Almost one in five United Synagogue members say they are less likely to attend Shabbat morning services in the post-pandemic age.

The reluctance of many to return to in-person services is among the key findings of a major online survey conducted among the US membership during May — “the biggest listening exercise we have ever undertaken”.

It was arranged to canvass opinion on the organisation’s performance during the crisis and members’ feelings towards shul engagement going forward.

There were 5,400 responses — higher than anticipated — representing close on 15 per cent of its membership. US leaders were pleased that the organisation scored well in terms of overall satisfaction (86 per cent); communication (86 per cent) and welfare (85 per cent).

Online services and programming found even higher approval (92 per cent) although members were less impressed by the provision for young people (60 per cent), an area which the US has targeted for immediate action.

Questioned on how their own shul had performed during the pandemic, 58 per cent said they were very satisfied, compared to a combined 13 per cent expressing themselves very or somewhat dissatisfied.

Fourteen per cent now felt “much more” connected to their community— although 10 per cent expressed the opposite view.

But when it came to the likelihood of attending synagogue services once the government lifted Covid restrictions, 82 per cent said they would never or rarely go to weekday gatherings and 67 per cent would be unlikely to attend on Friday nights. Twenty-eight per cent were unlikely to be in shul on Shabbat morning, although 36 per cent expected to attend regularly. And 80 per cent anticipated being in synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

For the more specific question of whether they expected to go to shul more or less than pre-pandemic, 18 per cent expected to go less or much less on Shabbat morning. In contrast, 10 per cent believed they would go more regularly.

On what might dissuade members from synagogue attendance, half cited either Covid fears or having to wear a mask.

There were also significant numbers highlighting social distancing, meaning they could not sit next to friends, or the lack of kiddushim. (Since the lifting of lockdown restrictions, some US communities have relaxed their rules on mask wearing and reduced social distancing from two metres to at least one). But almost a quarter of respondents replied: “Nothing will stop me from attending.”

Unsurprisingly, 30 per cent said they had engaged more, or much more, with the US’s expanded online activities during lockdown and the majority were satisfied or very satisfied with their own community’s digital provision.

Fifty-eight per cent expected their future US involvement to incorporate a mixture of in-person and digital activities. Seventeen per cent answered that they would participate only in physical gatherings.

Asked for their view on the welfare provision by individual communities and US Chesed covering pastoral support, food packages and befriending, 43 per cent were very or somewhat satisfied, against seven per cent either very or somewhat dissatisfied. Excluding respondents who said the issue was not relevant to them, the figure for those very satisfied was 61 per cent.

Given that half the respondents to the survey were aged between 61 and 80 — and just eight per cent were under 40 — the issue of youth provision was less significant to many. But in the responses of those with children under 11, 38 per cent were very or somewhat dissatisfied with the activities provided, rising to 42 per cent for the 11-18s.

The US pointed out the limitations placed on youth programming during the pandemic but acknowledged that the results “are noticeably worse than the other satisfaction measures. We are carrying out some further work to understand why, and any lessons we can learn.”

US president Michael Goldstein, who has just embarked on a second term of office, said that “everyone connected with the United Synagogue should be extremely proud of these results.

“After one of the hardest periods in our 150-year history, I am delighted that the hard work of our rabbis and rebbetzens, our chairs and honorary officers and our professional staff teams across the country has been recognised in this way.

“The United Synagogue exists to support our members, whether they’re aged one or 101.

“Of course, we cannot rest on our laurels, nor can we ignore the areas where our members have told us we can improve. As we look to kick-start Jewish community life, the results will help our shul teams think through how best to engage their members and to plan for the High Holy-Days and beyond.”

Communications director Richard Verber, who ran the survey with US head of impact Richard Marcus, claimed: “The results are extraordinary. After more than a year of immense hardship, when so many of our community lost a loved one; when the doors of our shuls were forced shut by the pandemic; nearly nine in ten members are satisfied with their communities.”

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the “impressive results bear testament to the outstanding leadership of all the rabbis, rebbetzens and lay leaders of the US. Despite a period of unprecedented challenge, they have worked tirelessly to successfully maintain the vitality of their communities.

“The responses from members show that our shuls are so much more than buildings in which people gather for prayer.

“They are the engine rooms of dynamic communities which stand together, both in times of great celebration and also in times of great adversity.”