Learning & Resources Category: Jewish Demographics

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In 2021, the Study of Jewish LA was conducted to provide a broad overview of diverse Jewish life in the Greater Los Angeles region, and reveal valuable preliminary information regarding the specific experiences of distinct Jewish sub-populations; including Latino/a Jews in Los Angeles. The research described in Latin-Jewish Los Angeles: A Secondary Data Analysis of the 2021 Study of Jewish LA seeks to build upon the 2021 study, by conducting an in-depth secondary analysis of the existing data, uncovering patterns and insights that can inform meaningful actions to support and uplift Latino/a Jews within the broader Jewish community. The report’s introduction notes:

Understanding the experiences of Latino/a Jews is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable Jewish communal life. Many Jewish institutions operate within frameworks that primarily reflect white American Jewish cultural norms, inadvertently sidelining Jews from Latin American, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds. This study illuminates the specific experiences of Latino/a Jews in areas such as racial, ethnic, and cultural identity, household composition, and Jewish engagement. Latino/a Jewish identity is dynamic, shaped by a blend of linguistic, cultural, and historical influences. Bringing these narratives to the forefront, can help reshape communal perceptions of Jewish identity and expand the frameworks through which Jewish belonging is understood and nurtured.

Most importantly, this study is not just about gathering knowledge—it is about taking action. By examining these important facets of Latino/a-Jewish life in greater depth, we are able to provide Jewish organizations, leaders, and advocates with concrete, evidence-informed recommendations to better serve Latino/a Jews in Los Angeles. In the long term, the impact of this work will be measured by how effectively Jewish communal spaces adapt to become more inclusive and representative of all who identify as Jewish. By ensuring that Latino/a Jews feel seen, heard, and valued, we move closer to building a Jewish Los Angeles that truly embraces the richness of its diverse members.

Key Findings:

• Community Snapshot: Latino/a Jewish households in LA are diverse, multigenerational, and geographically spread across the city; 40% speak Spanish at home and 30% are foreign-born.
• Identity & Values: Judaism is deeply important (74%); core values include family, tradition, ethics, and social justice, with many households raising children Jewish.
• Engagement Patterns: About half belong to synagogues or Jewish orgs; engagement is shaped by factors like friendships, intermarriage, converts, and experiences of antisemitism.
• Lived Experiences: Focus groups revealed identity complexity, joy in connecting with other Latin Jews, but also challenges of racism, colorism, and access barriers in Jewish spaces.
• Recommendations: Increase Latino/a Jewish cultural visibility, expand bias training and leadership opportunities, provide bilingual/affordable education, and adapt programming to interfaith and multigenerational families.

Latin-Jewish Los Angeles: A Secondary Data Analysis of the 2021 Study of Jewish LA, Final report by Jewtina y Co., Lead Investigator Dr. David McCarty-Caplan, March 2025

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JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa commissioned the first-ever national demographic study of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States, conducted at NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service under the direction of Dr. Mijal Bitton. As part of the research, scholars at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University conducted a review of existing quantitative data from national and community studies on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the U.S. Researchers also closely examined four distinct communities—the Syrian community in Brooklyn, NY, the Persian community in Los Angeles, the Bukharian community in Queens, NY, and the Latin Sephardic community of South Florida. Key findings from Sephardic & Mizrahi Jews in the United States: Identities, Experiences, and Communities:

“The research is more than just insights and data; there’s a roadmap here that we hope will be a catalyst for change,” said Sarah Levin, Executive Director of JIMENA. “Jewish communal leaders and educators can include Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews—and our history, traditions, and current customs—in meaningful, equal ways that reflect the diversity of the Jewish people.”

Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States: Identities, Experiences, and Communities, Dr. Mijal Bitton, August 2025