The Religious Erosion-Assimilation Hypothesis: The Case of U.S. Jewish Immigrants

• Published in: Social science quarterly 1997-06, Vol.78 (2), p.472-486
• Main Author: Legge, Jerome S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assimilation; Children; Coefficients; Cultural assimilation; Factors; Immigrant adaptation; Immigrants; Immigration; International migration; Jewish culture; Jewish migration; Jewish people; Jewish peoples; Jews; Judaism; Neighborhoods; Noncitizens; Refugees; Religion; Religious Behavior; Religious commitment; Religious practices; The Consequences; U.S.A; United States; United States of America; Upbringing; USA
• ISSN: 0038-4941; 1540-6237

Objective. A great deal of scholarly literature links U.S. Jews' assimilation to the decline of religious practice. This article first establishes the characteristics of Jewish immigrants by comparing them with the native-born then develops a multivariate model to explain the assimilation of this group. Methods. The assimilation model is developed through Linear Structural Relations (LISREL). My primary hypothesis is that, controlling for all other factors, an "erosion" in religious observance is the primary causal factor in explaining assimilation. Results. The most important finding generated by the LISREL analysis is that, in line with the hypothesis, traditional religious observance works to thwart assimilation. A second important finding is that those Jews reared in or currently identifying with the more observant denominations are most likely to practice the religion and, in turn, to resist assimilation. Immigrants are more prone to assimilate as their length of time in the U.S. increases; however, age in itself is associated with opposition to assimilation. Conclusions. While this study confirms the importance of denomination and religious observance in resisting assimilation, the challenge to Jewish leadership is to develop strategies to encourage increased religious practice, a behavior that is difficult to control.