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Securing Detroit Jewry

N

also demand our attention.
umbers provide research data. The ultimate value of
A 2004 report issued by the United Jewish Communities,
the research flows from how you interpret and apply
the New York-based umbrella for the North American net-
the data. So while I welcome plans for a new demo-
work of Jewish federations, found that only 45 percent of
graphic- study of Detroit's Jewish community, the first such
American Jews ages 25-29, a key age range for formulating
analysis in 16 years, I know that the fruits will come later —
Jewish values, "regard being Jewish as very important in life"
when we comb through the findings and make decisions
even though many more "feel very positive about being
essential to ensuring our future.
Jewish." The number goes up only slightly for those older
Last week, when I asked the president of Detroit Jewry's
than 30.
central agency for planning and fund-raising to justify doing
the study in these tough financial times, he hung in there on a
-
dancing fastball.
Beneath The Surface
.
"The Detroit Jewish community has long
Both the Detroit Jewish News and Federation are testing new
been characterized as stable, cohesive and
concepts to attract younger Jews with some ties to organized
generous in support of communal needs,"
Jewish
life. To assure growing readership, the JNrequires new,
said Peter Alter, the Jewish Federation of
younger
readers of all Jewish backgrounds. Federation requires
Metropolitan Detroit president. "However,
new,
younger
givers so its Annual Campaign can meet increas-
we are not insulated from the major demo-
ing
Jewish
needs
locally, nationally and around the world. The
graphic shifts .and social changes that are tak-
resulting
new
connections
are bound to become stronger over.
ing place in society. In serving our current
time.
needs and planning for our future, it is
Locally, we know that Oakland County's student numbers
ROBERT A. incumbent upon us to
are falling. Federation's upcoming
SKLAR
gather new insights
demographic update is sure to confirm
Editor
into the community."
At
stake
is
American
Jewish
the suspected decline in the overall
The Jewish commu-
population
of Jewish students in Metro
nity that is the largest, richest and best
life
not
so
much
as
it
is,
but
Detroit.
The
Jewish community then
organized is America's. Yet more than
will
have
the
data to develop a model
half of all. U.S. Jews are weakly affiliated
as
we
want
it
to
be.
We're
to
use
as
a
foundation
to anticipate
with Jewish communal life and a
educational
needs.
decreasing number identify as Jewish.
victims of over-acculturation
At best, the study will test assump-
At stake is American Jewish life not
tions
about the needs of older adults,
so much as it is, but as we want it to
20-
and
30-somethings and people
and
deepening
apathy.
be. We're victims of over-acculturation
with
special
needs — as well as current
and deepening apathy. In many cases,
and
future
enrollment
trends in Jewish
there's no sense of why practicing
schools
and
the
geographic
mobility of
Judaism even matters against America's
our
community.
heavily Christian backdrop. We'll remain a people only if we
The study will help tell Federation who gives and why, what
continue to embrace our common heritage.
it
will
take to attract new donors and volunteers, and what
Have we lost the will to consider where we're headed and its
needs
and
services have been overlooked. It will help validate
impact on the American Jewish experience?
or redirect strategic planning, community building and effec-
tive fund-raising.
When Numbers Talk
It also will measure our growth or decline in population as a
community. The 1989 Federation study set our head count at
A new study by the Jerusalem-based Jewish People Policy
96,000. Only if that figure is higher today would I be sur-
Planning Institute, "Between Thriving and Decline: The
prised.
Jewish People 2004," sounds the alarm: "The future of the
Federation pegs the cost of the study — from fieldwork
Jewish people is not assured, though there are great opportu-
beginning in September to release of initial findings in spring
nities for thriving. To succeed, large resources, judicious cop-
2006 — at $100,000 to $400,000, largely paid for by private
ing with critical decisions and careful crafting of long-term,
philanthropy. The range is comparable to similar studies in
grand policies are needed."
other large Jewish areas. Raising the money won't be easy
The study highlights how we've seamlessly adapted to, and
given that many Jewish philanthropists have boosted their sec-
been accepted by, U.S. society, and how traditional Jewish
ular giving at the expense of Jewish needs. Federation expects
concerns, like Israel's security, have become part of national
to hire a researcher for the study by June 1.
concerns. Its conclusions take pride in how many Jews share
Important as the findings are sure to be, we must keep pre-
in the American dream.
cious Campaign dollars spent on the study to a minimum so
But the price of this success is steep: More Jews don't seem
they keep working on Jewish education, cultural services and
to care about the need to be part of a distinctive ethnic com-
repair
social welfare needs within the scope of tikkun olam
munity. "Changing demographic and social patterns both
of the world, beginning at home. To control the study's cost,
reflect and perpetuate this trend," the study finds.
Federation wisely will use the UJC's National Jewish
These demographic and social patterns hold the keys to
Population Survey 2000-2001 as a baseline. "We'll then build
why we're caught up in what the study aptly describes as our
,
a database that is specific to the Detroit Jewish population,"
"crisis of comfort."
President Alter says.
We know Jewish America is burdened with rising assimila-
This database will help set the percentages of Jews who are
tion that is underscored by a 54-percent out-marriage rate,
involved, under-involved and uninvolved communally. Doing
migration beyond core Jewish areas, more deaths than births,
so will help us approach each segment without inhibition and
less communal participation and a long-term trend of distanc-
in a focused, engaging way — the first step to spurring pro-
ing from Israel. Alas, 60 percent of all families don't belong to
gressive change. ❑
a synagogue. Trends in family makeup and individual lifestyle

—

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4/28

2005

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