• • III t T - COMPILED BY ELIZABETH APPLEB v, The End of the Jewish People? he year is 2025, and the last major Jewish organization ( in the United States has just closed its doors. C So begins a special "final c issue" of The Jewish Times, a fictional tabloid produced by the National cs Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) to bring attention to the "perilous condition of Jewish life in America." Some 2,000 copies of the four-page publication were delivered recently to the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Fed- erations, where delegates met to discuss long-range L FINAL ISSUE strategies to forestall the meltdown of American Jewish life. "The losses we are expe- riencing in America are nothing less than stagger- ing," says NJOP Director Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald. "We have only about 10 years left to reach 3.5 mil- lion unaffiliated American Jews. Beyond that, they will be irretrievable." The NJOP is an inde- pendent, nonprofit out- reach organization that offers a number of free programs. For informa- tion, contact the NJOP at 1-800-444-3273. JEWISH TIMES The Voice of American Jewry Vol. LXXX, No. 50 FINAL ISS UE • • • June 30, 2025 • • • 35.00 AMERICAN JEWISH LIFE ENDS: DEATH OF ONCE-VIBRANT COMMUNITY CALLED SHOCKING! by American Jewish history came to a tragic conclusion yesterday when the National Jewish Congress, the last major Jewish organization in America, closed its doors. Martin Steinberg. President of NJC, announced on Friday that as of June 30, 2025. the organization would terminate its activities. The National Jewish Congress was formed when the major Jewish organizations which flourished in the 20th century ceased operations and merged into a tingle national orVanization. TERMINAL JUDAISM An Analysis b y Chrrim Chu*. Students of American Jewish life around the world are asking themselves: How did it happen? Where did American Jewish kad erShip go wrong? How did one of the greatest Jewish communlues When You Wish Upon A Barry Manilow 17, B arry Manilow has six. Barbra Strei- sand has at least one, so does Tony Curtis, Harrison Ford and Steven Speilberg. Naturally, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (are those ears a babe magnet or what?) have them. The subject in question is stars. The Ingleside, Ill.-based Leonard Nimoy: A star. International Star Regis- try gives ordinary human mortals the chance to name one of those twin- kling little gems in the sky. For $40 a star, buyers receive a certificate with the requested name, date of registration and tele- scopic coordinates of the star. It's the perfect gift, the organization's brochure claims, for "birthdays, weddings, Chanukah, Mother's Day, 'a bar or bat mitzvah." For the past seven years, Max Factor of Chicago has been selling the stars via the compa- ny's 800 number. And don't ask, he's heard it a million times and he's no relation whatsoever to the cosmetic giant. The star- man just celebrated his 70th birthday. New Association Promotes Rights Of Israeli Disabled A You Read It Here First * Hotel biggie Leona Helmsley, in prison for tax evasion, apparently pre- fers to keep her thoughts to herself — that is, away from prison personnel. Mrs. Helmsley is said to be speaking Yiddish with some of her visitors. A friend told New York mag- azine, "She's gotten to the point where she doesn't trust much of anyone, especially the other pris- oners." * Empire Kosher Poul- try, Inc., has changed management. Under un- disclosed terms, Murray Katz, son of Empire founder Joseph Katz, sold the Mifflintown, Penn., company to a manage- ment group that includes affiliates of Apollo Advisors, L.P., and TGV Partners. * A free videotape on the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia, which plague a large number of Jewish women, is available to syna- gogues, temples, schools and other Jewish organi- zations. The video focuses on a New York forum featuring four thera- pists. For a copy, contact David Goldberg, (212) 806- 5581. * Maybe seeing isn't believing, after all. A new survey, conducted by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found that 69 percent of women blindfolded can identify their sweetheart from a group of men though the simple touch of the hand. Another 60 per- cent of women and men can pick their partners by feeling his or her fore- head. new organization has been established to promote the rights of persons with dis- abilities in Israel. The Association for the Rights of the Disabled, formed under the auspices of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, is the first organization in Israel to advocate for systematic change for persons with disabilities. Rather than advocate on a case-by-case basis, the Association will fight for broad-based change through the Knesset, the courts and through public education. The Association will begin its work with those regarded "developmentally disabled," which includes persons with mental retar- dation, or who have autism, cerebral palsy and organic brain damage. Wear To Find Friends T he International In- stitute is offering T- shirts, sweat shirts and canvas tote bags fea- turing the slogan "Cele- brate Friendship" in 37 languages including Hebrew. Created by Cyril Miles, folk art curator for the International Institute, the new design illustrates international brotherhood around the world. It depicts a globe with the continents printed in dif- ferent colors, surrounded by people in international costume, hand-in-hand and circling the globe. International Institute costume coordinator Mary Jo Krueger searched throughout metro Detroit for ethnic Americans who provided the word "friend- ship" written in their native language. She veri- fied 37 different languages used throughout southeast Michigan and the world. The International In- stitute is a United Way- supported agency that provides immigration and family counseling for the foreign born, and cultural enrichment programs. For information, contact the Institute at 871-8600. New Campaign Will Review Public Broadcasting Programs T he Corporation for Accuracy in Middle East Public Broadcasting Reporting in America, (CPB) this month have charged that proposed steps to encour- National Public Radio age comment by the and the Public Broad American people on pub- casting System repeated- lic-funded programming, ly deliver anti-Israel, The actions, final de- pro-Palestinian reports. tails of which will be As part of the reported to Congress by campaign, CPB has Jan. 31, are designed to established a toll-free facilitate a wide-ranging number viewers and lis dialogue between the teners may call to CPB and the American express their views. The public, which pays for number is 1-800-356- the broadcasting with tax 2626. Comments also dollars, may be sent to CPB, P.O. A number of Jewish Box 50880, Washington, groups, including CAM- D.C. 20091. ERA, the Committee for