A recent poll of USCJ-affiliated synagogues revealed that 49% of respondents noted an increase in attendance at one or more events since the tragedy of October 7, 2023. Only 2% reported a decrease in overall attendance, while the remaining respondents reported stable numbers.
The survey included 90 congregations from across North America, with sizes ranging from fewer than 25 member units to over 1,000 member units. It was distributed through the Community Connection biweekly newsletter to synagogue leaders.
The largest growth in attendance was seen in non-services events, with 37% of congregations reporting increased attendance and 54% reporting stable attendance. Many respondents commented that Israel-related programming has experienced the most significant increases, even in topics not directly related to the war.
Shabbat services were the next largest category showing increased attendance, with 27% of congregations reporting a rise and 66% noting stable attendance. Some comments indicated an initial increase in 2023, which has since stabilized back to pre-war levels.
Attendance for weekday services remained the most stable, with 87% of respondents reporting no change in minyan size. The remaining respondents were equally split between reporting an increase and a decrease in attendance. One congregation suggested that the use of Zoom for digital attendance has contributed to growth in their weekday minyan.
Religious school enrollment increased at 22% of congregations, remained stable at 67%, and decreased at 11%. Both increases and decreases in enrollment were attributed to cultural changes following October 7. One respondent who reported declining enrollment mentioned that families are concerned about leaving their children in visibly Jewish settings due to heightened antisemitism in their area. Conversely, another respondent noted that new families in their school demonstrate a stronger commitment to raising children with solid Jewish identities.
Several respondents commented that attendance during the High Holidays has been exceptionally high for the past two seasons. Additionally, some noted an increase in membership and a rise in requests for program information.
The findings from the recent survey provide an encouraging outlook for Conservative/Masorti synagogues, highlighting a resilient and engaged community in the face of challenging circumstances. While this was an informal poll without universal reach, it aligns with the anecdotes our staff hears regularly from USCJ-affiliated congregations.
