The Politics of American Jews: Cohesion, Division, and Representation at the Institutional Level

Publication Date: January 2000

Publisher: Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Author(s): Laurence A. Kotler-Berkowitz; Lawrence Sternberg

Research Area: Culture and religion

Keywords: Jewish organizations; Demography; Political Behavior; Leadership

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The authors examine political cohesion and division within Jewish fundraising and social planning agencies, basing their analysis on survey data. They conclude that political activists in the community's Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs) are routinely more liberal in their political preferences than Federation donors are. However, the authors argue, the political division between the activists and their main constituents is usually modest and does not warrant concerns about a lack of effective political representation in the organized Federation-JCRC system.