Articles

Befitting the mood in this country, Jewish voters awoke this morning to a new set of realities. If yesterday’s election told us anything, each party can find reason to claim victory: the Democrats in taking the House, the Republicans in growing their majority in the Senate. Heavy voter turnout included 18-30 year olds, with a significantly larger voter turn out than 2014, the last mid-term elections. Among them a significant number of younger Jewish voters, including registered “Independents,” who represent a major segment of...

Politics is not an abstract notion for Jews. Jewish security and identity are tied to the political order. As a result, historic events are directly connected with Jewish fate and welfare. Over the course of time, a minority community learns much about itself, especially as it faces an unchartered future. Each of the five events, stated below, continue to impact the Jewish storyline, for Jews history lives within the psyche. These historical markers embody our journey over time and place, as the scares, triumphs, and memories of these experiences remain with us. Each of these events informs the collective character...

The gunman who struck Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue on Shabbat indicated online that he wanted to “Kill all Jews.” During prior events — whether at our country’s southern border, on the streets of Charlottesville, or at political rallies sponsored by our president — Jews have been mostly passive observers to this nation’s changing political scenarios. However, the assault on worshippers that took place on that Shabbat morning in Squirrel Hill was a direct attack on Judaism and America’s Jews. It was the single most violent incident against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States.

The gunman who struck the Tree of Life Synagogue on Shabbat in Pittsburgh indicated on line that he wanted to “Kill Jews.” Prior events whether at our southern border, on the streets of Charlottesville, or at political rallies sponsored by our President, Jews were seen as passive observers to the changing political scenarios of this nation. The assault on worshippers that took place this past Shabbat morning however was seen as a direct attack on Judaism and America’s Jews. It would represent the single most violent incident against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States.

Six years ago, as this nation was coming out of the 2008-2010 recession, I prepared an article for this publication, entitled “The Third American Jewish Revolution.” As we look back both on that specific time frame and examine what has transpired since the release of that article, how well did Jewish organizations manage in dealing with the impact of the recession and what changes are we able to identify in its aftermath? The 2012 article not only referenced the impact of the recession but offered a number of scenarios about the future behavior and structure of the American Jewish enterprise. At that time, we introduced the following “paradigm”...

On October 1st 2013, the Pew Research Center released its “Portrait of Jewish Americans” study.[1] Now, five years later, what has been the impact of this research on Jewish life in America and how has American Jewry changed since the release of this report? Indeed, the study itself would reignite a debate on where and how the Jewish community ought to prioritize its resources. Should the emphasis be directed to its core, those committed Jews who hold institutional connections or ought funding be devoted to “winning souls,” namely reaching out to the under-affiliated and marginally involved?

This past year’s Jewish storyline is built around several core themes. President Donald Trump’s persona and policies have been the common denominator for many of them, and our political discourse has revealed growing divisions among Jews over how we see ourselves as part of American society and how we should engage with Israel. 1. End of U.S. participation in the Iran accords The range of reaction to the president’s May 8 decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear accord (formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) drew widely divergent responses.

At this season of our renewal we have the opportunity to reflect upon our lives and personal stories, but this moment permits us to also contemplate the collective fate of the Jewish people. Jewish history may provide an interesting roadmap for us toward envisioning the future. What then are some of the key markers that hold value and meaning to our story as a community? Throughout our history Jews have experienced both periods of profound uncertainty and moments of extraordinary influence and pride. Our learning curve has enabled us not only to survive but also to creatively operate both under conditions of powerlessness and within the contours of having access to power.

In every national setting throughout our history as a Diaspora people, we Jews have faced “a moment of truth” when our political status changed. This disruptive moment occurred either because of a government edict expelling Jews, or by societal changes that led to mobs threatening and at times killing Jews. Living amid such uncertain conditions defined our political status. When do we know that a country is no longer safe for Jews? My own family history of more than 300 years was tied to Germany. My grandparents believed that because of their deep family roots in and loyalty to the German state, they would face no personal threats with the rise of Nazism.

There is something compelling and extraordinarily impressive about Millennials. I had occasion this past week to work with a number of these 25-40 year olds. The range of their experiences, interests, and even accomplishments is significant, but more profound, would be their Jewish commitment and passion. Millennials demonstrate their unique and accomplished position within their respective societies and on behalf of the Jewish people as they employ the full measure of their talents and resources. These are individuals who traverse the world, manage multiple languages, recount life-changing encounters, and demonstrate a rich and diverse exposure to cross-cultural ideas.