DIY Judaism: How Contemporary Jewish Young Adults Express their Jewish Identity

Abstract

Contemporary Jewish young adults, like other Americans of their generation, often eschew traditional religious and communal institutions. The term “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) Judaism has emerged to describe alternative ways of engaging in Jewish life. Although much discussed, little is known about the extent or prevalence of DIY Judaism. Using a large sample of applicants to Taglit-Birthright Israel, the current study explores respondents’ current Jewish activities though quantitative measures as well as through responses to open-ended questions which capture unique ways of engaging with Judaism. The analysis captures both current involvement and how childhood experiences impact adult Jewish engagement. The results indicate that although these young adults are unlikely to be a member of a synagogue, they are attending events sponsored by a wide array of other Jewish organizations, including many small, niche organizations, and some celebrate Shabbat. The majority of young adults also celebrated Hanukkah and attended a Passover seder during the past year. Home-based or self-organized ritual practice appears more appealing for the current young adult generation and far exceeds engagement with traditional Jewish organizations. As expected, current engagement is strongly predicted by respondents’ background and intervening Jewish experiences, such as participation in Taglit. Those with stronger Jewish backgrounds are significantly more likely to celebrate Shabbat and holidays and participate in Jewish-sponsored events. Single young adults with minimal Jewish background, however, remain an especially disconnected segment of the Jewish population, and practices of DIY Judaism have yet to capture this particular demographic.