Poor Jews Tend to Be the Most Disconnected from Jewish Life

Dec. 26 2024

While popular stereotypes tend to imagine American Jews as wealthy, there are a significant number who live in financial distress. Ilana Horwitz, Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz, Annie Jollymore, and Wendy Rosov recently concluded an in-depth study of the subject. Among their findings is the importance of legacy communal organizations, like Jewish Family Services, in helping impoverished Jews. They also came across some noteworthy trends:

Those currently or recently vulnerable [to financial hardship] are: less likely to have been raised exclusively Jewish, less likely to be married to or partnered with someone who is Jewish, and more likely to have hardly any or no close Jewish friends; less likely to be raising their children with any form of Jewish practice; more likely to identify as secular/cultural or Orthodox rather than Conservative or Reform; more often Sephardi or Mizrahi.

Additionally, they seem, on the whole, to have weaker Jewish connections and fewer consistent interactions with other Jews, spanning from their own Jewish upbringing to how they are raising their children, and including the Jewish identity of their spouses, partners, and close friends. While individual experiences vary, these are the broad patterns that emerged from our survey sample.

Unfortunately, poverty often keeps these Jews from becoming better connected to Jewish life:

Cost can be a significant barrier to Jewish communal involvement, particularly for economically vulnerable individuals. Membership dues for synagogues, tuition for Jewish day schools, fees for holiday events, and expenses related to life-cycle events like bar and bat mitzvahs are often prohibitively expensive. Additionally, the pressure to contribute to ts’dakah (charitable giving) and maintain a certain standard of living—including appropriate attire and other community expectations—can further strain already limited budgets.

Read more at Jewish Funders Network

More about: American Jewry, Poverty

Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel

Feb. 13 2025

Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.

Read more at Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

More about: Abraham Accords, Kuwait