Particularistic Education, Endogamy, and Educational Tourism to Homeland

Two new indicators of Jewish identity-market penetration of educational
youth tours to Israel and rates of participation in a second tour-are proposed, and considered together with three widely used indicators (endogamy rates, day school enrolment and tourism to Israel) to create a typology of Jewish Diaspora communities. Analysis of the data allows for creation of a three-dimensional typology along three axes: adult tourism to Israel, market penetration of Israel Experience tours, and endogamy. These indicators are useful in differentiating between Jewish populations in various Diaspora countries. Some Diaspora populations (including the
large ones in the USA and France) seem to have a small but committed core, while much of the Jewish population is according to these indicators less involved. Other Diaspora populations (such as Mexico and South Africa) have broader participation according to the selected indicators. The Jews of the Former Soviet Union have weak participation according to all the indicators. These results provide a preliminary basis for comparison of Jewish life throughout the Diaspora.