This demand has been articulated not only Jewish individuals, but all families as well. The voluntary simplicity movement, asking families to return to traditional ways of living, eating, and organizing their life around community and faith is emblematic of Hasidic Judaism. Also, life in Hasidic Judaism is governed by the religious clock of the Shabbat and of prayer and temple-going rather than corporate ladder-climbing, a relief for members of Generations X, Y, and beyond, who have become burnt out at an early age, from the demands posed by modern life. The increased interest in Middle Eastern religions, spawned by the resurgence of conflict in the area, could very well drive many people to greater curiosity about this way of life.

Other factors that might spur a resurgence of interest in Hasidism amongst American Jews are the sense of persecution felt by Israelis, given the rise of Islamic radicalism in the Middle East, and amongst Americans in general in terms of fears of Islamic extremism. And let...

Madonna does not even profess to be Jewish, and thus shows that identification with Hasidism and different forms of Jewish mysticism, as expressed in a survey, might have little to do with the actual requirement of formally becoming a member of the sect. That the remaining 11% of the population either claim to be Christian at 7% and that non-believers number themselves 4% might have less to do with these group's 'requirements' either, but more rest in the survey respondent's self-perceptions of what it means to be Christian and what it means to not believe in a religion. A Christian might be someone who is born again, or simply puts up a Christmas tree, depending on his or her own personal standards, and a nonbeliever might be an atheist or a guilty ex-Catholic who believes he or she does not go to church enough to be considered a believer…