Editor’s note: All quotes in this piece come from study participants whose identities were kept anonymous in order to protect their privacy under ethical research guidelines.
“The synagogues say, ‘We take your finances into consideration,’ but it’s still a burden for me.”
This 71-year-old widow from New York is especially keen to join High Holiday services this year. The Hamas massacre on Oct. 7 demonstrated to her how vital it is to be in relationship with other Jews, and reignited her desire to reconnect with Jewish life. The problem is, she can’t afford to.
Since losing her job and struggling to keep up with the mortgage payments on her house, she has spent the last 20 years living in a mobile home and keeping to a strict budget — one that cannot cover synagogue membership. In a recent conversation, she described how when she reached out to her local synagogue to inquire about financial assistance, she never heard back from anyone.
“Maybe they saw me as a drain on their resources,” she said. “It made me reluctant to continue to seek out a connection.”
The New York widow’s situation is not unique. She is part of the 20% of American Jews who are low income , according to a 2024 study from the Jewish Federations of North America, struggling to cover basic needs or manage an emergency expense.
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Despite their eagerness to engage with the Jewish community after Oct. 7, financial hardships and a sense of disconnection keep many like that 71-year-old from finding their way back. The upcoming High Holidays present a unique opportunity for Jewish organizations to bridge the gap, and welcome these Jews back into the fold.
We are, respectively, a professor of contemporary Jewish life at Tulane University, and the chief impact and growth officer at JFNA— and have developed a deep understanding of the disconnection these Jews experience. We also know the true capacity of what Jewish organizations have to offer, and that we have the power to change this dynamic.
Since Oct. 7, there’s been a surge in interest in Jewish connection. According to a JFNA survey , 43% of Jews are seeking greater engagement, or are already engaging more with Jewish life, post-Oct. 7. Economically vulnerable Jews stand out, with 38% expressing a desire to be more connected, compared to 30% of the general Jewish population.
This outpouring is driven by concerns for Israel and fears of antisemitism, and it is leading to a unique moment in which more Jews are seeking more engagement and connection with Jewish life.
Over the past year, interviews with 100 low-income Jewish Americans as part of Ilana’s research with Rosov Consulting reveals the barriers they face. A non-denominational Jew in his early 60s from Massachusetts said: “In just the last few months, I’ve suddenly become a very adamant Jew. I’m 63 years old, but if I were younger, I’d be on the first plane to help. So, late in life, I’m building a small connection to my heritage. Better late than never.”
But for many, financial and logistical challenges make this desire for connection feel unreachable, like for a 39-year-old single mother of two from New York who has been struggling financially.
Despite her deep connection to Judaism, participating in communal life often feels out of reach. Her days are a constant balancing act — dropping her older daughter at school, working during her baby’s nap, and coordinating therapy sessions for her child with ADHD. “The synagogue is flexible with membership fees,” she said, “but when you’re on a strict budget and can’t attend regularly, it’s hard to justify.”
The week before we spoke, she had attended an Israel-solidarity Shabbat dinner at the synagogue. “It was really nice to be in community,” she told me. Yet she does not have a car, and it’s challenging to regularly make the 20-minute walk to synagogue with a fussy baby. Her financial straits, combined with the logistics of accessing the community that she so desperately wants, are too much to overcome.
The barriers to entry for low-income Jews are not always financial or logistical, but can also be social. Sometimes they struggle with not seeming like the ideal “type” of Jew that synagogues might wish to have as a member. A mother of three in her early 30s, with visible tattoos, shared her hesitation about joining a synagogue due to fears of not fitting in. “I don’t give off a ‘Jewish look’ or vibe,” she told us. “I don’t want to be known as the person always haggling for financial aid.”
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Economically vulnerable Jews are more likely to face health challenges, caregiving responsibilities and unexpected life disruptions such as divorce, incarceration or job loss. They are also more likely to identify as LGBTQ+, as people of color, or as people with disabilities, and often have fewer social connections within the Jewish community.
Jewish organizations must take extra care to create inclusive, welcoming environments that address the diverse needs of these individuals.
The High Holidays are a time of renewal, reflection and community. They also offer synagogues and Jewish organizations a crucial chance to embrace these disconnected Jews, build relationships and connect them more deeply to the community. To meet this moment, synagogues and Jewish organizations must take concrete steps.
- Lower the cost barrier: Economically vulnerable Jews are three times more likely to say that cost keeps them from joining synagogues. Offering free tickets for first-time attendees, or expanding services to accommodate those without tickets, can make a significant difference.
- Provide practical assistance: Many such Jews also face competing demands, like caregiving or juggling multiple jobs. Offering child care during services, transportation assistance or meal programs can remove significant obstacles. Partnering with local organizations to offer these services can not only help, but also strengthen the synagogue’s ties with the community.
- Create networks of support: Establish peer or mentoring groups and connect people in relationships where more established members can offer guidance, connection, friendship and support to those struggling with financial or personal challenges. This fosters a deeper sense of belonging and community.
- Raise awareness: JFNA data shows that 73% of financially vulnerable Jews are unaware of opportunities for Jewish involvement, compared to 58% of the broader community. Institutions must do more to reach out to this group and make sure they know what’s happening and that they are welcome.
This is a pivotal moment when many disconnected Jews are yearning to reconnect with Jewish spaces. One woman interviewed for the study observed that, “There’s been a real awakening among American Jews, coming together and being proud of being Jewish.” If the Jewish community fails to act, it will leave many Jews feeling disconnected and marginalized in a moment of high need. Not only will we lose an opportunity to engage these community members, but this loss risks weakening the communal bonds and vitality of American Jewry at a time when unity is more crucial than ever.
Let’s rise to the occasion. By removing the barriers and opening our doors wide, we can ensure that no Jew — regardless of financial situation — is left behind in this moment of collective awakening.
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