American Jews and the Domestic Arena: Issue 2, The Impact of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic on US Jewry: A Preliminary Assessment

Abstract

As in the larger society, the Jewish community has suffered widespread health and social disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter describes the results of a set of surveys conducted May–July 2020 to assess the social impact of COVID on the US Jewish community and examine how Jewish organizations have responded to changing needs. Nearly 15,000 individuals recruited from organizational lists in federated Jewish communities completed surveys that focused on economic and mental health issues and the role of Jewish organizations. The findings documented that individuals in difficult financial situations prior to the crisis were more likely to have their financial situations worsen and have more difficulty coping with the emotional challenges related to the pandemic. Consistent with other research on the US population, Jewish young adults have disproportionately suffered mental health consequences during the pandemic. People who were most involved in Jewish life prior to the pandemic participated in online Jewish life more frequently than those who were less engaged. As the pandemic and its fallout continues, organizations will need to continue to respond to emerging human service needs, support online Jewish life, and find ways to facilitate interpersonal connections among community members.