The following commentary is from TheJewishAdvocate.com [1]. It was posted there on July 3, 2008.

Two weeks ago, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released the results of its study on religion in America. And although the Jewish community was just one of the several religiously-affiliated groups surveyed, the findings touch upon some well-established themes.

According to the study, American Jews are largely liberal in their religious and social views. Roughly 65 percent identify with the Democratic Party and only a small percentage is opposed to abortion and gay lifestyles, a stark contrast with other religious groups.

Jews are also more global in their view of American responsibility - 53 percent say it's best for the U.S. to be active in world affairs, the highest percentage of any religious group by far.

Jews are more likely to have advanced education, according to the study. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed have a college degree, compared to 26 percent of religious groups overall. And 46 percent of Jews make over $100,000 annually, significantly more than the national total of 18 percent.

But in terms of religion, Jews are less likely than their religious brethren to pray weekly (44 percent compared to 75 percent overall), regularly attend worship services (16 percent compared to 39 percent) and believe in God (83 percent compared to 92 percent).

So, what are we to make of the numbers? Undoubtedly, the findings will provide fodder for all sorts of political and religious zealotry.

"With education and material wealth comes Godlessness," some might say.

"Jews obviously understand the value of education and tikkun olam [repairing or perfecting the world] more than most," others will conclude.

And anti-Semites will inevitably use the study to prop up images of "rich, liberal, power-hungry Jews."

Caveats are therefore necessary in reading into the survey's most striking findings.

A mere 1.7 percent of the American population is Jewish. Not all are rich. Not all are educated. And not all are liberal. Many Jews spend their lives toiling away for a pittance doing charity and non-profit work (14 percent make under $30,000, according to the study). Some cannot afford college or must sacrifice an education to support their family.

And conservative-leaning Jews make up a significant portion of the Jewish community (21 percent, the study found).

But despite the study's shortcomings, its findings are not baseless. The stereotype of "religious folk" - uneducated, unmotivated simpletons that cling to religion as a means of survival - is not a mold that most Jews fit. We are educated and still value our faith community as a tool for cultivating the spirit and combating social ills.

We are ambitious but dedicated to reaching out beyond our faith and nation to better the world at large. We are intellectually curious and eager to look critically at our own sacred texts and institutions. And we are strong enough as a community to look critically at ourselves.

Indeed, Jews are significantly different than the rest of the nation's religious adherents. And that might not be such a horrible thing.

source: TheJewishAdvocate.com [2]

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