What Jewish group is thriving in the secular age? | Opinion – Deseret News
Posted By admin on September 8, 2022
Across America, young men and women are abandoning religious faith in droves and Judaism is no exception. More Jewish adults than ever classify themselves as religious nones. In fact, according to the latest Pew survey on American Jews, fully 40% of Jews under the age of 40 describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular rather than as Jewish.
This pattern is most pronounced among younger Jews.These young adults rarely or never darken the door of a synagogue or mark Shabbat, according to Pew respondents who were asked how they connect with Jews and Judaism. Both of these trends would not seem to bode well for Judaism in America.
But hidden within the data are clues as to how American Jewry can reverse these trends. As Dava Schub, CEO of the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., said, There is a lot of room to continue to move and grow and evolve.
First, the bad news:
The fact that many young Jewish men and women do not stick with their faith tradition, what scholars call religious retention, is one challenge facing the Jewish community. Another is that of below-replacement fertility Jewish women are averaging 1.5 children each (2.1 is the replacement rate). Both these trends suggest the Jewish community as a whole, which currently numbers about 7.6 million, or 2.28% of Americans, could shrink substantially in the coming generations. Given these demographic trends, at first glance the future for Jewish life in America looks rather bleak.
These trends, however, are not evenly distributed across the different Jewish denominations.
Jews who identify as Reform or Conservative are seeing the lower rates of retention, religious attendance and fertility compared to their more observant counterparts in Orthodox and traditional Judaism. Perhaps the key distinction is that of fertility.
Birth rates for Orthodox women are 3.3 children per woman, whereas the rate for non-Orthodox women is only 1.4 children per woman. This statistic is illustrated in real life when considering that the average age among Orthodox Jewish adults in America is at least 18 years younger than the average among Reform/Conservative Jews.
Regarding regular religious service attendance, 83% of those who identify as Orthodox attend services at least once per month, compared to 33% for those who identify as Conservative, and 14% of those who identify as Reform. Considering generational retention, the Pew data show that a higher proportion of people who were raised in Orthodox homes remain Orthodox as adults (67%) than Conservative (41%) or Reform (66%).
To put it plainly, in the words of Alan Cooperman, director of religion research at Pew Research Center, If you are familiar with the American-Jewish community, youve seen the growth in Orthodox neighborhoods, communities across the country.
In other words, the decline of American Judaism looks to be concentrated in its moderate and liberal branches, whereas retention, fertility and attendance among young Orthodox adherents is on the rise.
Add to this the fact that only 1% of those who identify as Orthodox are not synagogue members, whereas 36% of those who identify as Reform and 11% who identify as Conservative are not synagogue members. And, as the figure indicates, a growing share of young adults identify as Orthodox and they are having more than two times more children than are their more religiously liberal counterparts. All this suggests that Orthodox Judaism in America is doing something right that cannot be ignored.
And what are those lived behaviors among the Orthodox that encourage Jewish-positive values and seem to herald intergenerational strength and continuity? Some items are relatively easy to predict:
Other somewhat surprising, but actually quite logical, practices distinguish more religiously engaged Jews from others. They include:
Of course, it is possible that there might be enough Jewish nones, combined with those who identify as culturally Jewish, to provide just enough Jewishly-aware descendants in two generations to register as a significant minority portion of American Jewry in Pews 2080 survey.
Indeed, it is notable that at least large minorities of Jewish nones observe Yom Kippur, life cycle events (such as bar/bat mitzvahs) and attend a Passover Seder. These activities, however, are insufficient to provide any reasonable certainty that succeeding generations will embrace a Jewish identity and engage in similar Jewish behaviors.
Fortunately, for those who know that they want their Jewish children today to be successful Jewish parents in 2050, there are ways to increase the odds that they stay in the fold. The key, the Pew data suggest, is to make some basic and intentional choices.
You should not only increase family synagogue attendance and religious awareness, but also regularly make matzah ball soup with your children and grandchildren, keep up with the latest Jewish news in the U.S. and Israel, and tune in to Jewish music on the internet. When traveling, plan to go out of your way to visit significant Jewish historical sites, and when at home, engage with the local Chabad house at least on occasion.
While these activities may seem rather simple and even innocuous, from the story told by the Pew data, those who intentionally pursue these activities may not only strengthen their own Jewish identity and connection to the American and Israeli Jewish communities, but they will also create, support and sustain the identities of their children and grandchildren, resulting in the sustenance of American Jewry to the end of the current century.
Finally, the rising fortunes of Orthodox Judaism also suggest lessons for other Abrahamic traditions that would like to see their fortunes sustained in the 21st century. Beyond attending services, focus on family devotions, plug into your own faiths religious media and music, and make regular pilgrimages to places that are meaningful for your tradition. Such steps are likely to protect you, your children and your community from the secular currents eroding the faith of many faithful young adults today.
Brad Wilcox is director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and The Future of Freedom fellow at the Institute for Family Studies.Sam Richardson is the director for small community outreach at the Jewish National Fund-USA and research specialist for the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia.
Originally posted here:
What Jewish group is thriving in the secular age? | Opinion - Deseret News
- Planned antisemitic day of hate instead becomes day of unity, defiance for US Jews - The Times of Israel - February 27th, 2023
- Jewish demographics in the U.S. | Pew Research Center - February 25th, 2023
- From dust to human: A new Hallmark rom-com puts a twist on the Jewish golem legend - The Times of Israel - February 25th, 2023
- Why this rising Italian politician is downplaying her Jewish roots - Haaretz - February 23rd, 2023
- Jewish abortion supporters nationwide gather in person and online to observe Repro Shabbat - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - February 23rd, 2023
- Man with animus against Jewish community arrested in L.A. shootings outside synagogues, sources say - Los Angeles Times - February 17th, 2023
- On Ukraine's front lines, Russia is razing Bakhmut's Jewish history to the ground - Haaretz - February 17th, 2023
- Congresswoman who claimed Jewish heritage reportedly had a grandfather who fought for the Nazis - Haaretz - February 17th, 2023
- Jewish history - Wikipedia - February 7th, 2023
- What it now means to be a Jewish Mavericks fan, courtesy of Kyrie Irving - Mavs Moneyball - February 7th, 2023
- Santos invites Democrat who exaggerated his Jewish observance as guest to the State of the Union - Forward - February 7th, 2023
- SA Jewish Board slams SA Rugby's withdrawal of Israeli team from new competition - News24 - February 7th, 2023
- 78 years on, Jewish Holocaust rescuers want their story told - The Associated Press - en Espaol - January 27th, 2023
- The French Jewish children who went to camp, but never came back - Haaretz - January 27th, 2023
- Texas painter unites religion and art in images inspired by Jewish life in the South - NOLA.com - January 27th, 2023
- Jewish doctors in the Warsaw Ghetto secretly documented the effects of Nazi-imposed starvation, and the knowledge is helping researchers today ... - January 27th, 2023
- Shapiro to be sworn-in on three Bibles with deep meaning to him, Jewish faithful - PennLive - January 12th, 2023
- Oman, once thought to be next Abraham Accords signer, criminalizes relations with Israel - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - January 8th, 2023
- Pope Benedict XVI, who went from Hitler Youth to advancing Catholic-Jewish relations, dies at 95 - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - January 3rd, 2023
- Alex Bregman wants his community to believe in progress: I want Jewish kids who dream about playing baseball to believe that they can" -... - January 3rd, 2023
- Community: Jewish veterans' graves honored at the BR National Cemetery - The Advocate - December 31st, 2022
- The Heirs of a Jewish Banker are Taking a Japanese Company to Court over an Allegedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh - ARTnews - December 20th, 2022
- Among those celebrating Argentinas World Cup win, cabala practitioners and a teary Jewish sportscaster - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 20th, 2022
- Trump to meet with Orthodox Jewish group on heels of Fuentes, Ye dinner - POLITICO - December 15th, 2022
- Hanukkah merch is hitting the shelves, but does that signify more Jewish representation? - Haaretz - December 13th, 2022
- We wish we were talking about Jewish joy: Rate of antisemitic incidents continue to spike, ADL official says - cleveland.com - December 13th, 2022
- Bakersfields oldest Jewish congregation sells downtown synagogue; developer will raze it and build new high-density housing - KGET 17 - December 13th, 2022
- How antisemitic rhetoric is impacting the Jewish community - NPR - November 8th, 2022
- Kanye West Blames the Jews - aish.com - Aish.com - October 19th, 2022
- 9000 kilometres of spirit The Australian Jewish News - Australian Jewish News - October 19th, 2022
- Here are the lessons Jewish security officials learned during the first High Holiday season since the Colleyville attack - eJewish Philanthropy - October 19th, 2022
- What Stanford's anti-Jewish bias looked like in the 1950s - Los Angeles Times - October 19th, 2022
- There are no Jews in the Alabama legislature. That could soon change. - Forward - October 19th, 2022
- Homeschooling and the Purpose of Jewish Education - aish.com - Aish.com - October 19th, 2022
- Jewish housing for disabled adults adds two residences in S.F. J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 19th, 2022
- Simchat Torah is the best Jewish speed-dating event - Forward - October 19th, 2022
- Women of Vision | Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - October 19th, 2022
- Why Hungarys Jews Are the Safest in Europe - The American Conservative - October 19th, 2022
- This would be the only national park telling the story of a Jewish American - Forward - October 19th, 2022
- Simchat Torah: A Jewish holiday of reading, renewal and resilience - The Conversation - October 19th, 2022
- Kanye West Seeks Reconciliation With Jewish Cabal To Collab On Yeezy X Jews Streetwear - The Onion - October 19th, 2022
- Cox withdraws from 'Unite the Right' event after Jewish group raises concerns - Maryland Matters - October 10th, 2022
- The Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance Has Warned That Yes Antisemitic Tweets Are A Threat To Black And Jewish Relations - BuzzFeed News - October 10th, 2022
- Berkeley's Jewish-Free Zones Are Worse Than You Think - Jewish Journal - October 10th, 2022
- What to wear to become a Jewish mother-in-law? - Forward - October 10th, 2022
- The ancient Jewish practice of hakhel, an every-7-years gathering, gets a 21st-century revival - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - October 10th, 2022
- Extermination Camp Run By Jews: On Yom Kippur, Cornell Set to Host Professor Who Compared Jews to Nazis - Washington Free Beacon - October 10th, 2022
- Long Island Jewish History Museum Opens in Glen Cove - Long Island Press - October 10th, 2022
- 'To be truly safe, we need our community': Jewish groups rally in Northampton for immigration justice - Amherst Bulletin - October 10th, 2022
- Jews on the move: The geographic dimension of Jewish survival in North America - eJewish Philanthropy - September 29th, 2022
- The Jewish word that no one uses anymore - Religion News Service - September 29th, 2022
- Jewish students fight hate in the High Holy Days with education - KPBS - September 29th, 2022
- Kandinsky painting returned to Jewish family as Netherlands shifts approach to looted art - St. Louis Jewish Light - September 29th, 2022
- Alarming letter referencing Nazis delivered to Staten Island Jewish man on Rosh Hashana - SILive.com - September 29th, 2022
- Your Daily Phil: Bicycling in Jerusalem + Jewish migration in the U.S. - eJewish Philanthropy - September 29th, 2022
- Amid rising threats, local Jewish orgs nab $2M in federal security funds J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 29th, 2022
- Newish Jewish, at Kossars and Beyond - The New Yorker - September 29th, 2022
- US Jewish leaders, Erdogan meet for the first time in three years - JNS.org - September 29th, 2022
- Campuses hit by antisemitism on Rosh Hashanah + Is this Broadways most Jewish play? - Forward - September 29th, 2022
- Voluntary dues afford us a better Jewish new year - eJewish Philanthropy - September 29th, 2022
- Jews. In Their Own Words review appalling revelations in a gallop through centuries of bigotry - The Guardian - September 29th, 2022
- Museum Of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial To The Holocaust Presents THE NEW YORK JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL This December - Broadway World - September 29th, 2022
- The significance of Rosh Hashanah for the Jewish community - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - September 29th, 2022
- Coming events, October 2022 - The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle - September 29th, 2022
- The Tuscan-Jewish Variation Of Fried Chicken You Should Know - Tasting Table - September 29th, 2022
- Jews and Weight Loss - aish.com - Aish.com - September 29th, 2022
- Rome & the World: Christians in the Gulf; popes and the Jewish Community of Rome - Aleteia - September 29th, 2022
- One-woman show is a journey through generations of Iraqi Jews J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 29th, 2022
- Putin tells Russian Jews he expects hefty contribution in New Years message - The Times of Israel - September 29th, 2022
- Gay Block's portraits of non-Jewish Holocaust rescuers on view in S.F. J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 8th, 2022
- Being Jewish together - Jewish Community Voice - September 8th, 2022
- Your financial support is a lifeline to Jews at home and around the world - Jewish Community Voice - September 8th, 2022
- LA deli exhibit puts a little mustard on the Jewish-American immigrant tale - The Times of Israel - September 8th, 2022
- Ive enjoyed working with the community - Australian Jewish News - September 8th, 2022
- With $73 million and counting, this organization is the backbone of the Jewish aid effort for Ukraine - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - September 8th, 2022
- They were forced to sell their beloved synagogue. 7 decades later, they finally have a chance to buy it back - Forward - September 8th, 2022
- The Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the Bombing of Auschwitz - Jewish Journal - September 8th, 2022
- Do these stats about 21st-century Jewish orgs sound right to you? - eJewish Philanthropy - September 8th, 2022
- The greatest Jewish Hollywood character youve never heard of - Forward - September 8th, 2022
- 'Four Winters' Reveals Jewish Womens Armed Resistance to Nazis During World War II - Ms. Magazine - September 8th, 2022
Comments