Orthodoxy has to deal with the status and treatment of 51%of its population…women. Women are the linchpin of the family, how they are perceived, involved and treated in orthodoxy will impact our survival. My mother was born in 1900 ,in the last century women were largely unschooled in yeshiva or university settings,.today the majority .of university and professional school enrollment are women.. Society has changed but not the world of orthodoxy. The Movie UNORTHODOX, two best selling books of women leaving Haredi communities (Satmar, Chabad) and various documentaries hilite this phenomenon. The shul remains a private mens club, even in… Read more »
Yitzhak Berman
2 years ago
I would place the emphasis on Jewish identity rather than mitzvot. I am aware it is a lower stage of commitment but with such large numbers of non-identifying Jews it is the place to go.
Shira Spielman
2 years ago
Unfortunately, a lot has to do with money, and day schools over-celebrating the sports and smart, functioning kids. Kids who have learning and social challenges are on the fringe. The social structure puts the sporty and rich kids at the top, those who are “cool” but unfortunately not always kind, inclusive or thoughtful. Genuine sensitivity, and not prioritizing those with money, could go a long way to helping this issue. Dynamic, energetic, yet considerate teachers and leaders who don’t play favorites are necessary. In addition, teaching males to be respectful of females is imperative.
Pesach Rogoway
2 years ago
I wonder what the statistics are for Orthodox Jews in Israel. I believe there are fewer than in America that do not consider religion an important part of their lives. Here, we are among Jews, most of whom respect our way of life, join us on occasion in our performance of mitzvot, sometimes send their children to religious schools, etc. I feel at home, more comfortable and closer to Hashem. Our lives here are seamless. And by the way, our shul is not a Mens Club. It is a kehillah,with women on The Committee, with as many shiurim for women… Read more »
Fotheringay-phipps
2 years ago
I believe Dr Brown is making an error in logic in looking for factors which apply to older people, in assessing why it is that older Orthodox Jews have higher “dropout” rates. Specifically in assuming that older people raised Orthodox who dropped out are necessarily people who dropped out when they older. But the numbers don’t show that. IMHO, the higher prevalence of such people is because in the older generation of Orthodox Jews there were many people who were nominally Orthodox (in that they attended an Orthodox synagogue) or very tenuously Orthodox. These people likely moved away from Orthodoxy… Read more »
Orthodoxy has to deal with the status and treatment of 51%of its population…women. Women are the linchpin of the family, how they are perceived, involved and treated in orthodoxy will impact our survival. My mother was born in 1900 ,in the last century women were largely unschooled in yeshiva or university settings,.today the majority .of university and professional school enrollment are women.. Society has changed but not the world of orthodoxy. The Movie UNORTHODOX, two best selling books of women leaving Haredi communities (Satmar, Chabad) and various documentaries hilite this phenomenon. The shul remains a private mens club, even in… Read more »
I would place the emphasis on Jewish identity rather than mitzvot. I am aware it is a lower stage of commitment but with such large numbers of non-identifying Jews it is the place to go.
Unfortunately, a lot has to do with money, and day schools over-celebrating the sports and smart, functioning kids. Kids who have learning and social challenges are on the fringe. The social structure puts the sporty and rich kids at the top, those who are “cool” but unfortunately not always kind, inclusive or thoughtful. Genuine sensitivity, and not prioritizing those with money, could go a long way to helping this issue. Dynamic, energetic, yet considerate teachers and leaders who don’t play favorites are necessary. In addition, teaching males to be respectful of females is imperative.
I wonder what the statistics are for Orthodox Jews in Israel. I believe there are fewer than in America that do not consider religion an important part of their lives. Here, we are among Jews, most of whom respect our way of life, join us on occasion in our performance of mitzvot, sometimes send their children to religious schools, etc. I feel at home, more comfortable and closer to Hashem. Our lives here are seamless. And by the way, our shul is not a Mens Club. It is a kehillah,with women on The Committee, with as many shiurim for women… Read more »
I believe Dr Brown is making an error in logic in looking for factors which apply to older people, in assessing why it is that older Orthodox Jews have higher “dropout” rates. Specifically in assuming that older people raised Orthodox who dropped out are necessarily people who dropped out when they older. But the numbers don’t show that. IMHO, the higher prevalence of such people is because in the older generation of Orthodox Jews there were many people who were nominally Orthodox (in that they attended an Orthodox synagogue) or very tenuously Orthodox. These people likely moved away from Orthodoxy… Read more »