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Lot
Generation?

A national report calls for quick and decisive action
to bring Jewish teens back into the fold.

JULIE WIENER

Staff Writer

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UAL COO

Took eoveittig, one.

uilt trips don't work any-
more.
So says "The Teen
Connection: Linking
Jewish Youth in the 21st Century," a
new report released by the Jewish
Education Service of North
America's task force on Jewish youth
initiatives.
American Jewish teens are for the
most part "far more American than
Jewish," says the report, and "appeal-
ing to Jewish teens to maintain alle-
giance to Jewish life on the basis of
belonging to a historic people does
not strike a responsive chord in
terms of the thoroughness of their
American idealism."
Using extensive data from 11
American Jewish communities,
including Detroit's, the report found
that although 40-60 percent of b'nai
mitzvah continue their Jewish educa-
tion, fewer than 20 percent continue
into the upper grades of high school.
In addition, Jewish teens average two
or fewer hours per week on Jewish
activities and report little interest in
religion or ritual.
Do the findings indicate normal
adolescent rebellion or are they an
omen for the future of American
Jewish life? The task force views
them as grounds for a call to action,
stating: "Unless the Jewish commu-
nity acts quickly and decisively, there

is a distinct possibility that the cur-
rent cohort of Jewish adolescents will
be far less connected to Jewish life as
adults than any previous cohort."
The report calls for more coopera-
tion among various youth move-
ments and institutions, greater
administrative support and training
opportunities for youth professionals
and establishing — where possible
— increased Jewish community visi-
bility in the secular high schools that
the vast majority of Jewish teens
attend.

American
Jewish teens are
"far more
American than
Jewish."

In addition, the task force recom-
mends that youth groups and Jewish
supplemental schools minimize
obstacles such as parent membership
requirements, provide opportunities
for teens to participate in planning
and promote exchange opportunities
with Israeli and other Jewish com-
munities around the world.

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