= 20 people

II

• •
fri w i wi

•
i w i wi

Unaffiliated

•

Present Generation

•

Il
11 II

•

II

•

II

•

II

titi

II

•

Second Generation

lij I

Conservative

•

•

II

ti„ 100

111. H

• •
wi w i wi

Reform

II

II

•

II 11

36

51

II

•

1

Fourth Generation

5

II

If+ If+

fir

62 •

II

it

i

13

Wt

.

II

100

lit i l it irt iFf Ifi
209

t+ 1+10#444
r+ ht#11 041#1+

h fit/MIMI*

38

•

• S.

7, . • • I ........
II i

•

26

•

II

fifillii
H II
II

H

13

•

titi
II 100
II
•
•

•

Third Generation

fif i II wi II

.

II

li 100

•

•

Orthodox

I

24

tl

436

fttatrOttiftftftft
fthfthottftftliftft
WritifttOftititt
hftftfthftfttitift

Mthr ttlit

911

Based on the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, the 1991 NY Jewish Population Study and research conducted by Antony Gordon and
Richard M. Horowitz 1993-1997 and published in Moment, The Jewish Spectator, and The Vanishing American Jew by Alan M. Dershowitz

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL CONCERNED WITH
JEWISH CONTINUITY, LET'S WORK
TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO IN AMERICA.
NOT IN ISRAEL.

The Vanishing American Jew. It's not just the
name of a book. It's a fact. And demographic studies
indicate further decline among most segments of
American Jewry.
The numbers should shock us, but not surprise
us. So many Jewish children have little or no
connection with their ancestral faith. They see no
compelling reason to marry other Jews. Or to
want to stay Jewish themselves.

,

CONFRONTING REALITY

Let's face it. If the success of a Jewish movement
is measured by its ability to preserve Jewish identity
and ensure Jewish continuity, the statistics point to
serious failings.
Yet some Jewish leaders insist that the pluralistic
model, which has led to an alarming loss of Jewish
identity here, be exported to Israel. They demand

that Israel abandon her recognition of Halacha,
traditional Jewish law, as the sole standard for mar-
riage, divorce and conversion. The standard that is
the common denominator for all Jews. And the status
quo in Israel since its inception.

THE KEYS TO CONTINUITY

The lesson of the chart is clear. The greater our
commitment to our mutual 3,000 year old Jewish
religious heritage, the greater our chance of surviving
as Jews. The study of Torah and the observance of
Mitzvot are now - as they have been throughout our
history - the only keys to Jewish continuity.
That is why a classical Jewish education must be
our ultimate priority. For ourselves, for our children.
And for all the Jewish generations to come.
Am Echad is a coalition of Jews from across the
spectrum of Orthodoxy deeply concerned about all

our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Call us at 11-888-44 AMECHAD (1-888-442-
6324) or write to us at 42 Broadway, New York, NY
10004. We can provide you with a list of Jewish
schools and adult education programs in your area.
We can also send you more information about the
chart above and a brochure about pluralism in Israel.
It's time we asked ourselves a simple question.
Why work to change Israel's religious status quo
when our own is in such a state of crisis?

-

Am Echad:

PRESERVING ONE JEWISH NATION

A coalition of Jews from across
the spectrum of Orthodoxy committed to
genuine Jewish unity and continuity.

Third in a series.

COMMITTEE IN FORMATION

Rabbi Choskel Besser
New York

Dr. David L. Diamond
New York

Michael Hasten
Indianapolis

Prof. Laurence M. Katz
Baltimore

Gary Litke, Esq.
New York

Jack Nagel
Los Angles

Rabbi Moshe Sherer
New York

Prof. Aaron Twerski
New York

Abraham Bidermon
New York

Gerald Feldhamer
New York

Dr. Allen Jacob
Miami Beach

Dr. Irving Lebovics
Los Angles

Henry Lowenthal
Baltimore

Dr. Isaac Perle
Boston

Thomas H. Schottenstein
Columbus

Abe Wagschall
Cincinnati

Harry M. Brown, Esq.
Cleveland

Jacob Friedman
Los Angele

Chaim S. Kominetzky
New York

Eliyahu Levenson
New Mexico

Menachem Lubinsky
New York

Albert Reichmann
Toronto

Kenneth Spetner
St. Louis

George Weinberger
New York

Yosef Davis
Chicago

Jack E. Gindi
Beverly Hills

Leonard Kestenbaum
Long Island

Nathan Lewin, Esq.
Washington D.C.

Steven Z. Mostofsky, Esq.
New York

Prof. Moshe Z. Reicher
New York

2/13
1998

21

