In light of a soon-to-be-released study showing that college students who identify as Jewish are increasingly likely to be products of interfaith marriages, to have non-Jewish boyfriends and girlfriends, and to shun denominational labels, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is shifting its message to gain traction with this new generation.
Known as "Millennials," this cohort — considered to be more conventional, ambitious, globally aware and technologically savvy than their Generation X counterparts — was the subject of the first-of-its-kind, Hillel-sponsored study, portions of which will be unveiled Nov. 14 at the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities in Toronto.
Hillel did not make the report available, but organization executives said the study revealed that Millennials see Judaism as a cultural rather than a religious identity; are interested in participating in Jewish holiday rituals; expect to become more active in Jewish communal life as they get older; and self-affiliate as Jews, even if they have only one Jewish parent.
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