“Let this be home,” said Temple Israel Long Beach Rabbi Scott Fox, greeting attendees at a Shabbat service on a warm Friday summer evening at a local park.
Fox encouraged people to greet one another “Shabbat Shalom,” or “peaceful Shabbat,” to someone new, explaining that Shabbat — the weekly Jewish day of rest from sunset to sunset — is about building a community of faith. Temple Israel Long Beach leaders said the summer Shabbat services are organized with the hope that more people can strengthen relationships, and leave with their souls “feeling fulfilled.”
As the community celebrates Rosh Hashanah, the official start of the Jewish New Year and the High Holidays, themes of welcoming, reflection, peace and blessings ring clear.
But with reports of rising antisemitism across California and nationwide, many faith leaders are concerned that Jewish identity and expression are being threatened — and people don’t feel as safe or welcomed in their own diverse communities, synagogues or gatherings.
Several studies show that, in the U.S., fewer Jewish Americans are active in Jewish life or feel a real sense of belonging. Southern California congregation leaders and organizations are discussing how they can better serve disconnected Jews with more programming and services, helping to engage people in their faith, culture and community.
People just want to feel like they belong to each other, leaders say.
One new study from this year is the first in seven decades that looks closely at Long Beach’s diverse, growing Jewish community. The Long Beach-Area Jewish Community Study found that, of the over 24,000 Jewish adults who live in the area, only one in 10 feel a strong sense of belonging — and one-third of those surveyed are not satisfied with their level of participation.
The study — conducted in partnership with Jewish Long Beach, the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish…
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