This month we interview Mimi Kravetz, Chief Impact and Growth Officer of the Jewish Federations of North America. We discuss JFNA’s commitment to research, findings from a recent study of American Jews, and more.
Tell us about your role at Jewish Federations of North America.
As the 146 Jewish Federations and hundreds of smaller “network” communities in our system seek to keep building and strengthening Jewish communal life in North America, we have to stay attuned to the ever-changing nature of our communities, both at the local level and across our countries.
As Chief Impact & Growth Officer, I lead the team that systematically gathers and uses data, research, and insights to inform and grow the success of individual Federations, the Federation system, and the Jewish communal network to help build those flourishing Jewish communities. We collect and analyze data from Federations, run local and national surveys, and then educate others on the findings while supporting their local implementation.
How has your work changed since October 7?
Jewish Federations’ investment in our data infrastructure and research methodology over the last few years has uniquely positioned us to understand what’s happening in North America’s Jewish communities in this critical moment. In the immediate aftermath of 10/7, we identified two primary ways we could use our data system to support our colleagues in responding to this crisis.
First, we learned from our recent analysis of the Ukraine Emergency response, that in a crisis we need to communicate consistent frameworks upfront and report to Federations and partners on our impact in real time. We have been deeply engaged in tracking our system-wide fundraising and allocations to report on impact. We have been publishing the findings (view a recent bi-weekly allocations report here), and published an Israel Emergency Impact Report (linked here) with data from our system-wide Israel emergency allocations between Oct 7 and Dec 31, 2023. A next phase investor report is coming soon.
Second, we know that Jewish life in North America has fundamentally changed since October 7th. Using a methodology that we developed over the last few years to run community pulse surveys at scale, we have run 3 surveys of the American Jewish Community since Oct 7th. The findings revealed how the American public and Jews are relating to the war today, how people are perceiving the rise in antisemitism, and what we understand about the related surge in Jewish community engagement. The studies are leading to meaningful discussions amongst Federation and Jewish communal colleagues about how we respond to these new communal needs.
Jewish Federations’ investment in our data infrastructure and research methodology over the last few years has uniquely positioned us to understand what’s happening in North America’s Jewish communities in this critical moment.
You recently released a new report, what are some key insights?
October 7th was a watershed moment in Jewish life in North America and has changed everything. The key source of the changes that we can see in this new survey are:
-A new and increasing sense of vulnerability leading to emotional impact not only based on the events of October 7th in Israel, but also based on rising antisemitism at home.
-A decreasing sense of comfort expressing Jewish identity in the US including security concerns especially from those who wear objects that visibly identify them as Jewish, and speaking to non-Jews in secular spaces about Judaism and Zionism in particular.
-Finally, and as a result, a deeper desire to be in community with other Jews leading to a surge in Jewish engagement with people seeking learning and friendships at synagogues, schools, camps, community centers and many other Jewish communal organizations of all types.
How do you hope people will use your research in their work?
All professionals and lay leaders in Jewish life can review the findings on the Berman Jewish Databank here, and consider how they apply to their own work.
Here are a few directions professionals and lay leaders can consider in this moment:
1/ Provide Education & Conversation – People are seeking opportunities to learn about what’s happening with Israel and around antisemitism domestically. We can provide them with quality timely data and information as well as intimate spaces to have discussions off social media that drive understanding and connection. We can also offer tools and best practices for those who want to express themselves online but need support. These are opportunities we can give to both Jews and to our allies, potential allies and partners who want to support the Jewish community at this moment.
2/ Increase Belonging – We need to design our engagement approach to meet the needs of the new people showing up, make them feel they belong and connect them to others in Jewish communities. Whether at a Shabbat dinner or an education or advocacy program, we need to notice and welcome and invite in those who might be attending for the first time, or the first time in a while. We can provide more training on relational engagement to both our professionals and volunteers to ensure they have the tools to do this well.
3/ Double-down on cornerstone Jewish experiences – Some of our deepest and seemingly more ‘traditional’ Jewish experiences have a major window of opportunity with Jewish families right now. We can enhance outreach and consider subsidies to incentivize and make more accessible Jewish camps, Jewish early childhood education, Jewish Day Schools, and synagogue memberships.
4/ Build Communities – Jews of all ages are seeking supportive community and more Jewish friends at this moment, and our long-time volunteers are feeling emotionally drained. We can expand cohort-based experiences that we know provide this deep personal connection and reduce burnout, such as immersive retreats, purpose-based Jewish travel, community-based volunteerism and teen, campus, and young adult engagement organizations.
How are you using this research to inform your work?
Jewish Federations are the backbone of the organized Jewish community, so we are first and foremost disseminating this research broadly to local communities and partner organizations and using it in all our training and programs. For example, we recently presented to a group of Federation CEOs, Community Relations and Public Affairs professionals during a DC Fly In. Soon, we are hosting a webinar for partner organizations who want to learn more and collaborate on areas of shared interest.
We’ve also worked closely with local Federations to support them sharing and integrating the research. For example, one Federation is using the data to inform their major campaign priorities this year. Another Federation is using it in their allocations conversations. We also know some national school and camp partners are interested in this data to target day school marketing campaigns in the works.
Jewish Federations of North America is also updating and adding to our own initiatives that align with the findings. These include:
-Educating Professionals and Leaders on Israel and Antisemitism: We have run training online, at DC Fly-In and in local communities using data and best practices to help local leaders understand the latest on the situation in Israel and gain confidence speaking about Israel and antisemitism.
-Midlife 55+ engagement: Even before 10/7 this was an audience of import. Half were not engaged and of those nearly all wanted to be. The post 10/7 data shows they are showing up a lot more. We are working on cohort and immersive programming to connect them with each other.
-Day Schools: We know parents who are worried about their children are considering making changes at this moment. We are working on a pilot focused on driving increased enrollment through affordability, excellence and marketing.
-Relational engagement training: We are working on mini-retreats and training with partners to scale relational engagement training that can allow our Jewish professionals and leaders to really meet the needs of those showing up more right now.
Do you see any historical antecedents to the current moment that might be helpful to American Jewish professionals?
I’m not a historian but I’d be cautious about comparisons to other moments in history as this moment is quite remarkable. Many have been inclined to compare this moment to others where we saw a steep rise in antisemitism. Most of those moments, however, were long ago and before we had the state of Israel. I am unsure but would doubt that the majority of the public, during those moments, including the center of both political parties, supported the Jewish community and were concerned about antisemitism, as our study shows that they absolutely do right now. I do not want to dismiss the very real concerns we all have now as 90% of the Jewish community is concerned about rising antisemitism. But I want to be sure we do not too quickly see ourselves as in the same situation as at other times in Jewish history as today Jews in North America and in Israel, thanks to our incredible country and amazing growth in the US and Canada, as in positions of power and have strong governmental support, despite the concerning signs and rhetoric we see out there.
What would you tell new entrants into the American Jewish professional space to get a sense of the history of their work?
New entrants to American Jewish professional life are joining this space at a very unique moment. North American Jews are emotionally impacted by everything happening in Israel and with antisemitism in North America, and are concerned. What they are seeking now more than anything else is community. We Jewish professionals have truly holy work to do ensuring that people are connected to others, to Jewish history and tradition, to knowledge about Israel and antisemitism, and to institutions that can support their rising needs in this critical time. There are so many amazing institutions working together, and in concert to do this work from camps and schools, to education and advocacy organizations, to engagement programs and social service agencies. So there are many different opportunities to apply your skills and interests. While this is a hard and draining time to be a Jewish professional, it is also an inspiring moment to truly live a calling to be there for others in the community and build a sense of Jewish peoplehood.
New entrants to American Jewish professional life are joining this space at a very unique moment. North American Jews are emotionally impacted by everything happening in Israel and with antisemitism in North America, and are concerned. What they are seeking now more than anything else is community.
What’s your favorite archival item from Jewish history?
While unrelated to our research at Jewish Federations, I have always been fascinated by the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts from the time of the Second Temple that reveal information on Jewish society during the time of the birth of both Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism. My father has read so many books on the subject and he shared the passion with me as a child. When I worked at Google in our Google.org philanthropy division, I had the privilege of being the US partner to our Google Israel team working with The Israel Museum to Digitize the scrolls to make them searchable and accessible for all online. You can view them here, or watch the video my team made for the launch in 2012 here.
Mimi Kravetz is the Chief Impact and Growth Officer athe Jewish Federations of North Amerca. Mimi leads the Impact and Growth team that systematically gathers and uses data, research, and insights to inform and grow the success of individual Federations, the Federation system, and the Jewish communal network. For the past 20 years, Mimi’s career has spanned professional leadership roles at top business and nonprofit brands, from American Express and Google, to Hillel International.
