Pardes News
Pardes Graduates "Unusually Committed" Jews, Study Finds
Jerusalem, Israel - December 1, 2004 (18 Kislev) Pardes alumni recently participated in a survey conducted by Hebrew University of Jerusalem sociologist Prof. Steven M. Cohen and Judith Schor, CUNY doctoral student in social personality.
The analysis compared alumni of Pardes with specially designed sub-samples of the National Jewish Population Study 2000-01.
In reflecting on the findings, Professor Cohen remarked, "The Pardes experience is clearly a critical way-station on the route to extraordinary Jewish growth by scores of highly talented and motivated young Jewish adults, year after year. They emerge unusually committed to raising Jewish families, studying Jewish texts, involvement with Israel, serving the Jewish community, and maintaining a life-long commitment to Jewish learning and growth."
Highlights of the results are summarized in a chart comparing Pardes respondents to an NJPS sub-group with demographic characteristics similar to Pardes alumni.
Comparison of Jewish Identity Measures for Program Participants and NJPS "Control" Group
| PARDES | NJPS | |
| Married to a Jew if married | 98 | 80 |
| Most friends are Jewish | 86 | 45 |
| Fasts on Yom Kippur | 95 | 78 |
| Synagogue member | 75 | 58 |
| Attends High Holiday services | 99 | 79 |
| Attends synagogue more than monthly | 72 | 25 |
| Volunteered for a Jewish org. | 72 | 38 |
| Contributed to UJA or Federation | 58 | 31 |
| Has visited Israel 2+ times | 97 | 36 |
| Very attached to Israel | 87 | 51 |
| Being Jewish is very important | 97 | 64 |
A full analysis and methodology can be viewed at www.alliancedata.org.il.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem offers men and women of all backgrounds the authentic study of classic Jewish texts in the rigorous, challenging and open environment of dynamic Beit Midrash Havruta partner learning. Pardes, founded in 1973, offers a Year Program for university graduates as well as Educators, Summer, Spiritual Education, and Kollel Advanced Learning programs.
Rabbi Daniel Landes, Director
David I. Bernstein, Ph.D, Dean