United Jewish Council of Anne Arundel County

Jewish Community Calendar

UJC Social Action

Jewish Demographic Study

Past UJC Events

Affiliated Synagogues

Jewish Organizations

Fund Raising Feasibility Study

UJC-AAC Home

In the fall of 2001, the Aleph Bet Jewish Day School undertook a survey of the Jewish population of Anne Arundel County and Bowie. The survey contained 24 categories of questions, and was initially presented to about 100 attendees of the Anne Arundel County Jewish Festival on September 9, 2001. Following minor modification, the survey was mailed in mid- September to Jewish households using membership and contact lists graciously provided by The Allen J. Reiter Lodge of B’nai B’rith, Brandeis University Women’s Committee, Hadassah (Annapolis Chapter), Jewish Women International, Congregation Kol Ami, Congregation Kneseth Israel, Jewish Chaplain of the Naval Academy Chapel, Congregation Nevey Shalom, and Temple Beth Shalom. A second mailing to households that did not return survey forms was undertaken in October.

Upon receipt, each anonymous survey form was assigned a unique identification code and the information it contained was entered into a secure computer data system. Each computer data record was checked for accuracy with its corresponding survey form, and corrected as necessary. A summary of all of the response data was generated using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) computer software.

Of the approximately 1850 households contacted, 600 surveys were received by November 15. A total of 571 were from households for which at least one member claimed to be Jewish. Data for this subset of respondents was used for all subsequent analyses. It is important to recognize at the outset, that the data provided by respondents may not be completely representative of the views of the entire community. Some respondents did not fill out the survey in its entirety. Furthermore, some respondents may have been reticent in providing their views, opinions and vital statistics in view of the religious and ethnic nature of the information being requested. Other recipients of the survey did not take the time to complete and return the survey because of their limited interest in the Jewish community. The principal findings of the survey are presented below.

The age distribution of the respondents was 10% under age 35, 54% between the ages of 35 and 54, and the remainder being 55 or older. A total of 84% of the respondents were married, of which 65% of these couples were both Jewish. Of the 550 responses to the question of children as household members, 53% of the respondents had children (including college students) residing in their household. Of the respondents, 42% of the Jews in Anne Arundel County looked to Baltimore as the city with which they feel most closely aligned, while 31% favored Washington, D.C.

The Reform movement is the largest in Anne Arundel County (45%). Of the remaining respondents, 37% claim themselves as Conservative, 6% Traditional, 5% Orthodox and 5% as other. While there was a broad range of Congregations where survey respondents are members, over 25% of those who participated in the survey do not belong to any Congregation. More than 75% of the respondents were pleased (somewhat satisfied to very satisfied) with the location of their synagogue, its facilities and the nature of its programs.

In a ranking of 15 types of programming and facilities that are perceived as important to the Jewish community, activities for children and teenagers, and family programs were clearly the most highly valued types of undertakings. Support for adult social and Jewish educational programs was moderate, while only a small fraction of the respondents were interested in sports and fitness programs, athletic facilities, and a kosher eatery.

A key component of the survey examined philanthropic patterns of the community. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed claimed to have contributed to a synagogue in the last three years, and 62% indicated that they contributed to another national or local Jewish organization, charity or cause. However, only a tiny fraction of the community has contributed to America’s most established Jewish charity, the United Jewish Appeal, in the last three years. This may be due largely to the fact that in recent years the United Jewish Appeal has not had a significant presence or fundraising campaign in Anne Arundel County. Of 13 types of charitable activities, the top five garnering most support were combating anti-Semitism, meeting the needs of Jewish children and teens, rescuing Jews in distress, helping the poor, and supporting Israel.

A substantial focus of the survey was on Jewish education for children. It is clear that parents want quality education and small class sizes. At the same time, parents are very concerned with their child’s happiness and ability to get into a good college. Over 30% of the respondents indicated that their children attend private school. Aleph Bet, the county’s only Jewish Day School, fills a unique niche for those seeking a combination of secular and religious education for children in elementary school. Results of the survey relating to the Aleph Bet Jewish Day School revealed tremendous "Customer Satisfaction" (excellent or above average ratings from those who knew the school) with the quality of instruction (98%), teacher-pupil ratio (97%), overall happiness of children attending the school (94%) and tuition cost (78%). However, due to its older facilities, it was not surprising that the school’s classrooms and space were seen as only fair. Aleph Bet recognizes that it must enlarge its elementary school facility, and is examining the possibility of potentially expanding to include a middle school. Although many survey respondents favored the creation of a middle school, only one-third of the respondents with children indicated that they would seriously investigate sending their children to an Aleph Bet Middle School. Further analyses of survey data are being conducted to shed light on this mixed-message.

The creation of a Jewish Community Center was favored by 85% of the respondents, although willingness to donate funds for such a Center is presently overshadowed by interest in supporting other types of philanthropic activities. Further investigation, including identification of the purposes and functioning of such a Center to the Jewish Community, seems warranted.

In closing, rapid population growth and economic development in Anne Arundel County will continue to provide new and exciting opportunities for its longstanding and esteemed Jewish Community.

Send mail to UJC_AAC@hotmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.