Not By Bread Alone: A National Replication and Refinement of a Study of Income, Identity, Household Composition, and Jewish Involvements

Publication Date: January 1993

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): J. Alan Winter

Research Area: Culture and religion; Economics

Keywords: Religion; Communal Organization; Money

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The relationship between family income and each of four forms of Jewish involvement— synagogue membership, federated campaign contributions, Jewish Community Center membership, and purchasing kosher meat — is examined. The influence of Jewish identity, measured both behaviorally and attitudinally, as well as of marital status and the presence of a child aged 18 or under in the household, on the relationship between income and involvement is also studied. For those aged 23 to 59, although income is indeed a correlate of involvement, involvement is also related to the level of Jewish identity. Second, neither marital status nor the presence of a child aged 18 or under in the household is a particularly good predictor of involvement. This study suggests that Jewish institutions would do well to remember that, as the rabbis also noted, "Im ain Torah, ain kemach"; unless we can strengthen Jewish identity, there will be no "bread" forthcoming.