Why we’re sharing our instrument for measuring social connectedness
Shabbat Dinner Study
Shabbat Dinner Study
In 2022, CASJE was awarded a research grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. to investigate how Shabbat dinner practices can promote social connectedness. The project is a partnership with OneTable, a national nonprofit that empowers young adults to find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners. The research is also supported by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the BeWell Initiative at Jewish Federations of North America. CASJE Managing Director Arielle Levites, PhD, leads the research team.
Project Summary
In addition to contributing to a growing body of literature that addresses how community-based initiatives can support well-being, this study is designed to offer useful theoretical frameworks and measures that can support the development of robust Jewish engagement programs, which historically tend to emphasize social connection as a critical outcome.
This mixed-methods study utilizes focus groups, semi-structured interviews, surveys, and a cluster randomized trial.
Meet the Project Team Members
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Dr. Arielle Levites, Principal Investigator, CASJE
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Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Brigham Young University
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Dr. Adam Cohen, Arizona State University
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Dr. Jordan Lawson, Brown University
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Dr. Sharon Avni, BMCC at the City University of New York (CUNY)
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Julia Logan Labow, Director, Impact + Learning, OneTable
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Dr. Sasha Volodarsky, CASJE
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Aliza Kline, Founding CEO, OneTable
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Naomi Gamoran, CASJE
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Pammie Shapiro, Senior Product Developer, OneTable
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Annie Prusky, Senior Development Manager, OneTable
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Cora Torton, Field Speciality, OneTable
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Dr. Henry Braun, CASJE Advisory Board Liaison
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Dr. Gage Gorsky, CASJE Advisory Board Liaison
Publications and Resources - Shabbat Dinner Study
Gathering at the Table for Connection and Belonging
In this episode of Templeton World Charity Foundation's Stories of Impact podcast, the Shabbat...
The Benefits of Shabbat Dinner
In this Stories of Impact video from the Templeton World Charity Foundation, Dr. Arielle Levites...
Measuring Social Connectedness: A Tool for Jewish Engagement Organizations
This instrument guide shares how the survey questions in the Shabbat Dinner Study were developed/...
