What Does OTD (“Off The Derech”) Mean?

Question: What does it mean when someone is described as being “OTD” in the Chabad or Orthodox Jewish community?

RAMI: OTD stands for “Off The Derech.” The Hebrew word דרך (derech – path, way) refers to the Torah-observant way of life. When a person is described as OTD, it generally means that they have left, or significantly departed from, the religious lifestyle in which they were raised.

The term is most commonly used within Chabad and other Orthodox Jewish communities. It can apply to a variety of situations, including someone who:

• No longer observes Shabbat

• No longer keeps kashrut

• Stops participating in synagogue or community life

• Adopts a secular lifestyle

• No longer accepts the beliefs of Orthodox Judaism

• Remains culturally Jewish but no longer follows Orthodox practice

It is important to understand that OTD is not a formal halachic status. Rather, it is a community expression used to describe a change in a person's level of observance or religious identity.

Some people dislike the term because it implies that there is a single correct path and that the individual has departed from it. For this reason, alternative descriptions are sometimes used, such as “formerly Orthodox,” “ex-Orthodox,” “no longer observant,” or “questioning.”

Within Chabad, the term often refers to someone who was raised in a Chabad environment but no longer lives according to Chabad teachings and practices. Nevertheless, many families continue to maintain relationships with relatives who are considered OTD, although the degree of acceptance and interaction varies from one family to another.

From a Torah perspective, becoming less observant does not change a person's Jewish identity. The Talmud teaches:

ישראל אף על פי שחטא ישראל הוא

“A Jew, even though he has sinned, remains a Jew.”

Similarly, OTD is not a judgement of a person's worth or standing before G-D; it is simply a description of their level of observance or connection to a particular religious path.

Therefore, the discussion surrounding OTD concerns observance, belief, and lifestyle choices, not whether a person is Jewish. A Jew who leaves observance remains a Jew, just as a Jew who returns to observance does not become more Jewish than he was before. The question is one of relationship to Torah and mitzvot, not Jewish identity itself.

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RAMI Q&A is a regular Jewish Dispatch column addressing questions on Torah, ethics, faith, culture, and the practical challenges of modern life. Each response is grounded in Jewish thought, clarity of reasoning, and fidelity to first principles, offering considered answers rather than opinion or sentiment. To submit a question, email ask@ramibenzeev.org.

Rabbi Rami ben Ze’ev was previously known as Ram ben Ze’ev. The addition of the letter י represents a personal step of spiritual refinement and deeper alignment with Torah, expressing humility, growth, and a strengthened commitment to the service of G-D. All teachings and writings are now published under this name.