04/29/2026
What is the Cleveland Jewish Population Study and Why Does It Matter?
Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News
by Kim Pesses
Special to the CJN
Pesses
As you may have seen, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland recently shared the findings of the latest Greater Cleveland Jewish Population Study. Conducted by the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, the study offers a data-driven snapshot of our community based on responses from 2,000-plus households. This study, which Federation commissions every 10 years, provides a detailed look at Jewish Cleveland – its size, diversity, challenges, and strengths, and areas of need.
This work reflects months of collaboration, rigorous methodology, and thoughtful analysis. At its core, the study was designed to help us better understand Jewish Cleveland as it exists today: who makes up our community, what needs they have, and how they connect with Jewish life.
That kind of understanding matters. Good community planning depends on real insight, not assumptions. This study gives us a clearer picture of the people and experiences that shape Jewish Cleveland today and helps guide how we think about the future. The insight gained from this work enables us to continue building a stronger, more inclusive, and more connected Jewish Cleveland.
The study was released in mid-2025, when both an executive summary and the full report were posted on the Federation’s website.
This latest study took a lot of time and effort as the scale is highly complex. It takes time to analyze responses, validate findings, and ensure the final report is accurate. Accuracy is always prioritized over speed. Further complicating this latest study was the fact that the report-writing process was interrupted by major global crises – most notably the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the aftermath – which required immediate attention from Federation staff and research partners.
Regardless, the study remains deeply valuable. In fact, it offers one of the only comprehensive snapshots of Jewish Cleveland at the end of the COVID-19 era – a period of enormous change for individuals, families and organizations alike.
The study examines a broad range of topics, including Jewish identity and engagement, financial wellbeing, and connection to Israel. Many of these areas will be explored in greater depth in Cleveland Jewish News articles over the coming months.
The study also reminds us that there is no single way to be Jewish in Cleveland. Our community includes people of different backgrounds, family structures, and lived experiences, and people connect to Jewish life in many different ways.
At the same time, it is important to be clear that this study is merely a starting point: a tool to help us ask better questions, identify opportunities and needs, determine how to meet those needs, and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
With this data in hand, our fact set remains strong. From here, we can continue shaping the future of Jewish Cleveland in ways that are intentional, inclusive and impactful.
Kim Pesses, chair of the population study committee, Jewish Federation of Cleveland
