The Just Jewish: Opting Out?

This chapter reviews the growing popular “denominational choice” of the “Just Jewish.” For the most part, many of the Just Jewish have probably not given much thought to the questions of Cultural Guidelines and Structural Focus, as noted in the previous chapters. It is probably safe to conjecture that the Just Jewish are Culturally Guided by Western Thought with a Structural Focus on Jewish ethnicity. According to the latest Pew national survey (2021), the “Just Jewish” represent 32% of American Jewish households. Beyond the “Just Jewish” who are included in the Pew sample of American Jews are two other groups who are not included as part of the Jewish sample: People of Jewish Background (PJBs, 2.4 million) and the Jewish Affinity group (JAs, 1.2 million). Despite the fact that both groups have opted out by denying that they are Jewish, sizeable portions of these groups demonstrate Jewish connections. There really is no institutional history for the Just Jewish as there is no Just Jewish movement. Nevertheless, there is a very large number of institutions that provide a Jewish option that is ethnic and not religious but allow for the maintenance of a Jewish identity. A number of empirical studies have been carried out to examine the Just Jewish, including national and local Jewish community surveys. Generally, they reveal that the Just Jewish demonstrate some Jewish connections, largely based on ethnic attachments, although lower than for all American Jews. The chapter adds a focus on gender, LGBTQ Jews, and geographic variations among the Just Jewish, which reveals the great diversity for some measures and some communities. It is clear that not all of the Just Jewish are opting out!