What I Learned from the Pew Report on Orthodox Jews in America

Abstract

Questions about the representativeness of Pew’s small sample of Orthodox Jews are raised. The tensions operating in the Orthodox world among the Haredi and Modern Orthodox are examined. For the former, their embrace of the Republican party appears contrary to their self-interest in receiving government aid to support their large, poor families. For the latter, their pursuit of higher education and advanced degrees, which provides them the opportunity for greater income to support their families, produces a more open attitude that might challenge Orthodox beliefs and behaviors.