Young people who take part in charity programs feel more connections to Judaism. That’s according to a new survey from Honeycomb, a Jewish youth philanthropy resource.
“By creating space to blend these passions with Jewish learning and values, these philanthropy programs open up a new world to teens and develop them as leaders,” Danielle Segal, executive director of Honeycomb, stated. “They experience ways that Judaism adds meaning to their lives and want to engage in even deeper ways with the community.”
The survey drew upon data from 3,500 teens associated with Honeycomb in the United States, Australia and Israel. An overwhelming majority (88%) of young people enrolled in Honeycomb programs said it would recommend the program to a friend.
When asked before and after entering a program how they would rate their feelings about Jewish identity, their passions for Judaism and their connections to charitable giving, participants tended to rate each of the three after about 5% higher after the program compared to prior to it.