Taking Our Pulse

This guest post is from Jewish Federation Board of Trustees president Deborah Rosenzweig.

At the Jewish Federation, we are always thinking about how we move forward–and the best way to start is by taking stock of where we are now.

That’s why a few weeks ago, we joined other central North Carolina Jewish organizations in a meeting with Jewish Federations of North America and The Leon Levine Foundation. They conducted a survey of the Greater Raleigh Jewish community and were ready to share the results.

We learned that our community has enormous potential. There are currently 21,600 Jewish individuals living in our catchment area, and we have one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in America! That’s not a surprise to us. We receive calls and emails every day from people who are interested in relocating here.

While fast growth is exciting, it also presents challenges. It takes time for newcomers to build relationships and connect with Jewish life, even when they are actively seeking that connection. This is especially true when much of the growth is on the edges of Wake County, the largest county in North Carolina by area. Around 38% of people in our Jewish community are “engagement-ready”—they are already somewhat involved, but want more opportunities to connect.

What are the 38% currently doing? They have casual hangouts with Jewish friends and celebrate the holidays at home. They are searching online for Jewish content, but don’t necessarily know where to find it locally, and are often unaffiliated with established Jewish organizations. They want Jewish learning that fits their lives, family-friendly programs, and opportunities to engage in civic advocacy.

Does this sound like anyone you know? In a growing, diverse Jewish community, it takes many different approaches to help people belong. As our board and professional staff continue developing new on-ramps to Jewish community involvement, we need your help reaching the 38%.

Share our posts on social media and forward our weekly program emails. Direct them to our "New to the Area" form on our website and we will reach out to them. If you find out that the new family on the block or a coworker is Jewish, invite them to come to a program with you. The best resource we have for reaching people . . . is people! (Cue Barbara Streisand!)

Ultimately, people don’t just want to be involved in institutions. They want to form meaningful relationships. And YOU are the best resource we have to spark that connection.