Health Needs of Jewish Immigrants in the U.S. and in Israel and Faith-Based Opportunities to Address Them

Introduction: Jewish immigrant needs vary from both other Jews and other immigrant groups because of differences in group characteristics, context of reception, and home country life. Although Jews are a longstanding religious U.S. minority, there is a paucity of research on recent Jewish immigrants and their health needs.

Objectives: 1) What are the health needs of recent Jewish immigrants in the U.S and in Israel? 2) How do these needs vary by home country and how do they compare to non-Jewish immigrants? 3) What are the findings' policy implications for faith-based interventions and how do they vary between the U.S and Israel?

Methods: Adult Jewish immigrants were surveyed as part of the randomized U.S. New Immigrant Survey data set and the Israel National Health Survey. The surveys included extensive health, religion, immigration, and other demographic variables. Outcome measures included health status, health behaviors, chronic diseases, and mental health. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Variations by ethnicity were analyzed and outcomes comparisons made between the U.S and Israel and with non-Jewish immigrant groups. Over 25 key informant interviews with faith-based and Jewish community leaders in the U.S and in Israel were then conducted.

Results: Health needs were identified and variations were found in health outcome measures by key religious, immigrant and demographic factors, with implications for faith-based interventions such as synagogue programs. Opportunities for widespread faith-based interventions suggested by these findings and the informant interviews will be discussed, spotlighting contextual variations by denomination, home country and host country.

Conclusion: Opportunities may exist for faith-based health interventions among immigrant Jews by leveraging the social and religious capital in this understudied community. Efforts to target Jewish immigrant needs by faith communities and take their varying characteristics into account, including country, are important.