Articles

As one moves around the country one encounters an array of uncomfortable conversations rarely heard in previous times. Jews in particular are sharing their growing concerns about the state of American society, and more directly the condition of race relations, ethnic prejudice and most certainly the growing presence of anti-Semitism within the country.

As one moves around the country one encounters an array of uncomfortable conversations rarely heard in previous times. Jews in particular are sharing their growing concerns about the state of American society, and more directly the condition of race relations, ethnic prejudice and most certainly the growing presence of anti-Semitism within the country.

As we are about to celebrate our nation’s 240th birthday, America is experiencing a fundamental transformation of its very identity and character. There are profound political and social transitions underway within our society and beyond. All of these changes have direct implications for American Jewry and its future role within this democracy.

Smaller Jewish communities across the globe are experiencing an extraordinary set of organizational challenges. Young Jews are sharing stories of intimidation, isolation and ridicule as they seek to build meaningful and inclusive communities. In my work this past week with scores of millennial Jewish leaders from across the world, one finds a disturbing story of generational wars and institutional rivalries.

The American Jewish community is undergoing a major demographic transformation, driven by the imprint of the millennial generation and influenced by a collection of economic and cultural forces. This new Jewish paradigm encompasses a number of operating principles.

The End of Community: We are observing the final phases of the legacy Jewish communal system. This is not to suggest that these centennial organizations will necessarily leave the Jewish scene but rather their operational structures and missions are fundamentally changing.

At we observe Israel’s 68th anniversary of statehood, one finds a deepening divide on the part of younger Jews toward Israel. The internecine warfare around Israel that today seems to dominate the American Jewish political landscape has led some Jews to jettison their involvement with Israel and its politics or at times to adopt positions hostile to the Jewish State.

As key funders gather this week in San Diego to assess the Jewish and American landscape, a number of key factors are emerging that will generate a profound and sustaining impact on the “state” of our nation and its Jewish community. For those who help to set the financial agenda and institutional priorities of the American Jewish enterprise, indeed there are some sobering and challenging new realities associated with our society and its future.

Today, our federations sadly reflect the general political polarization afflicting our country. This is particularly detrimental to the effectiveness of the federation movement and its community relations’ function, locally and nationally. We as a community must resist polarization and stress the need for seeking common-sense solutions.

Earlier today, the Pew Study on the “Jewishness of Israelis” was released. It would be the first such comprehensive study on the State of Israel since the Jewish State was established nearly 70 years ago.

The report seems to suggest that there remains a significant bond on the part of Jews with their religious and cultural identity, even when Jews describe themselves as “non observant.” Such an identity transcends their loyalty and commitment to statehood. Israelis remain committed to preserving the two key ingredients for their national identity, maintaining Israel as a democracy and promoting the Jewish character of the State.

As this nation prepares for the 2016 Presidential campaign, this country is once again on political overload, as candidate commercials begin to interrupt sitcoms, political party debates dominate office conversations, and as well as blogs and twitter accounts flood our computer screens with messages offered by these candidates. At the same instance, American audiences are being asked to consider such policy questions as containing ISIS, battling international terrorism, and managing the Syrian refugee crisis while creating a coherent immigration policy. These international concerns are joined together with an array of domestic and family value issues to complete the political landscape.