The Surge, the Core, and the Weave: Re-Stitching Jewish Life in an Age of Uncertainty

If the Jewish community is going to soar, it needs more weaving

Jewish life in America is at a pivotal crossroads. The challenges of antisemitism, rising political polarization, and the aftermath of Oct. 7 in both Israel and around the world have been profoundly alarming. Yet paradoxically, these same forces have sparked what Mimi Kravetz, Sarah Eisenman, and David Manchester described back in May, 2024 as an unprecedented “surge” in Jewish engagement — an explosion of belonging, curiosity, and connection across age groups and denominations.

Ever since I read their article last Spring in I have been thinking about their insights — and observing how the Jewish community responds to them. Judah Ari Gross’s recent recap of the Jewish Funders Network summit in Nashville also reminded me of the topic in a motivating way.

Now that I finally have a bit more time to think about (and work on) this topic as part of Optimistic Labs, the more I realize the following:

This moment is as historic as it is heavy. But it is also fleeting.

And the sense of urgency is palpable.

The question, which now consumes many a mind I know: Will we allow “the surge” to pass us by, or will we stitch it securely into the fabric of Jewish communal life — binding it to the core and to each other — before the window closes?

The Surge, The Core, and the Challenge of Disconnection

According to recent research 40% of previously disengaged Jews are now showing up in larger numbers post-Oct. 7. This “surge” encompasses individuals across generations — from singles in their 20s and 30s craving substantive discussions and connection, to mid-life adults over 55 seeking meaningful re-engagement after an empty nest transition.

And yet, even amidst this explosion, the data also shows a lingering loneliness and fragmentation.

Newest data from Pew Research Center also reveals that almost 25% of US adults raised Jewish no longer identify themselves religiously Jewish anymore.

So in other words, now we have the Core, the Surge AND the Switch.

In some ways, none of this should be suprising when we observe reality: the last 40 years have seen our community splinter into denominational silos, age-based niches, and socio-economic divides. Factionalism in the Jewish community is nothing new, but new pressures, technologies, and social norms are depening these divides, and making it harder to weave them together.

In my hometown of Atlanta, we have many of these same issues, not only in our Jewish community, but in Atlanta as a whole. Our city is not only metophirically, but also physically and economically, divided by what we (paradoxically) call “the connector” — the stretch of over a dozen lanes highway where interstates 75 and 85 run together — right through the heart of downtown Atlanta. This stretch of highway, one of the ten most congested interstates in America, separates our community in both inconvenient and profound ways, and also limits Atlanta’s future socially and economically.

Led by some visionary leaders (including my fellow Wexner Heritage alumnus, AJ Robinson), there is a bold intiative to stitch together its fragmented downtown neighborhoods torn apart by the 75/85 connector by creating a park built oover the highway that will create a walkable park and new opportunties to create social and commercial connection. This project, referred to as “the Stich,” is still in its early phases, but has caputured many an imagination, including mine.

Which is why I am more and more convinced we must do the same within Jewish life — literally and figuratively overcoming the roadblocks that keep us apart.

Introducing: The Weave

I call this strategy The Weave — a deliberate, tactical approach to tightly weave together the surge and the core, ensuring that our current momentum doesn’t unravel into isolated moments, but instead forms durable, interconnected networks that also stems the momentum of the aforementioned Switch.

In my mind, the Weave is not a metaphor. It’s a mandate.

It involves:

• Targeted, tactical collaborations: Bringing together emerging participants (The Surge) and long-engaged leaders (The Core) in cohort-based, cross-generational platforms that foster reciprocal relationships — not just attendance numbers.

• Sticky, specific initiatives: Moving beyond broad “engagement” strategies to design hyper-local, hyper-relevant, deeply personalized Jewish experiences. Think immersive retreats, Jewish early childhood programs, leadership training, and purpose-driven community projects — all structured to spark meaningful, ongoing connections.

• Overcoming structural and cultural barriers: Affordability is key (subsidies for camps, day schools, synagogue memberships), but so is addressing how technology, social shifts, and economic anxiety have reshaped the way Jews live and connect today. The stitch requires meeting people where they are, with relationship-based outreach, accessible formats, and spiritually relevant content.

Affordability and Accessibility: A Brief Data Point

Consider this: Pew reports that 64% of U.S. Jews are not synagogue members. However, nearly 37% of these non-members are now open to joining. This is not merely a cost issue — it’s about value, relevance, and the quality of connection. Providing financial incentives alone won’t suffice; we need to craft offerings that feel essential to their Jewish journey.

In an era where technology mediates our relationships, political divisions strain trust, and post-modern spiritual disaffection is widespread, we must redefine how Jewish life addresses not only who we are as a people, but how we are together as a community.

That’s why the Weave must also be about fostering communal resilience — stitching together the deep, stable threads of tradition with the dynamic, searching energy of those now showing up at our doorsteps. It moves beyond programs and focuses on purpose.

The Clock Is Ticking

The surge won’t last forever.. Crises fade, distractions return. And the Switch, while troubling, is more concerning if it continues to accelerate. But if we act boldly now, with precision, passion, and intentional stitching, we have the chance to re-knit Jewish communal life for generations to come.

Atlanta is stitching its downtown back together. So must we, in the Jewish world, stitch together our surge and our core, ensuring no thread is left loose, no person left unseen.

Let’s start weaving, shall we?

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I’m always open to new ideas, friends and optimistic opportunities to help repair the world. Want to contact me? Email me at seth@optimisticlabs.com and on LinkedIn.