Spiritual Fitness

The 2020 Pew study of American Jews found that a large proportion don’t identify with the religious aspects of Judaism; 27% of all respondents—including 40% of those ages 18-29—consider themselves Jewish by cultural, ethnic, or familial background, but describe their religion as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” as opposed to Jewish. However, this does not tell the whole story. High numbers of Jews (and other Americans) of no religion report belief in a higher power. According to the Pew study, three-quarters of U.S. Jews report that they believe in God or some spiritual force in the universe; even among Jews “of no religion,” 66% reported that they believe in a higher power.