Pew Report on American Jewry

http://www.pewforum.org/files/2013/10/jewish-american-survey-full-report.pdf
I know I posted yesterday, but this report just came out, and these things are so much fun. Hence, a few comments as I read:

Page 9- I had heard that intermarriage rates were stable or declining since the 90's, when they were around half. That does not seem to be the case, with rates near 3/5 since 2000.

Page 11- I would like to see the Conservative and Reform denominational switching numbers broken down by age as well. It certainly changes the picture for Orthodoxy (on page 49, will get to it later). Also curious about the "no-denomination" group that still identifies as religious; Pew's spectrum places them right on the border of non-religious, yet the more observant the upbringing, the more likely to end up there.

Page 13- Jews of no religion confuse me. 16% believe God gave Israel to the Jews? Not that I'm complaining...

Page 24- 1.3 million adults with Jewish mothers aren't being included here at all, identifying neither religiously nor culturally. Also, 900,000 of those adults who are counted do not have a Jewish mother. A count of halakhic Jews might give very different answers to many of these questions.

Page 36- Text and chart contradict. Among religious Jews since 2005, is the intermarriage rate 55% or 45%?

Page 40- Completed fertility has its advantages, but I would like to see TFR (total fertility rate) as well. This only tells about the previous generation, and I am skeptical that there are no generational differences in fertility.

Page 43- Interesting to note that hareidim graduate college at the same rate as Christians and are slightly more likely to be well off than Conservative or non-denominational Jews.

Page 49- Weird stuff going on with orthodoxy. Only 1% of 18-29 year old Jews are Modern Orthodox, compared to 3-4% of older Jews? And even the Hareidi share declines in that age bracket? Despite dramatically lower attrition rates for that age bracket than any other? Also, is there any rhyme or reason to the numbers becoming "not Jewish"? I can't think of any historical background that would explain the massive fluctuations. Aside from that anomaly, it looks to me like the phenomenon of becoming non-religious (low level, constant over time) is separate from the phenomenon of whether to remain Orthodox given the decision to be religious. There, not only do we see more retention, but also those who leave have become much more likely to become non-denominational rather than join the progressives. Very interesting.

Page 52- Modern Orthodox have the least pride in being Jewish of any religious group, but the highest level of identification with the Jewish people. Curious.

Page 57- Lots to say here. Women rate every single aspect as more essential than men do, sometimes by large margins. Holocaust remembrance rates surprisingly high, topping every non-Orthodox list except post-graduate degree holders, where it is well within the margin of error to be beat out ethical living. Modern Orthodox are most committed to most of the things I would put on top (ethical life, intellectual curiosity, Jewish community) and close seconds on others (justice/equality, halakha). Also interesting how much observance corresponds to valuing traditional foods. Did not expect that. Isn't "bagels and lox Judaism" a byword for secular/cultural Judaism? Is there some chance that large numbers thought this referred to kashrut, separately from the halakha category? Also surprised that, with big gains for the non-religious and unaffiliated in the younger generation, some of the essentials that took the biggest hits were working for justice/equality and having a sense of humor, while being part of the community and observing halakha were among the most strongly maintained between old and young.

Page 58- Jews of no religion continue to confuse me. 22% say you cannot be Jewish without believing in God?

Page 59- One of the strongest impacts of increasing education on your definition of the bounds of Jewishness: more permissive about belief in God, less permissive about belief in Jesus. Why? I don't know. Also, hareidim are the least tolerant of criticism of Israel? Really?!

Page 63- 2/5 of adult religious Jews do not know the aleph-beit. Problem.

Page 72- Jews of no religion continue to confuse me. 8% consider religion very important in their lives. Also, interesting that Conservative Jews almost exactly match mainline Protestants. Coincidence? I think not.

Page 80- Attendance at non-Jewish services is almost constant across ages and denominations; even the intermarried don't go more often. However, there is one exception: Conservative Jews are half again as likely to go. Weird.

Page 99- Hareidim don't know or don't care about Obama's performance in numbers way beyond any other group. Do the gedolim not get involved in national politics?

Section on people of Jewish background and Jewish affinity is somewhat interesting, but not many surprises there, and very little granularity to the information. Not going to go into it.
Appendices on methodology- I'll trust Pew on this one.