Jewish Identity in a Deep Southern City

A recent national Pew Research Center (PRC) study noted the changing nature of Jewish identity. Research indicates that ethnicity and religion have less influence in determining Jewish identity than in previous decades. For some, Jewish identity is constructed/chosen not necessarily inherited. The present study used survey data gathered from Jewish members and friends affiliated with a local Jewish community center to understand the nature of their Jewish identity. Our sample is substantially older, much more likely to belong to the Conservative and Reform denominations, and much less likely not to be affiliated with a denomination than the PRC sample. Our sample is less likely to report being Jewish as mainly a matter of ancestry or culture/ethnicity, but much more likely to report it as a matter of religion, ancestry, and culture/ethnicity. Ancestry combined with religion or culture/ ethnicity plays an increasingly important role in defining Jewish identity as age increases. A very small number of Jews in our study consider their Jewishness as chosen. Overwhelmingly, most consider it inherited or inherited and chosen. The issues of symbolic religiosity and symbolic ethnicity are addressed