Jewish Service-Learning: What Is and What Could Be, a Summary of an Analysis of the Jewish Service-Learning Landscape

In the fall of 2007, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation commissioned BTW informing change (BTW) to assess the landscape of Jewish Service Learning. Joined by a shared interest to better understand the practice and potential of Jewish Service Learning, these foundations asked BTW to examine Jewish Service Learning, the current capacity among practitioners, the support required to further that capacity and the relevance of secular national service and other faith-based service traditions in defining the potential and evolution of Jewish Service Learning. The funding partners each approached this effort with a perspective informed by the mission, values and culture of their particular foundation. The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation came to this work with an interest in scaling quality opportunities to engage Jewish young adults in meaningful service experiences; the Jim Joseph Foundation came to this work with an interest in understanding how Jewish Service Learning functions as a learning strategy for advancing Jewish knowledge and identity of young Jews; and the Nathan Cummings Foundation came to this work focused on building capacity in the field to ensure quality alongside growth. BTW conducted a scan of the Jewish Service Learning landscape in the United States, collecting and analyzing both primary and secondary data. The BTW team conducted 86 key informant interviews with donors, institutional funders, Jewish Service Learning practitioners, community professionals and Jewish thought leaders, as well as representatives of faith-based and secular service organizations. BTW also reviewed demographic, program and impact data from over 50 unique sources. In addition to a scan of the entire landscape, BTW conducted a deeper program assessment of immersive term-of-service programs that engage young adults in the United States. This assessment identified and focused on 25 Jewish Service Learning programs operated by 15 organizations (see Exhibit 1). BTW administered an online survey to these Jewish Service Learning practitioners to complement key informant interviews and a review of organizational and program documents. All data presented in this report are from this group of practitioners unless otherwise noted. (author)