Patterns of Group Identification and Marriage among Jews in America

In this paper we pose two questions: First, Do expressions of Jewish identity in the United States have an identifiable pattern? Do certain kinds of identity expressions correlate with other kinds while having relatively low or no correlations with others? And most importantly, can we suggest a rationale for such correlations. In other words, can we provide a sensible structure of the Jewish identity expressions of the American Jewish community?

Secondly, within this structure, does being married to a Jewish or non- Jewish spouse correlate with certain kinds of identity expressions, namely, are certain kinds of identity expressions more characteristic of in-married Jews and others of out-married ones?

We have attempted to answer these questions through a multivariate analysis technique known as Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). This technique gives visual representation to the correlations of the identity expression variables. Utilizing data from the 2013 Pew survey our analysis shows that there is a spectrum of Jewish identity expressions. They range from those sharply differentiated and stand apart from the attitudes and behaviors characteristic of the general American society to those that are very well integrated into American culture and society and which are barely identifiable as specifically Jewish. The map also shows that in-married couples characteristically engage in Jewish identity expressions that are easily identifiable as specifically Jewish and are committed to the Jewish community while out-married couples practice identity expressions that are barely identifiable as specifically Jewish.