“Community is the human expression of Divine love. It is where I am valued simply for who I am, how I live, and what I give to others. It is the place where they know my name.”
– Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Introduction
The results of this impact survey show that young Jews are looking for social connection at Shabbat dinner; what’s emerging from that simple starting point are deeper ties to their community and Jewish identity, and mitigated loneliness through the experience of Shabbat. This research validates the intention and success behind the OneTable model: merging Jewish experiences with deep and fulfilling social connection. The powerful social and emotional components of a OneTable dinner are every bit as important as the Jewish experiences – and to many participants, they are intrinsically tied together. Social and emotional outcomes directly lead to unlocking particular Jewish behavioral and identity outcomes.
Highlights
Background & Methodology
“I met new people in my community, felt accepted and supported to be who I am. I knew very few people in Dallas, and to share a table in a stranger’s home, who then became a friend, is a nice memory and reminder for me..”
– OneTable guest
We offer this research to share how Shabbat is transforming young adults across the country – a time that’s for slowing down, being in community, and deepening connection to Judaism.
While OneTable participants and the comparison group are similar in many ways, they differ dramatically across social and emotional factors, as well as Jewish experiences as a result of their OneTable participation. When it comes to feeling lonely, this pattern of feeling less lonely than the comparison group holds across nearly every demographic subgroup, including gender, age, relationship status, and Jewish denomination and background. Simply put, OneTable participants have the tools to form lasting social connections.
“I found my way to OneTable because I had no idea where to start when it comes to Shabbat and I don’t want to be judged. And then, this past year I did High Holidays for the first time since I was a child.”
– OneTable guest
Research Findings
OneTable is making Shabbat dinner accessible and meaningful for participants. 75% of participants stated that because of OneTable, they are celebrating Shabbat when they wouldn’t have otherwise – and that’s especially true of participants who did not have a regular Shabbat practice growing up.
Hosts and guests alike state that because of OneTable, they recognize how easy3 and important4 it is to make Shabbat dinner part of their lives. Among hosts and guests, both active and currently inactive, OneTable participants almost universally report celebrating Shabbat more regularly today compared to before they got involved with OneTable – that includes celebration both with, and outside of, OneTable. Importantly, even those who came to OneTable with a Shabbat practice are celebrating Shabbat more frequently because of OneTable.
This research is a long time coming. In March 2020, we were preparing a study with Benenson Strategy Group (BSG), a strategic market research firm. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, we pivoted to study how it was impacting Jewish young adults. Following that, we completed two additional, related studies: “Rhythm, Relationship and Reckoning” with the Sacred Design Lab, and “Alone, Less Lonely” about our rising number of solo Shabbat practitioners.
A year later, in a new, post-vaccine phase of the pandemic, we read Pew’s “Jewish Americans in 2020” with interest. We were well on our way to fielding the survey, when in late May 2021, violence erupted between Israelis and Palestinians. We expanded our study to incorporate questions about our participants’ experience with rising antisemitism and the conflict.
“Community is the human expression of Divine love. It is where I am valued simply for who I am, how I live, and what I give to others. It is the place where they know my name.”
– Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
This research is a long time coming. In March 2020, we were preparing a study with Benenson Strategy Group (BSG), a strategic market research firm. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, we pivoted to study how it was impacting Jewish young adults. Following that, we completed two additional, related studies: “Rhythm, Relationship and Reckoning” with the Sacred Design Lab, and “Alone, Less Lonely” about our rising number of solo Shabbat practitioners.
A year later, in a new, post-vaccine phase of the pandemic, we read Pew’s “Jewish Americans in 2020” with interest. We were well on our way to fielding the survey, when in late May 2021, violence erupted between Israelis and Palestinians. We expanded our study to incorporate questions about our participants’ experience with rising antisemitism and the conflict.