Jewish organizations at American colleges and universities may be alienating more students than they attract, a recent study by a Brandeis research group found.The study, conducted by the University's Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Avi Chai Foundation, a privately funded organization, discovered that Jewish campus groups that emphasize social and cultural programs thrive, while those too heavily focused on religious aspects are less successful.

Titled "Particularism in the University: Realities and Opportunities for Jewish Life on Campus," the study included a survey of more than 2,000 students and 700 extensive interviews at 20 American colleges and universities, not including Brandeis. Researchers concluded that Jewish life on campuses offers a "mlange of positives and negatives, challenges and promises."

Students answered questions about a range of topics including basic participation in Jewish campus events, their social and romantic relationships and their opinions on Israeli affairs.

Cohen Center Director Leonard Saxe started the project in 2003. He said Jewish students often waver in their involvement with religious organizations.

"What's interesting is religious involvement and ethnic connections at different times in [students'] lives," he said.

Only 18 percent of students surveyed attend religious services more than once a month, Saxe said. Lighting Hannukah candles, attending Passover seders and fasting on Yom Kippur are the most commonly practiced rituals, but only 12 percent said they keep kosher "fully" and even fewer always light Sabbath candles.

The survey found that students on average feel that Hillel organizations are too exclusive and do not offer enough of a "big tent" structure to draw in less observant Jews.

"It had focused on those Jewish college students who were already interested in Judaism and it paid scant attention to those who were not," the study reads.

Saxe and his staff found that Hillel's social organizations, such as "Jews for Jazz" and "Scuba Jews," are more popular than its religious groups.