Introduction

Published in 2020, the data reflect 1,229 10-minute online surveys completed by OneTable community members.

Findings show that though COVID-19 disrupted lives, many counted their blessings and found reasons for gratitude. The resulting report presented a picture of how challenging the virus was in the lives of young adults. 

What follows is a summary of the findings that we think will be most helpful to the field. We are eager to talk with you about how to apply these findings to your work.

Highlights

Rhythm, Relationship, Reckoning

• We’d lost a daily RHYTHM and were eager to find a new one.
• Our RELATIONSHIPS had transformed and we needed new strategies for connection.
• We were RECKONING with a changed world.

“Since being confined to a physical space… I’ve connected with Judaism in new, surprising ways, from incorporating Havdalah into my weekly ritual to hosting my first Seder—making it meaningful, educational, and more relevant for myself and my non-Jewish roommates.”

– OneTable host

Research Findings

• Many OneTable users felt a deeper connection to their Jewish identity during COVID-19.
• Participants of all kinds celebrated Shabbat more often during social distancing. 
• Community members found diverse new ways to observe Shabbat, but missed the ways they used to celebrate.
• Shabbat fulfilled needs to slow down and connect with friends and family that went beyond the pandemic.
• Participants longing for connection focused on those they cared about rather than meeting new people.

“It felt extra special to be connecting to something when there was so much uncertainty in the world. It felt nice to ground myself in something that other Jewish people worldwide are doing.”

— OneTable host

Background + Methodology

Just a month into the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic it was clear that community life was transformed by physical distancing. The traditional, physical locations of religious and communal life became all but inaccessible: congregations, summer camps, theaters, JCCs. We had to reinvent, finding new ways to share ancient gifts of Jewish wisdom and connection.

Over the course of several weeks between the end of April and early May 2020, OneTable engaged Beneson Strategy Group to field a pulse check survey to our community, and Sacred Design Lab and Designing Empathy to dive deep with journal entries and focus groups for a small sub-group of participants. These two studies were separate, but complementary.

What Does This Mean?

At the time of publication, we didn’t know what the future would hold. Would there be another spike in cases? How would 30+ million newly unemployed Americans recover? In addition to grieving the personal losses we’d already suffered, we were grieving in anticipation of the world to come, knowing that things would never be the same again. We prepared ourselves that some institutions would not survive and that nearly all would have to reinvent to find new ways to share ancient gifts.

OneTable’s community was affected by the pandemic, experiencing feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and stress while yearning for connections and familiar routines. Community members also expressed gratitude and a newfound appreciation for life. While celebrating Shabbat aided in alleviating loneliness, there was a true longing for meaningful gatherings, both in-person and virtually.

Click here to see our full Coronavirus Impact Study.