). American Jewish Year Book 2014. New York: Springer International Publishing. Fishman, S. B. (2009). Women's transformations of contemporary Jewish life. In F. E. Greenspahn (Ed.), Women and Judaism: New Insights and Scholarship (pp. 182-195). New York, NY: New York University Press. Fishman, S. B. (2015). Gender in American Jewish life. In A. Dashefsky & I. Sheskin (Eds.), American Jewish Year Book 2014, (Vol. 114, pp. 91-131). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. Fishman, S. B., & Parmer, D. (2008). Matrilineal ascent/ patrilineal descent: The gender imbalance in American Jewish life. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, Brandeis University. Guttman, N. (2011, November 27). StandWithUs draws line on Israel. The Forward. Retrieved from https://forward.com/news/146821/standwithus-draws-line-on-israel/ Hartman, H., & Hartman, M. (2009). Gender and American Jews: Patterns in work, education and family in contemporary life. Lebanon, NH: Brandeis University Press. Kaplan, R. (2015). The Jewish Olympics: The history of the Maccabiah Games. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing. Kelner, S. (2010). Tours that bind: Diaspora, pilgrimage and Israeli Birthright tourism. New York: New York University Press. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396.

64 “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports”

Pew Research Center. (2013). A portrait of Jewish Americans. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Project. Rinat, Z. (2017, August 3). Last Month Ties Record for Israel’s Hottest July in a Century. Ha’aretz. Retrieved from https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/record-israel-s-hottest-july -in-a-century-1.5438916 Sarna, J. D. (2004). American Judaism. New Haven: Yale University Press. Sasson, T., Saxe, L., Chertok, F., Shain, M., Hecht, S., & Wright, G. (2015). Millennial children of intermarriage: Touchstones and trajectories. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University. Saxe, L., & Chazan, B. (2008). Ten days of Birthright Israel: A journey in young adult identity. Lebanon, NH: Brandeis University Press/ University Press of New England. Saxe, L., Fishman, S., Shain, M., Wright, G., & Hecht, S. (2013). Young adults and Jewish engagement: The impact of Taglit-Birthright Israel. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University. Saxe, L., Phillips, B., Boxer, M., Hecht, S., Wright, G., & Sasson, T. (2008). Taglit-Birthright Israel: Evaluation of the 2007-2008 North American cohorts. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University. Saxe, L., Phillips, B., Sasson, T., Hecht, S., Shain, M., Wright, G., & Kadushin, C. (2010). Intermarriage: The impact and lessons of Taglit-Birthright Israel. Contemporary Jewry, 31 (2), 151-172. Saxe, L., Sasson, T., & Aronson, J. K. (2014). Pew’s portrait of American Jewry: A reassessment of the assimilation narrative. In A. Dashefsky & I. Sheskin (Eds.), American Jewish Year Book 2014 (Vol. 114, pp. 71-81). New York: Springer International Publishing. Saxe, L., Shain, M., Wright, G., Hecht, S., & Sasson, T. (2017). Beyond 10 days: Parents, gender, marriage, and the long-term impact of Birthright Israel. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University. Schachter, S., & Singer, J. E. (1962). Cognitive, social, and psychological determinants of emotional state. Psychological Review, 69(5), 379-399. Shadish, W. R., Jr., Cook, T. D., & Leviton, L. C. (1991). Foundations of program evaluation: Theories of practice. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications. Shain, M., Wright, G., Hecht, S., & Saxe, L. (forthcoming). Israel, politics, and Birthright Israel: Findings from the summer 2017 cohort. Waltham, MA: Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University. Sheskin, I. M., & Kotler-Berkowitz, L. (2007). Synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and other Jewish organizations: Who joins, who doesn't? Journal of Jewish Communal Service, 82(3).

An Evaluation of the Impact of Competing in the World Maccabiah Games 65

Shulman, L. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational Researcher, 15(2), 4-14. Shulman, L. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review, 57(1), 1-22. Timothy, D. J. (2011). Cultural heritage and tourism: An introduction. Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. Timothy, D. J., & Boyd, S. W. (2003). Heritage tourism. Harlow, England / New York, NY: Pearson Education. Wuthnow, R. (2010). After the baby boomers: How twenty- and thirty-somethings are shaping the future of American religion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University is a multi-disciplinary research institute dedicated to the study of American Jewry and issues related to contemporary Jewish life.

The Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI), hosted at CMJS, uses innovative research methods to collect and analyze socio-demographic data on the Jewish community.

Brandeis University