The “Surge” of American Jews engaging or seeking to engage more in Jewish life is still going strong 18 months after the October 7th attacks, with 31% of the community continuing to express an interest in engaging further.
 

“A year and a half after the Hamas attacks on Israel upended Jewish life, we would have expected to see a significant return toward the status quo, but the Surge has shown staying power,” said Mimi Kravetz, Chief Impact and Growth Officer for Jewish Federations of North America. “People continue to feel the pain of this moment and relatedly, continue to seek connection, but the data carries an important reminder that the Surge is not going to last forever. If we are going to meet people’s needs, our community cannot wait—we must step up and respond now.”
  

Last year, Jewish Federations conducted a nationally representative study of the Jewish community’s engagement post-October 7th. What the survey found was unprecedented: 43% of the Jewish community across all levels of previous involvement were seeking to or engaging more in Jewish life. This included those who had been completely unengaged in Jewish life, as well as those deeply embedded in it who were showing up even more.
  

To understand how the Surge is progressing and to guide the efforts of the Jewish community in meeting the needs of those in the Surge, Jewish Federations ran a second survey this March using the same methodology. Nearly 6,000 respondents participated, one-third of whom identified as Jewish. The results show that 31% of the Jewish community continues to engage at higher levels than before. In other words, 72% of the Surge identified in 2024 is still engaging more today through community, learning and personal relationships.
  

The Surge appears to be linked to the emotional impact of the war and significant concern about antisemitism. 79% of Jews surveyed said they were deeply concerned about antisemitism.
 

The leading demographics of the Surge in 2025 mirror those of last year: 

• Mid-life (ages 55–74 without children at home): Share of the Surge increased slightly to 29% from 25% of the Surge. 
  • This group wants meaning, solidarity, and cultural or spiritual connection. They are deeply concerned about antisemitism, rooted in general trauma. Often, they cannot find Jewish experiences designed for their age group to go for engagement and community. 
• Young adults (ages 18-34 without children): Share of the Surge remained steady at 21%.
  • This group wants communities that understand and accept them, especially non-political spaces, in addition to resources for information. They often feel isolated from their secular communities, as their views on Israel and the war are the most different from the non-Jews in their age group. While the community may offer a lot for this group, they often do not know about it or cannot find it near them. Parents (with kids at home): Fell to 19% of the Surge from 24% last year. 
• Parents (with kids at home): Fell to 19% of the Surge from 24% last year. 
  • 39% of all parents with children at home are now Surging, with a significantly increased Surge in parents of 0–13-year-olds in the last year. 
  • Parents want information, resources and a like-minded community for themselves and their families. They are deeply worried about their children’s experiences of antisemitism and of Jewish life. 

Those in the Surge have begun their entry with three main forms of increased engagement: spending time with Jewish friends, showing up for programs at a local synagogue, and being on social media or a WhatsApp group. In addition, many have found engagement through a range of Jewish Institutions from Hillel, Chabad, and JCCs to smaller local engagement organizations. Of those who were not very engaged before 10/7 and are surging now: 
 

• 28% feel part of a community today 
• 16% are becoming part of a Jewish community now 
• 26% have attended events but are still seeking a Jewish community that is right for them 

Seventy-three percent of those in the Surge expressed a desire to learn. They said they didn’t only want to better understand current events in Israel and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, but also wanted to increase their Jewish knowledge to gain a deeper connection to the community and understand their identity.   

Elan Kramer, Senior Director and Acting Head of Community and Jewish Life for Jewish Federations of North America, emphasized that the enduring strength of the Surge is a call to action for Jewish organizations and communities. 

“At a time when so many are seeking deeper connection, we have a profound opportunity - and responsibility - to meet the moment,” Kramer said. “The data shows that when people show up, the experiences they’re having are overwhelmingly positive. But showing up is just the beginning. It’s on us to nurture friendships, create spaces that foster a sense of belonging, and offer meaningful Jewish experiences that turn moments of engagement into lasting community. By meeting people where they are, inviting them into vibrant, welcoming communities, and creating meaningful points of connection, we can strengthen Jewish life in ways that will endure far beyond this moment.”  

The survey was conducted via text message recruitment between March 5 and 25, among 5,798 adults, including 1,877 who identified as Jewish, and weighted to be representative of the US population and the Jewish population. The data about the Jewish community has a margin of error of ±2.26%. See our methodology statement here. 

Find the topline data here. 

See the full presentation here.