SSC: The percentage of young American Jews who consider themselves Orthodox is growing, a trend that will likely reshape the U.S. Jewish community, according to a report by the American Jewish Committee.
The recent study found that 16 percent of Jewish adults ages 18-29 are Orthodox. That’s nearly double the percentage of Orthodox among Jews ages 35-39.
Orthodox Jews are also more likely to be married by age 30, while more than half of all American Jews under the age of 40 are not married, according to the report.
The trend means a higher percentage of future Jewish leaders will probably be Orthodox, shifting the entire community in a more conservative direction, the AJC said.
“Younger Orthodox adults are likely to play increasingly important roles in organized Jewish life given their commitments, numbers and fertility patterns,” said Steven Bayme, the group’s director of contemporary Jewish life.
The American Jewish population is estimated to be 5.5 million to 6 million people.
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