Overview terms and definitions

You qualify to fill this out if:

1)You were raised in an observant home (Observed at least Shabbat and kosher according to Orthodox Judaism) OR became observant on your own
                  AND
2) You stopped being observant either permanently or temporarily:

  1. * How would you classify your upbringing?
    2. Traditional
    Secular
    Modern Orthodox
    Halachik
    Yeshivish/Black
    Chassidic
  2. * How would you classifiy your elementary school?
    3. Secular
    Modern Orthodox
    Black
  3. * How would you classifiy your high school?
    4. Secular
    Modern Orthodox
    Black
    Chassidic
  4. * Did you attend yeshiva after high school?
    5. Yes
    No
  5. If yes, how many years did you attend?
  6. How would you classifiy the Yeshiva?
    7. Modern Orthodox
    Black
    Chassidic
  7. Did you attend YU?
    8. Yes
    No
  8. * At what age did you stop being observant?
  9. * What was the first mitzvah you broke?
  10. * At the time, did you feel bad about breaking the mitzvah?
    11. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  11. For how long have you not been or were you not observant (keep shabbat and kosher)?
  12. * Are you observant now?
    13. Yes
    No
  13. If you had to attribute your NOT being observant to one thing, what would it be (in a sentence)?
  14. * If you are single, do you see yourself being observant when/if you marry?
    15. Yes
    No
  15. * If you are married, did your marriage lead you to become more observant than you had been?
    16. Yes
    No
  16. * Overall, how would you rate the following?
    17. Relationship with parents growing up: Good Bad Fair Non-existent

    Relationship with teachers: Good Bad Fair Non-existent

    Orthodox Jewish school experience: Good Bad Fair Non-existent

    Orthodox Jew communal experience: Good Bad Fair Non-existent
  17. Did/do you have a Rav?
    18. Growing up
    Currently
    Neither
    Both
  18. Please identify which of the following you think are the three most ultimate values in life:
    19. Happiness
    Freedom
    Truth
    Goodness
    Love
    Family
    Growth
    Other

Your Family terms and definitions

  1. * How would you classify your parents’ observance level?
    2. Mother
    Secular
    Traditional
    Modern
    Halachik
    Black
    Chassidic
    Father
    Secular
    Traditional
    Modern
    Halachik
    Black
    Chassidic

  2. If they were different in observance levels, was that a source of tension between them?
    3. Yes
    No
  3. Growing up, were you exposed to the following (please check):
    4. TV
    Secular Music
    Secular Books
    Socializing with non-Jews
    Socializing with non-frum Jews
    Socializing with opposite sex
  4. * Did it bother you that you were not exposed to more?
    5. Yes
    No
  5. * Did you feel that observance was imposed on you?
    6. Yes
    No
  6. Did your family know then or at any point that you were not observant?
    7. Yes
    No
  7. How did they react when they found out?
    8. Understanding and supportive
    Dissapointed but accepting
    Angry and rejecting
  8. How many siblings do you have?
  9. How many of your siblings are observant?
  10. Are they ...
    11. Modern Orthodox
    Black
    Chassidic

Your Beliefs terms and definitions

  1. * How would you define being observant?
    2. Observing Shabbat and Kashrut
    Being Halachik
    Other

    Do you believe that:

  2. * GOD gave the Torah?
    3. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  3. * Talmudic Rabbis had the authority to apply the Torah/make rules?
    4. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  4. Rabbis today have the authority to make rules or apply the Torah?
    5. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  5. Orthodox Judaism expresses what God wants?
    6. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  6. If so, which of the following belief systems and/or groups best represent(s) what God wants from man:
    7. Traditional
    Modern Orthodox
    Halchick/Orthodox
    Yeshivish/Black
    Chassidic
    Any of the above
  7. God wants every Jew to Orthodox?
    8. Yes
    No
    Not Sure
  8. If so, which branch of orthodoxy do you think he wants Jews to be?
    9. Modern Orthodox
    Halachik
    Yeshivish/Black
    Chassidic
  9. Jewish women should cover their hair?
    10. Yes
    No
    Depends
  10. If so, is that because:
    11. God wants them to
    Other (please explain)

    Please respond by making a selection that best represents your feelings about the following statements about Orthodox Judaism:

  11. It can be practiced today properly:
    12. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  12. It is practiced properly today:
    13. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  13. It will make you a better person:
    14. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  14. It will make you more spiritual:
    15. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  15. It brings freedom:
    16. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  16. It is multicultural and inclusive:
    17. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  17. It is humanitarian in approach:
    18. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  18. It promotes happiness and fulfillment:
    19. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  19. It allows you to be whatever kind of person you want to be:
    20. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  20. It allows you to choose any kind of profession (barring illegal ones):
    21. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  21. I believe you can be involved in the secular world and remain truly Orthodox:
    22. Strongly agree
    Agree
    Not sure
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
  22. * Were you able to question these issues in class?
    23. Yes
    No
    Sometimes
  23. * Do you feel you were answered satisfactorily?
    24. Yes
    No
    Sometimes
  24. * Were you able to ask your parents about these and other questions or issues about orthodoxy?
    25. Yes
    No
    Sometimes
  25. If not, do you feel that these questions were appropriate/fully answered for you anyway?
    26. Yes
    No
    Sometimes

Your Education terms and definitions

    If you had to guess, to what extent would you say you have experienced the following in your Jewish education?

  1. Poor mentors:
    2. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  2. Teachers who were not well educated:
    3. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  3. Teachers who were dishonest:
    4. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  4. Teachers who were hypocritcal:
    5. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  5. Teachers who chided you too often or were overly dogmatic regarding observance:
    6. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  6. Teachers who for any reason could not or did not/could not relate to you:
    7. A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  7. Teachers who stifled your creative thinking:
    8. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  8. Teachers who stifled your analytical thinking:
    9. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  9. Teachers who could not answer your questions:
    10. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  10. Favoritism in the classroom based on observance level or yichus:
    11. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  11. Do you believe these relationships/experiences contributed in any way to your move away from observance?:
    12. Yes
    No
  12. Please comment on the above:

Your Communal Experience terms and definitions

    Have you ever been turned off by any of the following in the orthodox community?

  1. People who were smug, displayed an attitude of superiority:
    2. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  2. People who were intolerant of difference or non-observance:
    3. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  3. People who were hypocritical:
    4. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  4. People who berated or marginalized other observant communities:
    5. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  5. People who were racist:
    6. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  6. People who committed Chilul Hashem:
    7. None
    A few
    Many
    About half
    More than half
    Most
  7. Do you believe these relationships/experiences contributed to your move away from observance?
    8. Yes
    No
  8. Please comment on the above:

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