editor's Note

Marc;

...a loving
way to
celebrate a
simcha...

We Need A Destination

of the American Jewish community."
The next turning point arrived in 1990: The American
nyone with a leadership role in Jewish communal
Jewish population survey highlighted the popularity of
life — a lay leader, a top professional, a journalist
marrying a non-Jew and not belonging to a synagogue.
— is part of the dialogue leading the Jewish people
That triggered renewed interest in Jewish education for
someplace. The great unknown is to where.
adults, who kids look to as role models. The hope was that
Unless we know where we want to go, we'll wander aim-
the beauty of our tradition and its transformational poten-
lessly.
tial would bubble up.
"What exactly is the unique, edifying and unifying idea
"In Boston," Shrage said, "we created a Federation-subsi-
that we're calling the Jewish people together to pursue?"
dized program in every congregation that is basically a
asked Boston Jewish leader Barry Shrage at a lunchtime
Western Civilization course for Jews. It reaches out to every
talk with 120 Jewish journalists at their
young Jewish family and asks them to become part of this
annual convention. "Where are we
adventure in Jewish learning.
going?"
"People are lining up to take this course, which is taught
Over a salmon salad, that's a tough
by
the best Jewish studies professors in this city, the
question to answer. But I was compelled
to try as moderator of the June 22 lunch smartest people we can find, the best teachers. And people
and learn hosted by the American Jewish are yearning to come back."
A companion program matches congregants with com-
Press Association at the Boston Park
munity building in hopes of making the world a better
Plaza Hotel.
place.
ROBERT A.
Shrage is executive director of the
"If we build into this a vision of cultural transformation
Combined Jewish Philanthropies,
SKLAR
that
yields a world in which Judaism has a powerful mes-
Boston's version of a federation and the
Editor
sage, and we add to that the possibility of
oldest federated charity in
having this message actually transform the
the U.S. He prods you to think beyond the
margins of American Jewish life. He talked
about how the Jewish press should focus on
the ideas of Jewish life, not only the actions of
Barry Shrage: "...we can
it, en route to building a new foundation for
build a unique consensus
21st century Judaism.
"We're leaving a world where we understood
of where we're going
the rules fairly clearly and moving into space
where we don't understand the rules quite so
as an American
well," he said.
I agree.
Jewish community"
When the 20th century unfolded, assimila-
tion buoyed immigrant U.S. Jews. However
Torah observant they were, they needed to
world," Shrage said, "we can build a
assimilate to a degree to flee the ghetto. "This
unique consensus of where we're going as an American
was an American world in which it was not good to be dif-
Jewish community."
ferent," Shrage said. "Everyone was filled with good advice
Missing from this inviting recipe are essential ingredients
as to how to become completely American."
for
bringing the 60 percent of U.S. Jews who are unaffiliat-
Jews, like other Americans, had a hammerlock on the
ed
into
the mix. They hold the majority of the strands of
American dream, the zeitgeist of the time.
fiber
that
we wove following the Six-Day War. We can't
Today, Americans wear diversity as a badge of honor. We
ignore them.
embrace our ethnicity and are proud to show it. For Jews,
Ultimately, in this age of unparalleled Jewish wisdom,
it's a golden opportunity to shed assimilation as a driving
prosperity and opportunity, the Jewish press has an obliga-
force without fear of reprisal. "We don't have to be afraid
tion to highlight the best, most articulate intellectual ideas
any more," Shrage said.
about where Jewish America is going against a backdrop of
I second his contention that the year 1967 ignited the
the triple A's: assimilation, acculturation and apathy. We'll
change. Israel's victory in the Six-Day
thus help build a new consensus that
War gave American Jews pride in their
will beckon Jewish values and nurture
heritage. The Black Power movement,
what Shrage called "a great renaissance
meanwhile, opened the shackles on being
for the American Jewish community."
different within mainstream America.
Shrage closed with a wakeup call
These two sea changes precipitated what
that
spoke to our very being as Jewish
Shrage called an ethnic renaissance.
Has a ssimilation
journalists:
Concern about Israel and its security, and
compro mised Jewish
"If we fail to create this renaissance,
about assuring that the Holocaust would
Am erica?
history
will want to know why. It will
never be repeated, united the American
certainly
take me to task as the head
Jewish community.
Do you strive to be
of a federation, but it will take every
"Living vicariously through our broth-
a Jewish role model
one of you to task because it's your
ers and sisters in Israel, we raised a lot of
for kids?
responsibility as well, maybe even
money, we saved a lot of lives and we did
more so." El
a lot of great things together," Shrage
Are American Jews headed
said. "We certainly built the ethnic fiber
in the right direction?

Boston

A

Poahle
bloat ,
Miftwag

...a
meaningful
way to
help
people
with disabilities
in our
community...

Here's how...

• Use JARC Place Cards
• Present your guests with a
JARC Tribute expressing your
unique message
• Create centerpieces to donate
for use in JARC homes
• Recognize your honoree with
a special gift to a JARC home

...or your own idea...
we love to create new
opportunities! _

To discuss how to enhance the
beauty of your important day,
call Alissa
(248) 538-6610, X349

jam

Helping People with Disabilities
Be Inducted in The Community —
All Through Their Lives

30301 Northwestern • Suite 100
rmington 1 MI 48

*IN

7/ 7
2005

5