When looking at a Facebook profile, the first thing that will catch your eye is the information under “Basic Information” which includes “Religious Views.” Why do some people put their religious views and some don’t?
Randi Fuchs, a freshman at American University, told CampusJ that “I identify myself as Jewish, but I don’t believe in putting that information on my Facebook profile,” adding that “I don’t put my relationship status or screen name either.” Fuchs asserted that “showing your religious views make a person, and that’s not something I want on my profile.” Although she leaves that box blank, she is still a member of the group called AU Jew Crew because she does consider herself Jewish. However, Fuchs said, “Facebook doesn’t affect me at all. I grew up not being the most active Jew and I don’t really participate in Jewish organizations on campus either.”
Sometimes Facebook’s effects lie more in the fact that it spreads awareness about upcoming events, such as American University’s Chanukah party, which Fuchs will be attending.
And sometimes the options in “Religious Views” just don’t adequately express a person’s beliefs. Sienna Girgenti told CampusJ that, “I’ve noticed a lot of people, specifically in the AU community, checking the ‘other’ box in order to better express their religion and not be so closed in with a one word definition of everything they believe in.”

“Harry Potter Rules.” “I want to go Greek!” “Rentheads!” These are all examples of American University Facebook groups. Why be part of them? Some of them are fun — a way to meet other people who have similar interests as you, like Rent or Harry Potter. Some of them are useful, getting information about Greek life at American, or a Facebook group for a club or organization you are part of.
What about Jewish Facebook groups, such as AU Jew Crew, Take Me To Israel, Israel is Awesome!, or more specific groups like Kesher: Reform Jews on Campus — what use do they have? Are people less likely to attend a Jewish event on campus because they have an online space to be involved in Judaism, which is essentially the issue with having so many opportunities online?
Rabbi Ken Cohen told CampusJ in an e-mail, “Give me that ‘on-line’ religion! No, I don’t think students are less likely to attend real life events because they have retreated into a cyber-reality. On the contrary, Facebook is an effective way to get people involved.”
Using Facebook as a way to get people involved is a common theme these days. The theory is that if people are more aware of events, and aware of who else would be attending an event, and have a constant reminder that events are coming up, they are more likely to attend these programs. But does Facebook get Jewish people more specifically involved “Jewishly”? Jewish Student Association (JSA) Board Member Sienna Girgenti said in an interview that, “There are other ways to use Facebook to express oneself Jewishly, but generally speaking it comes down to the basic features of groups and events, which allow people to publicize their association with a certain religion, for example, the AU Jew Crew.”
Although it seems that Jewish Facebook groups don’t have much discussion of Judaism, Girgenti told CampusJ that, “Facebook has become an excellent way to advertise for events in the Jewish community,” explaining that “The JSA has opted to use Facebook events this semester as a new PR tool.” By way of example, Girgenti noted that “A lot of times, flyers get lost on the posting boards with the hundreds that go up,” while “Almost everyone is on Facebook, and it has become a fast way to communicate with the Jewish community at large.”
Asked how Facebook provides students with new ways of expressing themselves Jewishly, Hillel staff member Amy Levine responded, “More student involvement and different students involved,” adding that “Creating different interest groups and having different students manage the groups gets the word out about events.”
Girgenti agreed, asserting, “Through Facebook messages, events, and groups, Jewish students are certainly more aware of the goings-on in the community and I would say more likely to participate.”