Milwaukee Jewish Community Study

Share Your Story: Research Study on Jewish Families of Color in Milwaukee

We invite you to participate in an important research study exploring the lived experiences of Jewish individuals and households. This includes people who identify as nonwhite, mixed-race, or as Jews of Color in the Greater Milwaukee Area. This project is commissioned by the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and is being conducted by, and in partnership with the Tiyuv research team. This study compliments the Milwaukee Jewish Community Study conducted by Brandeis University that was initiated in Fall 2024.

We define “JOC Families” as households where at least one member is Jewish and at least one member identifies as nonwhite, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color), or as a Jew of Color, recognizing that “JOC” is an imperfect term for a multilayered identity. JOC Families also include households in which:

• All members identify as JOC or BIPOC Jews, or
• Some members identify this way, and their lived experiences shape the household’s overall experiences.

We know there may be other ways to have a “JOC Family” and we look forward to learning about them from you!

Participation in the study may include a 60-minute 1-on-1 interview or a 90-minute small group story circle (like a focus group). These conversations are designed to center your voice and experiences, and all participating adults will receive a $25 electronic gift card in appreciation of their time.

Our goal is to better understand the identities, community connections, and experiences of these households. We hope to amplify your stories to help Jewish organizations in Milwaukee become more inclusive, equitable, and supportive of our diverse community.

2024-25 Milwaukee Jewish Community Study

The Milwaukee Jewish Federation is launching a demographic study of the Milwaukee Jewish community. The study will provide us with the tools that enable organizations and donors to effectively meet the needs and continue building a vibrant Jewish future. This is one of the most significant undertakings for MJF. Agencies, synagogues, other community organizations, our donors, and our staff need demographic information to help make funding, staffing, and programmatic decisions. The study’s results will inform the next decade of MJF’s and the community’s priorities. Through the study, we will learn more about our community, from the number of children who could attend Jewish schools in the future, to local trends in older adults needs, and everything in between. 

MJF has partnered with Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and NORC at the University of Chicago to conduct the study. This team has experience conducting over 30 Jewish community studies throughout the country.

We anticipate collecting data from December to March and releasing the study findings in the fall of 2025.