Your Israeli Orientation
Stephen M. Cohen is again studying an interesting topic using internet-based survey methodology. It is mostly good with a couple of vaguely worded questions and an unintentionally awkward one.
First, Congratz to Cohen on tackling interesting questions and providing mostly valuable data. Not many folks are doing that and it is to be commended.
The Good
He treats Israeli, American, Zionist, Religious, Secular, and Observant (Religiously) as independent Identities. It’s good to be able to narrow down you identity with several different axes. That said, what is the nuance intended between Observant (Religiously) and Religious?
The Awkward
- Have you seen a movie with an Israeli orientation?
“Saw a movie with an Israeli orientation.” What’s the movie’s orientation? Is it into other movies? Plays? Nope. Israelis. Yes. It must have an Israeli orientation.
Otherwise Notable
- How you feel about Israel: Proud, Excited, Indifferent, Ashamed.
Where is righteously indignant?
- Have you: Contributed financially to any pro-Israel advocacy group, such as AIPAC
BZ wondered whether J Street qualifies here. How about Brit Tzedek? They identify as Pro-Israel (Pro-Peace) but it seems a little silly to lump AIPAC and BTVS into the same category. I wasn’t sure what to do so I checked the box that said asmuch.
- Sent friends or others an article or email related in any way to Israel?
This got me thinking about proposing relative of the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) from economics. We can call it ZT’s principle of “emails related in any way to Israel”. The law says that 98% of such e-mails are generated by 2% of people. In my case, it’s my partner’s mother who sends me all the Israel forwards. Also youtube videos of men dressed up like cowboys singing about dreidls.
- Felt a special connection to Israel in your prayers, be they in private or at services?
What does special mean here? Unlike other Jews? Unlike other people? What’s wrong with just plan “felt a connection.”
- How important is Israel as the center for the Jewish people?
This one is rather offensive. It presupposes that you believe that Israel is the center of the Jewish people. Better would be “I believe Israel is the center of the Jewish people–Always, Sometimes, etc.”
- How important is the Jewish community of the United States as a center for the Jewish People?
Wait, Israel, is “the” center and the US is “a” center. Got it.
- Were you raised Jewish, converted to Judaism, or are not Jewish? What about your spouse/partner (if applicable)?
Aren’t many people both Jews by choice and raised Jewish? I am thinking about people who were adopted and various other cases.
- Referring to the religious denominations, in which of the following were you raised, and what do you consider yourself now? (Mark one in each column)
- Orthodox
- Conservative
- Reform
- Reconstructionist
- Secular Jewish
- Culturally Jewish
- Just Jewish
- Not Jewish
These should be alphabetical lest they appear to be ordered by religiosity or some other flawed approach. If the question is about denominations then it should be more specific. For instance: “where you affiliated with insitutions (synagogues, schools, youth groups, etc) of any of the following denominations between the ages of 0 and 22? Check all that apply. Renewal should be added, culturally, just and not jewish should be removed. If it isn’t strictly about denominational ties then havurah should be added as well.
- To what extent to do you feel close to American Jews?
I feel especially close to them when crammed in on the metro.
- In 2007, did you or anyone in your household make a financial contribution to an Israeli cause?
Not sure what constitutes “an Israeli cause” is cut-and-dry enough not to merit more clarification.
- Are you currently a member of a synagogue or temple?
Is your synagogue or temple …# Havurah or minyan
We are asked if we belong to a “synagogue or temple” and then later makes clear that it assumes Havurot and minyanim are kinds of synagogues. Most who belong to a minyan, like me, wouldn’t usually identify as belonging to a synangogue. This question will confuse us young’ins unecessarily. It should say something like “are you currently a member of a synagogue, temple, havurah, or similar organization?”
This survey should produce some interesting results but has a lot of embedded biasing assumptions and they should be corrected.
what is the nuance intended between Observant (Religiously) and Religious?
I think that Observant connotes being shomer mitzvot. Presumably there are plenty of people who wouldn’t describe themselves as shomer mitzvot (at least not in the “traditional” sense) but would say that they are religious.
Aren’t many people both Jews by choice and raised Jewish? I am thinking about people who were adopted and various other cases.
If you were adopted as a young child and raised Jewish, then that’s not exactly “by choice”.
These should be alphabetical lest they appear to be ordered by religiosity or some other flawed approach.
Ah, good old Steven Cohen, helping us find exactly where we stand on the spectrum between “Orthodox” and “Not Jewish”.
Renewal should be added, culturally, just and not jewish should be removed.
What’s wrong with “Not Jewish” as a label? I think it accurately and uncontroversially describes a large number of people.
This question will confuse us young’ins unecessarily. It should say something like “are you currently a member of a synagogue, temple, havurah, or similar organization?”
That wouldn’t eliminate confusion either, since many minyanim/havurot (especially newer ones) don’t have membership.
I think that Observant connotes being shomer mitzvot.
This begs the question.
Presumably there are plenty of people who wouldn’t describe themselves as shomer mitzvot (at least not in the “traditional” sense) but would say that they are religious.
To the extent that liberal Jews have internalized Orthodox frames, plenty of these people wouldn’t call themselves religious either.
I liked how one question would ask shades of gray questions about how you identify as Israeli, and then later there was a question asking if you have Israeli friends with a yes/no option. What about people who have friends that qualify as a shade of gray israeli, as many american jews have/do?
I also liked how in this survey the highest level of hebrew fluency you could achieve was understanding a basic hebrew sentence.
If Cohen’s goal was to understand how much american jews affiliate with AIPAC hes got a good survey, but I cant imagine this will bring out much nuance about how american Jews actually affiliate with Israel.
“Not sure what constitutes “an Israeli cause” is cut-and-dry enough not to merit more clarification.”
Because it isn’t cut-and-dry. It could mean anything from JNF to the New Israel Fund. I assume that if it’s got something to do with Israel and money, it qualifies as “an Israeli cause”.