A shocking new report from the Pew Research Center has laid bare the heartbreaking reality of Jewish disaffiliation in America, where nearly one in four Jews raised as Jewish having abandoned their religious identity. The findings point to a troubling erosion of Yiddishkeit in the United States, raising urgent concerns about the future of Jewish continuity outside of ultra-Orthodox communities. The study, which surveyed nearly 37,000 Americans and over 41,000 individuals across 35 other countries, found that just 76% of American Jews continue to identify as Jewish, while a staggering 24% have drifted away. Of those, 17% now classify themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Even more distressing, 2% have converted to Christianity, and 1% to Islam—an alarming sign of assimilation at its worst. Meanwhile, in Israel, the numbers tell a vastly different story. The study found that 100% of Israeli respondents who were raised Jewish still identify as such. While Pew researchers acknowledge some margin of error, the stark contrast between the American and Israeli Jewish experience is undeniable. However, even within Israel, shifts in religious observance are occurring. The study found that 22% of Israeli Jews moved between different Jewish subgroups, such as from traditional to secular or from national religious to ultra-Orthodox. Older Israelis were significantly more likely than younger generations to have changed religious affiliation. Throughout Jewish history, the survival of our people has depended on our steadfast commitment to Torah and mitzvos. The Pew report, however, suggests that this commitment is weakening in America, where the temptations of secular culture continue to lure Jews away from their heritage. The rise of atheism, agnosticism, and the broader category of “nones”—those who claim no religious affiliation—represents an existential threat to Jewish identity. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)