MAY 23 • 2024 | 23

not welcome in Jewish settings.

Health & Human Services & 
Financial Well-being
• 23% of Jewish households 
include someone with a chron-
ic health issue, special needs or 
disability.
• One in six households say 
they are struggling financially.

WHAT’S NEXT
While the study itself is com-
plete, the community’s work 
to translate data into action 
is just beginning. This report 
is the starting point for intro-
spection, deeper conversation 
and collaborative strategic 
planning.
A Community Visioning 
and Strategic Planning 
Committee, chaired by Robin 
Pollak and Megan Bernard, 
has begun to meet to develop 
a new community vision and 
strategic plan. This plan will be 
generated over the course of 
many months, using the valid 
data of the study as a founda-
tion to identify a set of com-
munal values and goals, and a 
strategic plan to enhance local 
Jewish life.
The planning process will be 
conducted in partnership with 

volunteer leaders, community 
organizations, program pro-
viders and the community writ 
large to explore the data, iden-
tify new questions and contin-
ue to learn about communal 
needs and desires. 
Federation Board President 
Decky Alexander emphasizes 
that the next steps are a neces-
sary continuation of the pro-
cess started by the study. “
As 
with other communities across 
the U.S. who have engaged in 
data-driven planning, I hope 
that the study gives us, if not 
a roadmap, a light on how to 
best engage, serve and support 
each other now and in the 
future,” she says.

THE PLAYERS 
A diverse group of over 60 
volunteer and profession-
al leaders served on the 
Community Study Planning, 
Implementation and Next 
Steps Committees, chaired by 
Barry Nemon and co-chaired 
by Randy Milgrom. 
The research team was a 
collaboration of two preemi-
nent research institutions: the 
Cohen Center for Modern 
Jewish Studies (CMJS) at 
Brandeis University and 

NORC at the University of 
Chicago. This team, led by Dr. 
Janet Aronson and Professor 
Leonard Saxe at Brandeis 
University, and Dr. David 
Dutwin and Evan Herring-
Nathan at NORC, combined 
CMJS’s extensive experience 
conducting dozens of Jewish 
community studies over the 
last two decades with NORC’s 
expertise using the most 
advanced research methodol-
ogies. 
This study was made possi-
ble by the foresight and stra-
tegic vision of directors of the 
Jewish Federation of Greater 
Ann Arbor, which recognized 
the importance of convening 
this project, and by the com-
munity partner organizations 
who understood how crucial 
this data and analysis would 
be, and will be, to the future of 
our community. 
Generous financial sup-
port was received from Beth 
Israel Congregation, JCC of 
Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish 
Community Foundation of 
Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish 
Family Services of Washtenaw 
County, Jewish Federations of 
North America and Temple 
Beth Emeth. The Harry and 

Jeanette Weinberg Foundation 
provided a significant grant to 
understand the racial and eth-
nic diversity of our community 
and to collect data about finan-
cial insecurity.
Additionally, the follow-
ing communal organizations 
provided valuable input and 
encouragement through-
out this process: Ann Arbor 
Orthodox Minyan, Ann 
Arbor Reconstructionist 
Congregation, Chabad House 
of Ann Arbor, Hebrew Day 
School of Ann Arbor, Jewish 
Communal Leadership 
Program at U-M, Jewish 
Cultural Society and Pardes 
Hannah.
Finally, this study would not 
have been possible without the 
participation of the over 900 
households who responded to 
the survey to provide data on 
a diverse and thriving Jewish 
community in Washtenaw 
County. 

Eileen Freed is CEO of the Jewish 

Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. The 

full Community Study and a document 

containing major highlights are 

available at www.jewishannarbor.org/

communitystudy. For more information, 

contact Eileen Freed at eileenfreed@

jewishannarbor.org.

Community members 
listen to the results 
of the study.

