The First-Ever Survey of Jewish Choral Activity in North America

Published: 
August, 2010
 
A new survey of Jewish choral singers conducted online in May and June, 2010 on behalf of the Zamir Choral Foundation, shows that Jewish choral singers are more Jewishly involved than the average American Jew. Responses to the survey received from more than 2,000 Jewish singers, cantors and music lovers show that people who take part in Jewish choral singing are more likely to do more Jewish volunteering, give to Jewish causes, and belong to synagogues than the American Jewish community in general.
 
The foundation’s survey was emailed this spring to nearly 15,000 Jewish choral singers, cantors and music lovers, and the results from 2,000 respondents were compared to figures from the United Jewish Communities’ National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01.
 
Seventy-three percent of the choral singers said they volunteer under Jewish auspices, vs. 25 percent of the general Jewish population; 73 percent said they give to Jewish causes, vs. 41 percent of the general group; and 88 percent belong to a synagogue, vs. 46 percent of most American Jews.
 
Among other findings of the survey:
  • Across all age groups, women significantly outnumber men in Jewish choral groups
  • 72% of choral singers think "It makes me feel connected to k’lal Yisrael (the Jewish People)".
  • 58% of choral singers think "It makes me feel closer to the memory and the history of the Jewish People".
  • 58% of choral singers think "It makes me feel closer to the Land and People of Israel".
  • Jewish choral singers are spiritual, intellectual, interested in developing themselves Jewishly and in making connections with other Jews and are also dedicated and active in diverse volunteer and community education roles.
Updated: Oct. 17, 2010
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