More Secular and More Religious Young American Jews - The 18th World Congress of Jewish Studies

The Pew 2020 survey of American Jews revealed that compared with their parents’ and grandparents’ generations, young Jews make up larger shares of both the most religious, the Orthodox (17% among ages 18-29 compared with 3% among 65+), and the most secular, those who do not identify with any Jewish denomination (41% among ages 18-29 compared with 22% among 65+). My presentation, based mostly on Pew 2020, discusses the causes and consequences of such generational gaps.

The Orthodox marry young and on average have three times as many children as Jews with no particular denomination. Moreover, intermarriage is almost non-existent among the Orthodox (2%) while a common occurrence among non-denominational Jews (68%). These demographic differences are the main reason for the large share of the most religious among young Jews.

Outside of Orthodoxy, young Jews tend to be more secular than their parents. This explains the large share of the least religious among young Jews.

Being at one pole or the other correlates strongly with one`s lifestyle and worldviews. For 83% of Orthodox Jews, but only 5% of non-denominational Jews, an essential part of being Jewish is “observing Jewish law.” Seventy-five percent of the Orthodox identify as Republicans while 75% of Jews of other branches or of no denomination identify as Democrats. The Middle East conflict and support for Israel have become wedge issues tearing apart many Jewish communities and leading to societal rifts.

Jewish peoplehood was once thought to be a bedrock value for all Jews, but it is eroding, particularly among Jews of no denomination. The Orthodox continue to embrace the principle of Ezrat Ahim, the responsibility to help other Jews, although it isn’t clear how much they regard less religious Jews as brethren.

Pinker (2021) projects that by 2063 there will be roughly equal numbers of Orthodox, Conservative/Reform and non-denominational Jews. That will further change the character and dynamics of American Jewry.