Lived Experiences of Young Adult Orthodox Jews Who Have Chosen Attrition from Orthodoxy

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological research is seeking to determine why young adult Orthodox Jews are leaving Orthodoxy. This is the focus of the research and the main research question. This study focuses on the lived experiences of those who have chosen attrition from an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. The research method, phenomenology, allows respondents the freedom to talk about their experiences uninterrupted. The same questions were asked of all the respondents and they were free to think about the past and verbally express their journey. The primary research question sought to determine the reasons for attrition. “What are the reasons for young adultOrthodox Jews to leave Orthodoxy?” As attrition rates are growing, it is critical to form a holistic picture of the phenomenon. Interviews were conducted using the same interview questions and allowing the respondent the time needed to think and speak their personal truth. Choosing a qualitative research methodology allowed the researcher to hear the stories of each individual. The interviews, taped and transcribed, were used to ensure the researcher would not lose the essence of the responses. According to phenomenology, interviews must be reduced, and meanings extracted to find the eidetic term that represents the phenomenon. In this study, the data was reduced in order to find the essence, the eidetic word “restrictiveness”. Other themes that emerged were stigma, trauma, loss of self-identity, shame, rebellion, and the desire for freedom. This study found that, those interviewed, felt alienated from family, school, and shul. Results showed that respondents did not know that attrition was a choice. They learned by acting out, using drugs, hanging out with kids who were on their way to attrition. Families used everything in their power to keep their child from choosing attrition. Currently, while not

Orthodox, the respondents do have relationships with their families of origin. Each respondent held onto one or more customs from their upbringing.