Jewry's Role in Human Affairs marriages are taking place, he said. Furthermore, none of the decennial population surveys have shown an intermarriage rate lower than 33 per- cent since the mid-1960s. Golin's report maintains that even a conservative estimate of 40 percent means that four intermarriages creating four intermarried households are being created for every six Jewish marriages, which lead to three in-married homes. At 50 percent the ratio widens to 2:1. Only by seeing the intermarriage rate in these terms can the community begin to grapple with the importance of reaching out to the intermarried, Golin and Olitzky said. Referring to the 1990 population survey that found one-third of inter- faith families raising their children as Jews, Golin said the overall Jewish population would grow if that rate climbed. "Increasing the percent of intermarried families raising Jewish children from 30 percent to 50 per- cent is an attainable goal, and should be a primary mission for the Jewish community," he said. Hebrew University's Cohen, while agreeing with the newest report's math, said it only told "half the truth. Even if half of the households being formed with a Jew in them are inter- faith, it doesn't negate the fact that a vast majority of Jews continue to live in in-married households," he said. "In-married households have many more Jews in them: The spouse is Jewish, they have more children and most of the children identify as Jews," he said. Admittedly, Cohen also is a critic of the outreach approach. In-married Jews "generally do more to contribute to the communal health of American Jewry," through membership in synagogues and organizations, philanthropy, Zionist support and religious observance, he said. Therefore, he concludes, the com- munity should focus on bolstering Jewish identity rather than on outreach. "If we're talking about allocating resources and attention, I'd really hope its a matter of one Jew, one vote," he added. Ira Sheskin, a member of the National Jewish Population Study technical advi- sory committee and a University of Miami academic who has studied local Jewish populations, agreed with the out- reach institute forecast to a degree. "We will start seeing lots of synagogues and JCCs where the majority of people are intermarried, but I don't think we're going to see that real soon," he said. Less Involvement Intermarried couples remain a minori- ty in most Jewish communities, he said. In addition, interfaith couples don't generally join Jewish organiza- tions, and aren't really considered members of the community. In a recent update to his book, How Jewish Communities Differ, Sheskin found that of 47 areas he surveyed, intermarried couples were the majority in only two: Seattle, where they made up 55 percent of Jewish households, and New Jersey's Essex and Morris counties, where they were 50 percent. Sheskin also remained skeptical of the latest report, claiming it hewed too closely to the outreach institute's agenda. Golin did not deny that the report backed up the institute's aims. But we believe we represent what the majority of American Jews want, which is more outreach and more inclusion, because they have intermar- ried relatives," he said. ❑ " Conununity To Mark Holidays s everal local events will commemo- rate Yom HaZikaron, the day of remembrance for fallen Israeli sol- diers on May 6, and Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day on May 7. • A Yom HoZikaron memorial cere- mony will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, at Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills. The audience is asked to be seated by 7:15. A Israeli Defense Forces soldier will represent the military at this service sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. • Young Israel of Oak Park will hold a Yom HaZikaron commemoration beginning with Minchah at 6:30 p.m. at the synagogue, 15140 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park. Prayers and a shofar blowing fol- low at 7:45 p.m. with a meal of pizza, salad and dessert at 8. Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. Babysitting and arts and crafts will be available for children. For reservations, Cheryl Jerusalem at (248) 544-8686 or Esther Posner at (248) 354-4153. • Yishivat Akiva, 21100 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, will host a Yom HaAtzmaut barbecue at 4:45 p.m. with a concert by Yaniv at 6:15. The Gedalya Mitchell Kol Haneshama Youth Choir will per- form. Dancing, music and dessert starts at 7. Cost is $10 per person or $40 per family. For reservations with Sarah Kornblum at (248) 569 5220 or Sherri Weil at (248) 557-8987. ❑ AMONG MASTERS OF COMPOSITION - I At the start of this century we might look back with pride on the achievements ofJewish composers in all musical forms. The great majority were either American by birth or naturalized citizens, and it was they who became a dominant force in classical, stage and popular music of these times. Swiss-born Ernest Bloch was the first and most compelling composer of modern Jewish national music. Darius Milhaud, a Frenchman, was one of the century's most prolific neoclassicists and wrote startling new polytonal music. Arnold Schoenberg perfected the 12-tone scale for organizing composition and revolutionized mu s ic within a fresh and novel classical framework. Leading figures in the popular genre include Jerome Kern who single-handedly invented the modern American musical, and Irving Berlin who laid early groundwork for the idiom of popular song. Among other unforgettable creators of arresting and melodious symphonic works and scores for the theater and ballet were: AARON COPLAND (1900-90) b. Brooklyn, NY While in his twenties, the disciple of the famed Parisian music teacher, Nadia Boulanger, at first shocked American audiences with his early compositions: the brash modernism of the Symphony for Organ and Orchestra and the aggressive jazz phrasings in his splendid Piano Concerto. But by the mid- 1930s, Copland turned from jagged rhythms and -\ • complex dissonance to a simpler, more lyrical style which often drew American folksong into his best works. By then, Copland had been installed by Serge Koussevitzky, his music's ardent champion and director of the Berkshire Music Center, as head of its composition department--a post he held for 25 years. During and after these productive years, he developed the rousing "Copland sound" injected into a half-dozen film scores, piano and chamber music pieces, and into three outstanding ballets: Billy the Kid (1938), Rodeo (1942) and Appalachian Spring (1944). Copland wrote, taught and lectured widely as well, becoming a leading propagator of modern American compositions often premiered at music festivals, and a generous advisor to young musicians. The articulate and urbane gentleman also extensively conducted his own and others' works with major orchestras in America and abroad. His collected honors included several Guggenheim fellowships, a 1945 Pulitzer Prize and the Medal of Freedom from a grateful nation. • -;:.4, LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-90) b. Lawrence, MA It was not by chance that Bernstein enjoyed a deep, lifelong friendship with Aaron Copland, and frequently conducted his contemporary's works with particular empathy and sensitivity. Both were avid exponents of the modern American repertory and were of equal status as maestros with worldwide respect. He too \ had been mentored by Serge Koussevitzky who recognized his talent and made him his assistant in 1942. Bernstein was in time aptly regarded as the renaissance man of music, a dominant personality on the musical scene who also ranked high as a gifted pianist, inspirational teacher, robust lecturer, television commentator and author of five books. His career as a composer of both serious and popular music produced three major symphonies, chamber and choral pieces, and such works as the one-act opera Trouble in Tahiti, the operetta Candide, the musical On the Town and the ballet Fancy Free. With his frequent collaborator, choreographer Jerome Robbins, Bernstein scored their award-winning masterwork West Side Stoly wh ich sealed his international reputation. As a conductor with mass appeal for his unabashed enthusiasm and aesthetic excellence, Bernstein made guest appearances with leading U.S. and European orchestras, and was named the Conductor Laureate for Life of the New York Philharmonic. - Saul Stmlimatier - COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors Irwin S. Field, Chairperson Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson 5/ 2 2003 692480 17