A multidimensional approach to identity: Religious and cultural identity in young Jewish Canadians

Abstract

This study used an online questionnaire to explore the relations among different dimensions of religious and cultural Jewish identity in young Canadian adults ( N = 258). We investigated the extent to which three aspects of Jewish identity—religious identity, cultural identity, and identity salience— predicted openness to interfaith relationships and sociopolitical attitudes related to Israel. Results showed that compared to participants who self-identified as cultural Jews, those who self-identified as religious Jews or as both religious and cultural Jews scored higher on measures of cultural and religious identification. Moreover, relative to culturally identified Jews, religious and religious/cultural Jews were less open to interfaith relationships, endorsed more right-wing political attitudes with respect to Israel’s foreign policy, and reported that their Jewish identity was more salient than their Canadian identity in identity-relevant situations. Similarly, relative to Jews of other denominations, Orthodox Jews reported higher levels of Jewish identification, greater salience of their Jewish identity, and advocated more right-wing political views.