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You asked: Were the survey participants self-selected (rather than being a true sampling of the demographic)? Was participation strongly solicited among footsteps members (who represented a large percent of the survey responses)? Have the authors of the survey addressed the issue of respondents providing self-serving responses to the questions?
Thease are good questions. The full report has a detailed description of the sample process and I encourage you to read it.
24% of respondents were Footsteps members, so they are not overly represented.
The question of the extent to which their responses were self-serving versus honest is of course one that is unanswerable. To not believe them and say they are spinning a positive story that is untrue would be to nullify what 885 people said. There are 12 pages of extensive verbatim comments towards the end of the full report, and I encourage you to read them. And let me know what you think; does it sound honest or not? I would love to get your thoughts on this.
I want to say again that we should not nullify these people. I think Rabbi Fischer’s unsubstantiated charge that he just threw out there gave a lot of people an excuse to shut their minds to the responses and thus is harmful. Listen to these people. That is why we devoted eight months and a lot of money to the study. Because it is important that we hear what they’re saying so that we can understand what is going on. Thank you.
Hi, everyone. Gut voch and Shavua Tov. I’m the researcher who did this survey, so can I add some thoughts?
Our Business name is Nishma because we need to start listening to each other better within the Jewish people. That’s why we funded and did this study … because these people have never had a voice.
Let me first say that the survey is publicly available and please read it … everything is downloadable at link removed
I think Rav Fischer’s attitude (don’t listen to them, they are spinning a false story) is harmful. We are all jewish souls and deserve respect. I think Rav Fisher’s position creates lack of respect, to some extent, for the OTD person. Shouldn’t we hear them out, and then together discuss what they say are the reasons why they left, before dismissing them out of hand?
I do have to say that the vast majority of comments at the Cross-Currents responded to Rav Fischer with disagreement for his position. So I’m glad there are open-minded people willing to listen.
Anyway, as stated above, please read the study. There is also a pretty short summary version of it, and yu can read through that in 10 minutes, so read that if the full report is too long.
Nishma … let us all listen …. Thank you.