One factor which the majority of research and, hence, policy planning in the field of Jewish education has not paid sufficient attention to is social networks. Our research shows that American Jews may say they feel disconnected from other Jews; yet, they are actually influenced by their Jewish social circles. Similarly, educators have tended to emphasize the role of parents in making educational decisions for their child and overlooked the importance of Jewish social networks in motivating children to continue their Jewish education. Our research shows that Jewish friends and social networks, especially during the teen years, influence decisions to attend Jewish schools and Jewish educational programs. This new understanding of the power of social networks suggests that the direction of influence in the teen years is from friendships to education to family involvements. A strong Jewish social network in the teen years is a predictor of college friends and choice of Jewish marriage partners.
Article Library / Policy Papers
Raising Jewish Children: Research and Indications for Intervention
- Introduction
- Family, Engagement, and Jewish Continuity among American Jews
- Learning Jewishness, Jewish Education and Jewish Identity
- Executive Summary and Policy Directions
- Summary of Findings and Analysis
- The Importance of Social Networks
- The Importance of Cumulative Educational Programs
- The Most Important Point of Intervention Is the Teenage Years
- The Second Most Important Point of Intervention Is Emerging Adulthood (the post-college years)
- Jewish Education For Mixed Social Networks
- The Special Needs of Jewishly “Impoverished” Families
- Research Gaps on Critical Issues
- Suggested Policy Directions
- Introduction to Full Article
- The Importance of Social Networks
- Jewish education and the Jewish life cycle
- Early Childhood
- Elementary School and Middle School
- Adolescence and Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah – The Most Critical Years
- College Years: Jewish Studies, Birthright Israel, and Beyond
- “Emerging Adulthood” – the Second Most Important Point of Intervention
- Adult Education and Jewish Journeys Across the Adult Life Cycle
- Need for New Research on Jewish Education
- Conclusion: Reflections on Jewish education and Jewish identity
- Endnotes
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