How do you take the pulse of a nation? Get into the classrooms and speak to the kids. Walk on college campuses and have some conversations.
Standing in front of an assembly of high school children, I was confronted with the spiritual malaise that is taking place amongst our children. They lack the courage to stand strong for our people. Too many don’t know enough about who they are as Jews, their purpose, their mission, their reason for being.
Indifferent or ignorant – take your pick.
Concluding a talk on Jewish pride, I offered to take questions. A hand shot up in the front.
“You speak about our heritage and what it means to be a Jew. So many around us are clueless when it comes to Judaism. How can we share with others and teach more?”
Another hand shot up in the back. The young boy stood up and said loudly, “To speak up and think that you have what to teach the world about your Judaism means that you think you are better. That’s racist!”
A wave of tension swept through the auditorium. I had just a few moments to respond before my time with these teenagers was up. Here before me sat the future fathers and mothers of our people. These souls would soon be asked to lead, commit, create and cry out for Israel and the Jewish People. How tragic to believe that knowing our holy mission in this world and understanding that we are to be a “light amongst the nations” is racist.
Like Abraham, we are charged to go out and make a difference in the world, to be a moral and spiritual compass. That’s not racist. It is a life of purpose.
I explained in those few minutes that striving to share our legacy of wisdom and justice is far from being prejudiced against others. It means that we are obligated to know who we are; how we have the ability to sanctify and make this world into a better place as we tenaciously hold onto the wisdom and values of the Torah. Like Abraham, we are charged to go out and make a difference in the world, to be a moral and spiritual compass. That’s not racist. It is a life of purpose. Kindle the light of Shabbat, banish the darkness, and bring illumination to the world.
Another student raised his hand. “Why do you think most kids my age find Judaism to be irrelevant?”
I threw the question back. I was curious. “Why do you think they do?”
“Because,” he responded flippantly, “it is.”
“Yes,” another student added. “It’s archaic. How can you tell me how to live? I resent that.”
It is difficult for me to describe the sadness that I felt that moment.
“I am sorry for you,” I responded. “I am sorry for you because that’s not my Torah that you are describing. My Torah is my oxygen. My Judaism carries me day and night through light and through darkness.”
We spoke about Torah’s relevance in this world. I shared how Torah is alive and gave examples from the harm of oversharing on social media to protecting the dignity of women Judaism is current and viable. One just needs to know where to look and how to study.
I was grateful for the questions. I touched a nerve. But this was only the beginning. Obviously we have a problem here and I don’t pretend to have all the solutions.
There are some glaring issues though that we, the parents and grandparents, the educators and lay people, must confront.
First, the passion is missing. What are we willing to sweat for, sacrifice for, and stand up for?
As a child I remember standing in the cold and marching for the freedom of Russian Jewry. I recall being in synagogue when the Yom Kippur War broke out. I saw real tears being shed; worry and grief etched on the faces around me. It had nothing to do with being religious or not. At that moment we were a family of Jews, united. I felt part of a people, a nation that stood together because we were family.
The eyes that once searched for Jerusalem now seek the next best app.
Somehow, we’ve lost that connection. When asked what they are willing to sacrifice for, what will our children say? Most will respond: making money, becoming famous or playing fortnite for hours on end. This bond that had held us together as we were scattered throughout the four corners of the earth has frayed. The eyes that once searched for Jerusalem now seek the next best app.
For millions of Jews, Judaism has become irrelevant. What can we do?
Let’s recognize that we must put our hearts and heads together and think hard about the Jewish education, in school and at home, that our children are getting. It’s time for a detox. All the excess that we’ve thought to be religious values but are really spiritual junk food should be let go. These meaningless bar and bat mitzvah parties that have become the defining moment of our children’s Judaism. The open bar which have nothing to do with mitzvah, the watering down of Torah study and knowledge of our people and history, and the desire to live less as Jews and more as ‘citizens of the world’ have all contributed to our children’s disconnect.
We must look at ourselves in the mirror. What do we reflect when we greet the Shabbos Queen, when we sit at our holiday table, when we speak about our faith and our values? How do we pray? Our children see it all, watch it all and take it all in. Do we live as active Jews and make Judaism come alive each day? Do our children ever hear us make a blessing, express gratitude to God, study Jewish wisdom and embrace a mitzvah?
Finally, when it comes to Israel, our homeland, we have taken our gift for granted. After thousands of years of persecution and indescribable suffering, God has brought us home. The world slammed its doors on us. No country wanted us even after we were taken by cattle cars to be gassed in ovens. From a nation of skeletons we reclaimed Jerusalem, fought the Arab nations who surrounded us and pierced the sky with the sound of the shofar by the Western Wall. Brave soldiers touched the ancient stones and wept. We witnessed miracles from Above.
Yet today our sons and daughters are clueless. Their heritage eludes them. Our story remains blank. There is no memory. The promise of our Land is written in our Torah. It is up to us to educate, to teach, to speak out and speak up.
We have much work to do. Let us strengthen ourselves and touch the hearts of the next generation. The future of our people is in our hands.
(37) Anonymous, September 28, 2019 5:20 PM
Repeating History
I believe the commentators on the Frankfurt School largely summed it up. I have an observant wife who has given our children exceedingly Jewish names. I only wanted to return to Eastern Europe and live in peace. If I had one wish, it would be that none of my grandchildren are Jewish. Young people see nothing of value here because there is nothing of value. Israel is a train wreck.
(36) Shlomo Brodsky, April 16, 2019 9:21 PM
If your Jewish and don’t have Judaism how do you have purpose and G-D in your life? Know who you were, are now and what you might become!
(35) Charles Lebow, April 14, 2019 6:35 PM
We need to build a broad coalition
The article talked a lot about what we need to do. But who is the "we"? In my humble opinion we need to build a broad coalition of Jews who still care enough that they want to encourage the building of Jewish families. That means still holding strong against intermarriage, but stressing that Judaism will speak to different people in different ways. Let's start a crowdfunding campaign where people can donate money, time, ideas, contacts. Together we can make a difference. If not now, when?
(34) Anonymous, April 13, 2019 1:28 PM
Your choice
Each Jew must decide. Am I a thermometer or am I a thermostat. We as a people must decide is being a movement enough- or can we become a Juggernaut. Stay strong.
(33) Anonymous, April 12, 2019 4:18 PM
To little to late: not giving the mellenials what they want
I’m a jewish mellinial. All for of my grandparents were all Ashkenazim born in the states. I was raised reform, my grandparents were reform. I went to a Jewish day school, was bar mitzvahed, was in a Jewish fraternity and seved on the hillel board in college. I’ve been active in the Jewish community here in Boston as I’ve interacted with folks from the far left ifnotnow (dont agree with them) and litvaks (you guys-dont agre with The. Too. The issue is Judaism is a ethnicity and religion, many of us are culturally Jewish knowledge of history, food etc. But even after exposure to the religion of Judaism many of us just are not interested in it. We find it limiting, telling some one what they should est and who they should marry doesn’t bring any value to our lives. Why should we learn another language when doing so brings us no economic value, we would rather learn Spanish than hebrew. If we want value or jewish heritage we can take trips to Israel and read wilkipedia. While we may be jewish by ethnicity the truth is we no longer observe Judaism. It just is no longer bringing the value we desire or wer raised to appreciate
(32) b. Kellman, April 11, 2019 4:49 PM
OY! so true, and what to do?
I work in Kiruv, and even before that felt a pull to share my enthusiasm about yiddishkeit. I don't know what to do, but I feel like I need to do something more.
(31) Matatia Chetrit, April 11, 2019 4:44 PM
Each Jew is Responsible for Another
It seems that these - "indifferent or ignorant to Judaism"- people have not been brought up with a Jewish education. A Torah education for all is the only solution. According to the 1990 NJPS (National Jewish Population Study) 98 of 100 Jews that went to a Torah Mesorah Day school married Jews. Compare that to the 30 out of 100 Jews that never went to a Torah School married Jewish. It is such an obvious solution - but unfortunately many organizations would rather support "Jewish Culture" than Torah Education. It's better than nothing - but put your money where there are results. On a personal level it teaches Jewish parents that want their children to marry Jews the importance of sending them to a Torah day school.
Each Jew should reach out to a fellow unaffiliated Jew to teach them some Torah. If a person wants to do something about it - invite them for a Shabbat meal, be a friend, give them a "Berakha / Food Blessing Card" or other Jewish material - that are found for free at http://www.jerusalemlife.com/?page_id=258 and explain it to them. There are so many daily opportunities to uplift a fellow Jew in Torah. One just has to care.
(30) Bracha Goetz, April 11, 2019 1:22 PM
YES!!!!!
(29) Felix martin, April 11, 2019 11:01 AM
Does the other who diverge matter to me ?
You can't be light of the world hidding your self,excluding ,judging unclean all the others ,it become discriminatory,racist as the kid said,new generations want to love their neighbor,make friends out of the family and religious circle, treat others with sincere respect and compassion,but their fathers spirituality is contradictory to all this, don't reflect LOVE not charity to others,especially in politics mingling with the far right ,the are not proud of it,I think the religion is good but it application to the other wouldn't let it be the spiritual light to the world,it's too excludent,too private ,as if it's only about money ,what you can give materially, buy and attract false ,selfish,wicked ,heartless people,and this Jewish youth is not willing to walk in the same path,so what do you do lament ,disown close your selves evento more or open up to the world ,show the beauty of your religião ,abandon and denie what it has become and the evil it has accepted or the bad use of it ,because I believe it's all about love ,can you prove me right ?
(28) Nancy Grooms-Rawls, April 10, 2019 6:41 PM
Disheartening
Thank you for this article. We are b’nei Noach. Torah iOS precious to us. It grieves ya terribly for any Jew to be disconnected from their purpose. I pray G-d lead and inspire how to reach this coming generation. Amen
(27) Robert Beniston, April 10, 2019 6:32 AM
Jewish culture or religion
The problem I think, speaking as a non Jew who keeps the Sabbath is this : Your beliefs are mainly cultural and not religious-that is you(as a people) do not believe in the existence of God-that He is real.Nor do you believe that the Bible is His word. Consequently you absorb this worlds (non jewish)secular mind set. Certainly Jewish people can be atheists and agnostic and they may be the parents of these children.What your people need is a spiritual revival-build a temple and believe your Biblical origins
anonymous, April 10, 2019 7:44 AM
You do not know what you are talking about !
Your offensive untrue comment is just thst - offensive and untrue.
Every Jew, regardless of level of observance knows the Shema, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One.
A Jewish Neshama will always be a Jewish Neshama.
Nina Kotek, April 10, 2019 8:07 AM
I don't feel this person's comment is offensive at al
When most Jews in the US answered a poll asking what being Jewish meant to them by saying a sense of humor, this person's comment is exactly right. For most Jews, Judsism is something cultural. I do believe as you say that all Jews have a Jewish spark in their soul, but it may not ever get kindled. And when people feel it is racist to feel that you have a particular mission ( which if a black or trans etc. person said it, would be applauded, as when Justice Sotomayor said she would bring "a wise Latina's " point of view to the Supreme Court), there is a lot of educating to do. Especially as these new identity politics are ok for anyone but the Jews, as usual.
Anonymous, April 10, 2019 11:49 AM
It is offensive to me, and I have no problem saying so.
"Your beliefs are mainly cultural - you as a people do not believe in the existence of G-d."
This stems from ignorance. While it may not be offensive to you, it should not be simple acceptable.
Natan, April 11, 2019 1:02 PM
Almost fully correct
To our great dismay and pain, Robert's comments are mostly correct.
I have personally met people born Jewish that are atheists. Some raised with Jewish education, others not.
Some say they are agnostic.
While it is true that on what we would term in secular language "at the subconscious level" it is true that these Jews believe in G-d, their stated/conscious lack of belief in G-d and/or Torah has a VERY real effect on themselves and the nation as a whole. I am NOT ascribing "blame" (most don't know any better) - it is simply the consequence.
The reality is that by-and-large it is incredibly unreasonable to expect that people raised without "Torah living" would have any commitment to Judaism.
I know people in kiruv as a full time job. It is known among such people that they consider themselves lucky if they have any affect whatsoever on one out of ten Jews they try to bring closer to Judaism.
I certainly agree that rebuilding the Temple will speed Jew's return to Judaism and Eretz Israel.
Anonymous, April 11, 2019 9:24 PM
Much Pain
I understand what you are saying. Speaking for myself, if someone said to me directly, that as a Jew I do not believe in G-d, I would see it as a statment of hate. It is how I would feel, no different from other anti-semitic things I have heard, because to me Judaism is all about our relationship with HaShem, it is my faith, the center of my life.
I know many feel it is anti-semitic to criticize the state of Israel, their identity as Jews is very much related to Zionism. My identity as a Jew is that it is all G-d, all the time. Just my thoughts.
Anonymous, April 12, 2019 5:12 AM
He's confusing ethnic Jews and religious Jews.
Anonymous, April 12, 2019 8:26 AM
Oh dear
I was wanting to know more about cultural Jews, and I saw a quote "I worship Larry David instead of G-d, and I eat bacon." He is a comedian, but that aside, I didn't find it funny. It was upsetting.
I attend Modern Orthodox or Chabad Shuls, and never have felt at home or comfortable in a reform Temple when I have attended a Bar Mitzvah for example. But, I would never say a non-observant Jew was not a Jew. Or that an observant Jew was a better Jew, for lack of a better word.
But, Judaism is our Faith, first and foremost, with Torah as a guide and HaShem at the center.
I don't know what to say about cultural or ethnic Jews.
A Jew without G-d? This is foreign to me.
(26) Shoshanna USA, April 9, 2019 8:53 PM
App
Here's a concrete idea. Come up with a "Jerusalem App," and it will become cool to learn about Judaism. Teach them in short fun video clips. They will digest the info and learn. Aish has a great video library. See what's already in there. It'll work. Good luck.
(25) Chaya S., April 9, 2019 2:33 PM
Torah is freedom
Here is my answer to "How can you tell me how to live? I resent that." - Do you really think you are not letting anyone else tell you how to live? You're letting celebrities, social media users and your peers tell you how to live, and you're doing it blindly, letting your choices be taken away from you because you don't even understand what choices you have. I have been part of the popular, secular culture, and now I'm trying to live a Torah observant life, and I can tell you which one is both illusion and slavery - and it's not Torah.
(24) Anonymous, April 9, 2019 1:56 PM
We have much work to do!
I am a member of one of your couples groups. Although I am not young, I thoroughly enjoy your seminars and feel you have a wonderful message to share with Jews of all ages. i am happy to say that altho not orthodox, both my daughters have chosen to follow the laws of Judaism. My both baby granddaughters attend Jewsish preschool and are already learning about Jewish history, and our message to the world.
I feel that we have much to do to heal these thoughts that you mention.
(23) Livia Rotari, April 9, 2019 1:54 AM
Hungry to know God
I am not a Jew, but I love God and Israel. People like me, want to see the light in the darkness, know God, enjoy His blessings. In the same time, I feel so sad when a Jew is not a good Jew. It hurts my heart and I think God's heart, too. Don't give up, keep teaching your children, and God will do the rest!
(22) Nalinaksha Mutsuddi, April 8, 2019 3:12 PM
Beware
The future is peeping. Can the trend be reversed?
(21) MESA, April 8, 2019 1:55 PM
Sad, but terribly true. And it's hard to take a stand for Judaism because nowadays, anything that is NOT about "be whatever you want and do whatever you want" is not politically correct. Unfortunately, political correctness has gone mad. I'm glad that there are people who continue to speak and teach about Judaism. I admit that I'm not a fighter in that sense, but I can live a Torah lifestyle and set the example for my family and for others.
(20) Anonymous, April 8, 2019 1:48 PM
A Very Insightful Article
Just wanted to say that although I did not enjoy reading your article (it is
a sad commentary on the current state of affairs of Judaism in our contemporary American society) it did ring more or less true.
While we are all grappling with the answer(s) bringing attention to this issue is very important. Finding ways to address the questions of your audience is the next step. May those ways come at the appropriate time and soon :)
Shuva Tov,
Michael
(19) Bernard Goldberg, April 8, 2019 3:56 AM
enable active intelligence. cite the 20 times the text challenges us to understand. example: Dt 19:19-20:2
Link our active intelligence with HaShem's, Then, find the 20 times like the example above where we are challenged to find the wisdom in the space between apparently disconnected lines. The act will involve active intelligence and thus relate to our Creator, the source of our intelligence. Multiple efforts will convince student of what he is missing from social tech trivia, slow him down and lead him to faith. The principle is useful for doctors, plumbers, anyone who is a trouble shooter. The skill will raise qualifications for science, humanities, social services.
(18) Robert & Anne M Murcek, April 8, 2019 12:10 AM
We, too, are deeply saddened.
This beautiful article brought tears to our eyes. Somehow we were not aware that our Jewish brothers are seeing the same rejection of Biblical values in the younger generation that we Christians see too.
(17) IrisB, April 8, 2019 12:05 AM
Deleted comment
This comment has been deleted.
chaya, April 8, 2019 1:35 AM
Also grew up with frum family
This is where I truly feel we miss the mark without teaching Kabbalah, that G-d lives within us, as our Soul, that we are here for a unique purpose and mission, to raise Holy sparks. When I Daven the connection overtakes me, and my very breath comes from HaShem, moment to moment.
I was at a workshop once and the instructor was a friend of a well known Buddhist spiritual teacher who was born Jewish, and said he left Judaism because it is spiritually bankrupt.
Before walking out, I said he should keep his comments to himself given his fame and his reach because the truth is, it is full of spirituality and it is sad it was not there for him at his Shul or family.
Mitzvot connect us to HaShem.
(16) Elias, April 7, 2019 11:52 PM
High school children?
High school children? They’re not children anymore.
(15) alec, April 7, 2019 9:43 PM
These kids will learn that to be Jewish is to be a part of a larger family. They will learn from anti antisemitism that they are different from the Jew haters. The more hatred the more they will realize who they are. It won't be from a religious point of view. It will be from a connection to a race of people that they belong.
They might at this time not have any connection to their people. That is because their parents or grandparents have not done their job in teaching the youth about heir connection to to Judaism and Israel. The parents or grandparents are hiding their true identity as if they are afraid to reveal who they really are. They want to be accepted by the non Jews as if they are one of them. But lo and behold they are not and will never be accepted as such.
(14) Gary Diamond, April 7, 2019 9:02 PM
That is so sad to read
Why do they feel that way?
(13) chaya, April 7, 2019 8:46 PM
Children learn what they live
Kabbalah and Jewish meditation are not taught in Jewish schools for the most part. For many years, Jews searched outside our faith for the spirituality and deep connection and nourishment they were seeking. They went to Bhuddism, which basically is No G-d, where Judaism is all G-d.
But, this was not their experience. The relationship to HaShem was not there. We are called now more than ever to Return, but it is falling on deaf ears, as anti-semitism rises at a fast paced rate.
Not enough families sit down together for Shabbos to nourish their Souls. Too many Temples taught Zionism, and created ambassadors for the Israeli state as their Jewish identity.
It is sad, but expected.
(12) Anonymous, April 7, 2019 6:59 PM
Parents need to set an example
Parents and grandparents must take Judaism seriously if they expect their children and grandchildren to do the same. To quote Albert Einstein: “Setting an example is not the best way to influence another, it is the only way.”
(11) Anonymous, April 7, 2019 6:22 PM
Give the kids a satisfactory answer to questions such as "Does what I eat matter more than what I do?" and "Does Judaism hate gay people?".
(10) Frank Adam, April 7, 2019 5:53 PM
It is not just the Bar - the Mitzvah as ritualism does not click to a purpose.
Think for a moment how the average heder teacher or even congregational rabbi makes a to do of kashrut and marrying in , but ask to what purpose? God has had an odd way of showing His love of his people these hundred years - and does the joker exist anyway in a universe that is ever vaster? If the Bible - and Talmud - stories are supposed to be training material for surviving the World they need more imaginative teaching - to imagine or write of a modern equivalent or how would one use that moral of the tale nowadays. It is not entirely surprising that the young wonder for what traditional religion exists - apart from safeguarding certain interests i certain jobs. The holiday and entertainment aspect is often done better by many others and the ethical and moral education side is often done clumsily with the stick of fear in school ages and without the constructive rigour of a maths or science lesson. Finally we have to put the Holocaust into the box of an aspect but not the overclouding of our identity. Nobody wishes to be faced with a life of being cannon fodder for mad dictators. At this level our history course should be balanced with our Nobel laureates and successes in other fields.
(9) Anonymous, April 7, 2019 5:46 PM
sooo true
G-d is trying to wake them up, He sent anti-Semites like Omar and her crew to shake us up to return to Him.
YOLO according to Judaism defines as, do what you were sent down to this world to do because, you only live once.
We need to make an effort to educate our fellow jews about what is really important and how to make G-d present in our lives. Perhaps then, will He save us and bring Mashiach.
(8) יוסף, April 7, 2019 3:55 PM
La visión está centrada hacia dentro y no hacia afuera
Soy creyente del evangelio y por años fui enseñado en la doctrina católica, cuál es la diferencia? Los Cristianos evangélicos enseñan las escritura a los catoyque tienen una religión tibia, dejan la enseñanza a los sacerdotes exclusivamente, esto ha hecho que laicos tomen el reto de enseñar a todo aquel que no conoce de Dios y su plan eterno. Me pregunto si el pueblo Judío es el elegido por HASHEM, para ser luz en el mundo , porque nunca se ha acercado un judío a un gentil para hablarle de Dios y su escritura, solo lo hacen exclusivamente para ellos mismos. Cómo van a ser influencia en el mundo si no lo toman en cuenta. Veo hoy día Judios volviéndose a Jesús como el Mesías esto por la influencia que hacen los evangelistas de acercarse al pueblo judío. Pero veo cómo rechazan y hasta etiquetan de “enfermos” a los que creen en Jesús como el enviado. Si el pueblo judío es la luz del mundo es momento de que salga del cajón y se muestre sin preferencias y rechazos por creencias, el hombre puede verse limitado pero HASHEM es omnipotente y puede cambiar un corazón duro por uno conforme al de El. Finalmente El, es el creador y dueño del Mundo y su plenitud, todos le pertenecemos.
(7) kenneth j gallon, April 7, 2019 3:42 PM
let the stupid money spent on sending to moon be spent on the earth
let the stupid money spent on sending to moon be spent on the earth
(6) Clifton, April 7, 2019 3:35 PM
Agree
“Speaking to Jewish high school students I was alarmed by their ignorance and indifference to Judaism.” Product of today’s secularism. When 78% of Jews believe abortion is ethical, you know you are not getting through to them Or that 65% are against the first President in over 50 years that is more for the state of Israel than any other. Socialism via the Frankfurt school is infesting society.
Canuck, April 7, 2019 6:45 PM
Back in Weimar Germany, the Frankfurt School made an already horrible situation even worse.
Naziism's rise was the product of many factors. Most of which were quite frankly beyond any Jewish control or influence. But the extreme anti-Jewish hatred in Germany that facilitated the Holocaust was only aggravated further by the Frankfurt School. This society, composed totally of Jewish intellectuals, advocated basically the overthrow of western society & culture. Imagine how this went down in 1920s & 1930s Germany--one of the most conservative countries in the world.
And if this wasn't already harmful enough, there was also the Jewish-run "Institut fur Sexualische Wissenschaft" (Sexology Institute). This medical-counseling-&-surgical centre vigorously advocated for the LBGTQ agenda, "sexual freedom" in general. In fact, its leader Dr. Magnus Hirschield is believed to have performed the world's first male-to-female sex change operation. Again, in an extremey conservative & probably homophobic culture.
While considering all this, we must keep in mind that the vast majority of Weimar Germany's 600,000 Jewish citizens were just decent middle-class folks, concentrating on minding their own business & making a living. They were thrown under the bus by the arrogant, radically-leftist elitists who were part of the upper echelon of German-Jewish society.
So now...so many decades later...have we learned anything from this? Well, our highly esteemed ADL has recently published an insultingly anti-white pamphlet, intended to be used as a resource for schoolkids' lessons on "white privilege." What I want to know is, why has there been no outcry about this reckless meddling in America's current highly-sensitive sociopolitical climate?
(5) ken, April 7, 2019 3:26 PM
As a student of the Bible I am not surprised by this attitude
It is forecast therein-a nation without God
and why after 74 years after becoming a nation is this the situation
MUST be down to the leaders-government, schools and the religious leaders
Look to the prophets to find your answer you will be one step nearer to finding your God and My God
(4) Pamela Scharaga, April 7, 2019 3:22 PM
Jewish Education
Having worked both in a Traditional and a Reform PReschool and Hebrew School, I found that the criteria were; can you read and write Hebrew and that's it. Many were well-meaning but few of them knew how to inspire or control a classroom. The first goal of a Hebrew and Sunday school teacher is to inspire a love for Judaism, then a child's natural curiosity will lead them to yearn for more. Instead, I see an emphasis on the holidays and B'nei mitzvot prep and not on how Jews are supposed to behave in their daily life.
(3) Yitzchok Hillel Gruber, April 7, 2019 2:59 PM
Judaism Irrelevant?
In the 1860’s, Reform Judaism sought to offer a brand for modern, culturally assimilated German Jews, and sixty years later, there were large swaths of indifference among German Jews, until...it was too late. We need, perhaps, to make Holocaust studies relevant again, one third from a historical perspective, and two thirds from contemporaneous displays of hatred to other communities, whether ethnic, racial, or both. Our government is fully onboard with hatred, although it used to quietly simmer on a back burner. It is only a matter of time until the culture of hatred turns against us. Ha’Shem’s commandment to beautify the world cannot take place until we address and eliminate the culture of hatred.
(2) Tracey Miller, April 7, 2019 1:58 PM
Excellent Article
I thought that this article was spot on! We must be more overt in teaching Jewish values so that these values balance the distractions kids face in modern life. Jewish values must be seen as relevant, or we have not done our duties as parents and teachers.
(1) Anonymous, April 7, 2019 1:01 PM
Our actions will indeed speak louder than our words
I am the mom of a young adult son. He is single and not currently dating anyone. Of course, there are no guarantees in life, but he knows that I expect him to marry within our faith. I have many Jewish books in the house and he sees me walking to services on Shabbat. Hopefully I am driving home the issue of keeping Judaism alive and fresh.