Off The Derech

What image comes to mind when you read the following words:

• Rebellion
• Attrition
• Youth exhibiting the most extreme behavior
• At risk
• Hotline
• Socially unacceptable
• Problematic
• Off the derech

Until you reach the last bullet point, the picture painted is one of severe degeneracy or perhaps mental illness. I just read Faranak Margolese’s Off The Derech: Why Observant Jews Leave Judaism & How to Respond to the Challenge. I understand that Off The Derech is geared toward the frum community, but as you might gather, I find offensive some of the language used to describe those who leave Orthodoxy.

Thoughts/Observations:

1. I consider myself a thinker, and I found it a bit disappointing that Margolese plays down any possible role that critical thought might have in people going “off the derech.” Margolese finds (and I wasn't so convinced that her book was scientific) that most who leave Orthodoxy are “pushed out” rather than “pulled in.” I’m curious whom she interviewed, and I wonder whether those who abandon MO Judaism are any different in their reasons from those who abandon Charedi Judaism? (In a sweeping generalization, I would surmise that MOJs are more likely to be "thinking abandoners" and Charedim pulled in by secular society.)

2. “Debbie Greenblatt, former Director of Project YES, notes that she has yet to meet someone who has left observance who does not believe in God.” Who wants to introduce Ms. Greenblatt to Jewish Atheist?

3. Off the Derech supports XGH’s theology: “Educators say that, when you ask most children why they keep the Torah, they give the same resounding response: Because God told us to. But when you ask them how they know this, you get another resounding response: silence. This would not be such a problem if they had other reasons to be observant – if they believed that Judaism fostered happiness and fulfillment, provided meaning, inspiration, etc…” Sounds like Margolese is endorsing XGH's values-driven theology...