The Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis, America’s largest foundation, had previously funded and studied various reports about mainline Christian denominations that had experienced a membership loss of between 20% and 33% from their mid-1960s levels. At the same time, the results of the National Jewish Population Study (1990), which indicated upward spiraling rates of assimilation and intermarriage in the Jewish community, had created much concern.
Can a religious youth movement address the spiritual and practical needs of high school students who may be "at risk" or barely involved in their faith and practices? Thanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment titled "Faithful Youth," the Orthodox Union was able to commission an independent survey and analysis of the programs, staff and membership of its youth organization, the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY).* Formed in 1959, today this organization serves tens of thousands of young people across the United States and Canada, with a special program addressing the needs of Israeli youth.
The results of the survey impressed even those deeply involved in the kiruv organization. Engaging the interest of the press, Jewish leadership and grassroots constituents of all denominations, the Lilly study quantifies a 40-year success story. In future issues, Jewish Action will explore the ramifications of the 202-page report. For now, we present some of the findings that are generating the excitement.
As stated by its national and regional directors, NCSY’s mission is to: "provide the most effective social, educational, and inspirational Jewish environment designed to motivate Jewish teenagers to follow an exemplary Torah way of life." A series of goals derive from this mission. The following chart lists the goals and compares them with findings of the Lilly Endowment survey.
NCSY’S GOALS FOR MEMBERS |
NCSY
ALUMNI/AE TODAY - |
|
| To affiliate with and regularly attend services in synagogues. | 92% said they are affiliated with a synagogue. Eight of ten men and almost half of the women attend religious services at least once a week. | |
| To achieve or maintain a high level of religious observance. | During their NCSY years, almost two out of three either increased their level or religious observance (48%) or maintained a high level of observance (16%). Almost three out of five said they are more observant today than in high school. | |
| To continue their Jewish education past high school. | 40% continued their Jewish education past high school by attending a college which incorporates Judaic Studies as a mandatory element of its curriculum (e.g. Yeshiva University or Touro College). | |
| To enroll in religious learning programs in Israel after high school. | 50% attended a yeshiva program in Israel. | |
| To spend time studying Jewish texts. | 65% spend at least some time studying Jewish texts every week. | |
| To contribute to and play an active role in the Jewish community. | Almost 70% belong to at least one Jewish organization (other than a synagogue group), and large numbers are actively involved in these groups. Smaller but significant percentages are involved in non-religious community voluntary work. | |
| To attain or maintain belief and faith in the God of Israel and in the divine character of the Torah. | All but 4% agree (76% strongly) that the Torah was revealed to Moses at Sinai, and all but seven percent agree (66% strongly) that religious faith is a very important part of their lives. |
A review of the results of the NJPS and the Lilly Survey show different levels of Jewish beliefs and practices and more importantly, different trends. Of all Jews surveyed by the NJPS the overwhelming trend was clear: movement was occurring in the Jewish community, but it was movement away from observance. With NCSY the opposite appears to be true. Fifty-eight percent say that they are more religious now than when they were raised, and 94% of those who said that they were Orthodox while in high school are still Orthodox today. In sharp contrast to escalating intermarriage rates of the general Jewish population, 98% of former NCSYers married Jews. In fact, fully 33% of married former NCSYers married other former NCSYers and 17% actually met each other via NCSY.
That lasting effect of the NCSY experience was borne out by the numbers as well. To quote the report: When we compare the changes in religious observance that have occurred since high school with those examined earlier that occurred over the (NCSY) high school years, we find a pattern of continuous change. …The data suggest that the process of increased religious observance that we found to be strongly related to active involvement in NCSY, does not stop with the end of the NCSY experience. Rather, those who may have been influenced to become more observant during the NCSY years, tended to continue their association with the organization as voluntary or paid staff, tended to spend a year or more studying at yeshivas in Israel, tended to pursue their higher education at a Jewish college -- all of which served to keep them in strongly religious environments and to further their own religious development.
*The project was managed by the consulting firm of Perry Davis Associates in New York City. Principal investigator for the study was Dr. Nathalie Friedman, a sociologist at Barnard College. The project was guided by a national and interdisciplinary advisory committee chaired by Professor Chaim I. Waxman of Rutgers University.
