The Direction of Denominational Switching in Judaism

Authors: SANDS, ROBERTA G.¹; MARCUS, STEVEN C.²; DANZIG, RIVKA A.³

Source: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 45, Number 3, September 2006 , pp. 437-447(11)

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Abstract:

This research note examines patterns of denominational switching and the characteristics of switchers within Judaism in the United States. Viewing orthodox, conservative, and reform Judaism and a fourth “nonspecific” group as categories that range from the most traditional to the least traditional, respectively, we focus on the movement of individuals toward or away from a more traditional denomination in comparison with remaining in the same denomination in which they were raised. The data were drawn from the National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS) 2000-2001 (NJPS 2003). We found that 62 percent stay within the same group, 29 percent move away from tradition, and 9 percent move to a more traditional denomination. Multivariate logistic regression analyses show that a lower level of Jewish background, higher previous travel to Israel, a greater extent of organizational affiliation, and a higher level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a more traditional denomination whereas a higher level of Jewish background, lower previous travel to Israel, and a lower level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a less traditional denomination. In addition, a few sociodemographic factors (previously married, has a child at home, lives in a western state) are associated with movement toward tradition whereas others (older age, female, not living in the northeast or west) are associated with movement in the other direction.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2006.00317.x

Affiliations: 1: Roberta G. Sands is a Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice, 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-62104., Email: rgsands@sp2.upenn.edu 2: Steven C. Marcus is a Research Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice., Email: marcussc@att.net 3: Rivka Danzig, Instructor, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice.

Publication date: 2006-09-01

The Direction of Denominational Switching in Judaism

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