The American Jewish Future: Orthodox, Right-Wing, Poor?

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The American Jewish Future: Orthodox, Right-Wing, Poor?

David Bernstein • June 13, 2012 9:02 am

A new study of the American Jewish population in the New York metro area contains this stunning statistic: sixty-one percent of all Jewish children in the area live in Orthodox households.

This is a remarkable statistic. It’s probably NEVER been the case in American history that such a high percentage of young Jews in New York identified as Orthodox. Contrary to popular myth, a significant percentage of the Jews who immigrated to the U.S. from Europe had already abandoned religious orthodoxy before they arrived. It was rebellious young people who were most likely to leave their family for what the pious called the “treife medinah” (unkosher land). Another significant group abandoned religious orthodoxy soon after they arrived in America, though many kept vestiges of religious observance such as kashrut out of cultural habit (my maternal grandparents never went to synagogue and were atheists, but they only bought kosher food), leading their descendants to remember them as more “religious” than they really were.

Meanwhile, the same study reports that among non-Orthodox Jews the intermarriage rate in the New York area, which in the past was a stronghold of endogamy, is around fifty percent.

New York is the center of American orthodoxy, but given that New York area Jews comprise approximately 25% of the total American Jewish population, and Orthodox Judaism is growing elsewhere in the U.S. as well, the short-term implications (it’s a fools errand to try to predict long-term demographic trends) seem pretty clear. “Identified” American Jews (as opposed to “Americans with Jewish ancestry”) are going to become an increasingly Orthodox group. Orthodox Jews are significantly more “right-wing” (but are probably actually less “libertarian”), especially on cultural issues, than are other Jews, are, as a rule, far more closely attached to Israel, and, especially outside modern Orthodox circles, have a very high poverty rate–a result of an educational system that focuses on Talmud and subcultures that often discourage secular higher education.

For what it’s worth, I’ve noticed that modern Orthodox Jews, who pursue secular education as vigorously as anyone and don’t share the haredi (ultra-orthodox) preference for insularity, have become increasingly visible in the Federalist Society.

Also, the relevant study show that half of New York area Jews between ages 18 and 34 have attended Jewish day school at some point. The figure is undoubtedly higher among the younger cohort, given the Orthodox commitment to day schools. American Jewish organizations have traditionally been among the strongest supporters of public schools, and the strongest opponents of any sort of public funding of religious schools. That will almost certainly change.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Same thing happening in Israel. The Orthodox are out-breeding secular, liberal Jews.

[Captain Oates 911]

Same thing happening in Israel. The Orthodox are out-breeding secular, liberal Jews.

When they are rocking back and forth - they aren't praying, they are practicing

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When they are rocking back and forth - they aren't praying, they are practicing

practicing what?

[Laveau 67]

Secks for procreation

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oh

[catknit 144]

Same thing happening in Israel. The Orthodox are out-breeding secular, liberal Jews.

Same with the Amish - they double in population roughly every 20 years. This is why there are colonies all around the US now. Having 7-14 kids per family will do that....

[Yes, I know adding this into the mix is random but I just took the hubby to Lancaster this weekend as he didn't "get" Amish. He is floored and confused...I'd bet a lot of immigrants to the US would see the Amish or the Haredi in the NYC greater-area as strange scenarios].

[Captain Oates 911]

Same with the Amish - they double in population roughly every 20 years. This is why there are colonies all around the US now. Having 7-14 kids per family will do that....

[Yes, I know adding this into the mix is random but I just took the hubby to Lancaster this weekend as he didn't "get" Amish. He is floored and confused...I'd bet a lot of immigrants to the US would see the Amish or the Haredi in the NYC greater-area as strange scenarios].

That's the first side effect of not having a telly...you don't realize how unattractive your wife is after 14 kids and just keep going.

[mawilson 2,133]

Same thing happening in Israel. The Orthodox are out-breeding secular, liberal Jews.

Somebody has to, otherwise your people would outbreed everyone.

[Captain Oates 911]

If I was given the option of being a suicide bomber or out-breeding the opposition, I would cast my mind back to how it was having a house full of kids and a car full of morning sickness vomit - and then chose the former

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Somebody has to, otherwise your people would outbreed everyone.

I am American

[Captain Oates 911]

I am American

Me too ! Let's get drunk !

[mawilson 2,133]

Somebody has to, otherwise your people would outbreed everyone.

I am American

You mean you are an illegal genocidal occupier of Native American lands? You must leave immediately and go back to 1492 borders.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

You mean you are an illegal genocidal occupier of Native American lands? You must leave immediately and go back to 1492 borders.

Already debated this tack (I think it's #17 on the official list of Zio Obfuscation Points) with Scandal, beginning more or less here and continuing for a few pages...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/332194-iran-assails-two-state-solution-for-palestinians/page__st__75__p__4936223#entry4936223

So in short, this attempt at making an analogy flops.

[mawilson 2,133]

Already debated this tack (I think it's #17 on the official list of Zio Obfuscation Points) with Scandal, beginning more or less here and continuing for a few pages...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/332194-iran-assails-two-state-solution-for-palestinians/page__st__75__p__4936223#entry4936223

So in short, this attempt at making an analogy flops.

I remember. Scandal kicked your аss in that thread good and proper and debunked all your false claims and talking points.