Abstract:
Contemporary American Jewish young adults, like their non-Jewish peers, are believed to eschew traditional religious and communal institutions. The term ―Do-It-Yourself‖ (DIY) Judaism has emerged to characterize alternative forms of Jewish engagement that bypass the established infrastructure of American Jewish life. Little is known about the extent or prevalence of DIY Judaism. The current study uses data collected from a large sample of applicants to Taglit-Birthright Israel (Taglit), which has engaged tens of thousands of young adults from across the spectrum of American Jewish life, to explore both the character of young adults‘ involvement in Jewish life and the factors associated with involvement. Consistent with the individualistic ethos of the Millennial generation, results indicate that home-based or self-organized ritual practice and small, niche initiatives are popular among Jewish young adults. At the same time, Jewish engagement is strongly predicted by respondents‘ background and intervening Jewish experiences, such as participation in Taglit. Those with stronger Jewish backgrounds are significantly more likely to celebrate Shabbat and holidays and participate in Jewish-sponsored events. Single young adults with minimal Jewish background remain an especially disconnected segment of the Jewish population, and practices of DIY Judaism have yet to capture this group. Itremains to be seen whether new programs can facilitate their engagement
with Jewish life. Open access Jewish Journal of Sociology (2103) 55: 3-25
