Survey On Adolescent Adjustment in the Frum Community

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jewishDear Friends,

[Link below.] There has been much discussion and concern about the many problems facing our youth in the observant community. It is no doubt a very complex and multifaceted problem with no simple solutions. Although it is apparent that the disaffection among our youth is serious, all evidence that we have to date is anecdotal in nature. In order to attack this problem in a serious way, Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education with the Association of Jewish Outreach Programs is conducting a study of adolescent adjustment in the Orthodox Jewish community.

The focus of the study will be on adolescents growing up in families who are newly observant as well as adolescents born into families whose parents have been observant from birth. The survey, to be completed by parents who have adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19, should take approximately 30 minutes. It is completely confidential and anonymous. The researchers will not be able to trace the identity of participants in the study.

In our times of financial stress, rapid assimilation and attrition of the religious community from within, we need to focus our efforts and our resources in the most effective way possible. A well conducted, scientific survey of our youth and families is one of the best tools to help us know what the problems affecting our youth are.  It will help understand their mindset, and, therefore, help us to help them.

Please help us and complete the survey by December 22. The survey is to be completed by parents, not the adolescent. Only one parent should complete the form.

Thank you so much for your participation in the study which will help us better meet the mental health needs of adolescents in our community. 

Please click on the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7LDWVZ2

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun
National Director, AJOP

David Pelcovitz, Ph.D.

Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Education,

Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration

Judith Cahn

Maneli Foundation Doctoral Fellow

Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


8 COMMENTS

  1. It probably won’t be a very truthful report of across the spectrum.I could be wrong but I assume more of the Modern Orthodox will take the survey (due a lot to the fact that it’s an online survey) as opposed to the very yeshivish and chassidish.
    When they do process the polls, they should print which percentages of the types of schools were surveyed, which will give a more wholesome picture.

  2. I read the first page and it seems geared for Baalei Teshuva and not those who were frum from birth – the questions regarding how long the responder has been orthodox…
    #1 is right. This is the limitation of all surveys and will have to be factored in statistically. But I do believe it is a great first step. Hatzlocha Raba.

  3. I’ve looked at this survey and it seems very well done (I know something about surveys professionally.) If you have a teenager, please take it. It’s for everyone, FFB and BT. Not only will it help the study, but the questions will make you think about the relationships in your family and with your teenager, and perhaps identify areas where there could be improvement (or where you’re actually doing well 🙂

    And not only do you get to identify if you are FFB, BT, ger, but also have a choice of Yeshivish, Chassidish, “Other” and three (3!) types of Modern Orthodox. I’m sure the responses will be analyzed by “type” as well.

    Kol hakavod to the people doing the survey.

  4. I have tremendous respect for Modern Orthodoxy, unfortunately Modern Orthodoxy has very little respect for the Chareidi world. As a Chareidi professional woman in the workforce I have had several professional interactions with Stern “girls” and none of it positive – there’s an innate contempt imbued in this population for any woman who hasn’t come out of the YU mold.

    There’s a sense of entitlement and superiority that moves with these women that is unbecoming and appalling, especially towards Chareidi women in the over 40 population – a “you didn’t make it and we did” sensibility that is impossible to deal with in a work environment.

    Case in point – I know one of the doctoral candidates at Azrieli currently – who is dismissive of and contemptuous of all that is Chareidi – although she has frequently tried to work in a Chareidi context…and she is likely one of the Azrieli students tasked with evaluating the final data points.

    When I was trying to explain to her our commonality as Orthodox Jewish women – she said, “Oh no! We have nothing in common. I come from New Jersey and you come from Brooklyn.”

    To many YU women, Chareidi women don’t look right, don’t talk right, don’t believe right, and are never right.

    Dr. Pelcovitz is a giant who has devoted his life to the whole of the Jewish community – seeking to support the underpinnings of success for American Orthodoxy – but the caliber of student at Stern and Azrieli may not be up to his standards of inclusiveness and scholarship – Chareidi women do not need to prove to Modern Orthodox women that they are worthy of consideration in the realm of intelligence and accomplishment.

  5. It looks like this survey is being done by the same people who did the happiness in marraige survey a while back. The results that they made available to the public were fairly meaningless. Why spend a half an hour filling out a yentish survey when you can spend it with your teenager?!

  6. the main problem is emunah
    second is self esteem/depression.
    i’m 17 and learning in a top yeshivah
    but i had a year in the dumps, and came
    back with “da ma l’hoshiv l’apikores”.
    recomended reading:1)r avigdor miller rejoice o
    youth
    2)r’ waldman-beyond a
    reasonable doubt
    3)for intellectuals,
    permission to believe
    by r’ Lawrence Keleman

  7. I took the survey.
    My husband and I sought the truth since our child hoods. The amount of misinformation we were handed is astounding and full of dead ends. We found it 8 years ago when we were in our 40’s. I was truthful. The description option which I had to choose was not accurate, because there was no choice for the way we feel.
    Our identification is mixed. We would tell you that we look at ourselves as Charadi, with feelings toward Chasidut. We daven at Aish on Friday nights because of the beautiful singing. On Saturday morning I go to Young Israel. My husband does most of the rest of his weekly davening at the Khollel. We adore Yosef Kardunner, because he up lifts our spirits. I was told that my family background from the 19th century is Chasidish, but I didn’t know that till last year. My husband’s second conversion was Orthodox.My daughter is happy going to an all girls Orthodox Jewish High School.

  8. We are living in a time were there are no ghettos, its a global village, whether it is Monroe, Meah Shearim, BP, Crown Heights Flatbush, Stamford Hill or Tosh young people are questioning, going on line either from home or other means.
    The avalanche of secularism is here, there is no hiding.
    We as parents and educators need to stay very close to our children and honestly answer all their questions.If we cant find a friend Rabbi or educator that can.
    Torah is the answer but it must be taught with seichel and warmth.
    There is no room for negativity.
    Simcha Poretz Geder.

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