Thanks so much for your responses. Ill try my best.
1.”You left out the most interesting tidbit many of us want to know. What percentage of kids in your world would you guess (since you didn’t conduct any studies…) become OTD?”
First, I would refer you to:
Link removed
Second, if you look at page 9 of the survey — it talks about kids becoming more or less observant than their parents. It doesnt talk about OTD. (Meaning, less observant can mean “not covering their hair” or not learning. So i dont know.). I would say that the Open Orthodox report that half their kids are LESS observant than they are. Pageg 34 of the survey indicates that OO and left wing modern orthodox have a higher number of OTD.
Third, anecdotally, in my community — its really hard to tell. Of my friends, i dont see it too often but i would not think that 1 out of 10, or 2 out of 10 — is off the mark. Our shul, on Yom Tov has a lot of grandkids running around with peyot though and sons/son in laws with hats. I guess the kids that are OTD are not there. (Also — i think — and this is just my opinion — as the “kids” become 26, 27 and older — and are not married — there observance wanes. Some, if they are in NY — will continue to be in the UWS type community but others also drift away).
2.And what percentage attend college, since you mentioned that’s where you lose them to Yiddishkeit? Additionally, is YU just as risky as any mainstream/ non Jewish college?
Almost ALL attend college. Many attend YU and Touro. YU and Touro are not nearly as “risky” as non Jewish Colleges but then again its a self selecting group. (I went to YU — i know the good and the not so good). Many of the kids CHOOSE to go to YU — so if you are already electing to go to YU, you are in a much different group than is going to Maryland, Rutgers or Binghamton. (My son wanted to go to Binghamton and we said no. So he learned in Israel for 2 years and joined the IDF and stayed in iSrael. (May he didnt like our decision). He is dati leumi/ shomer shabbat and his wife covers her hair. (Just so you can visualize). I went to an IVY league grad school. There were kids there who were very committed to Judaism and learned constantly. But others went to the school in order to drift away and did.
3. how about all those who was still wearing kipot Or the like
going through the motions In an artificial way but that’s about it?
There are many. Some who wear shreimels and hats. For some, emunah is easy. For others, practice is easy. I have never had a problem with kashrus or shabbos — or ever considered not doing either. Emunah is challenging.
4. “They get all their cues From Spirit destroying Society.”
Sorry — i didnt undersand this one.
SL613