views
The Contours of Our Jewish Community:
Camp Hermelin
attendee balances on
Jacob’s Ladder.
Snapshots from the 2018
Population Study
Editor’s Note: Each week, the Jewish News will offer
insights into the findings of the 2018 Detroit Jewish
Population Study with the intent of stimulating discus-
sion about its potential meaning and impact.
Synagogues: Challenges
& Opportunities
In the Face of Trends
and Technology
QUESTIONS:
• Many synagogues were constructed to accommodate
larger numbers of member families. Can some
congregations better serve existing members and
attract new ones without their current physical
facilities? Even if it means closing, moving or merging
with other congregations?
CAMP HERMELIN 2018
In both the 2018 and 2005 Detroit studies, synagogues
also reported their own household
ho
ous ehol
h old
d membership
memb
me
m er ship
h p numbers.
n um
umbe
bers.
Among
Amon
Am
ongg the
th
h co
comparisons:
omp
mpar
a isons::
H
istorically, one measure of a strong Jewish com-
m--
munity is synagogue membership. Synagogues s
have been the spiritual, educational and emotional
o n al
a l
epicenter for Jewish continuity — where lifecycle events
t s a are
r e
celebrated, children are educated, adults are engaged in
n l life-
iffe -
long learning, community rallies are held, where funds s are
a r e
raised for worthy causes and Israel bonds sold.
r en
n d s
In recent decades, demographic and technological trends
n a--
nationally and in Detroit have impacted the role of syna-
n g
gogues and traditional models of membership. Growing
r sii o n
assimilation and intermarriage rates, geographic dispersion
em
m -
and new models of online learning that require no mem-
h e
bership dues or bricks-and-mortar facilities are among g t the
challenges.
a t
The 2018 Detroit Jewish Population Study found that
39.2 percent of our 31,500 Jewish households are syna- -
gogue members. Though about average when compared
e d
000 5
to 45 other American Jewish community studies, the 2 2005
e ntt of
o f
Detroit Jewish Population study revealed that 50 percent
our community’s 30,000 Jewish households reported syna-
y n a -
gogue membership (a decline of about 22 percent).
Among households with children, the 2018 study
reveals that 52 percent have synagogue membership. T
This
h iss
compares with 71 percent in 2005 (a decline of about 2 27 7
percent). And while 39 percent of Detroit households
under the age of 35 report synagogue membership in 2 2018
0 18
— above average compared to other communities similarly
m ilaar ly
studied — 57 percent of this age group reported synagogue
g ogg u e
membership in 2005 (a decline of about 32 percent).
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2005
3,314
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575
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1,100
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400
367
275
241
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82
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Temple Israel
Temple Beth El
Shir Shalom
Temple Emanu-el
Kol Ami
Shir Tikvah
Conservative:
Shaarey Zedek
Adat Shalom
B’nai Moshe
Beth Ahm
Isaac Agree/Downtown
Beth Shalom
B’nai Israel
Orthodox:
Young Israel – Oak Park
The Shul – Chabad
Chabad – Commerce
Young Israel- Southfield
Woodward Avenue Shul
Chabad – West Bloomfield
Agudas Yisroel/Magen Abraham
Dovid Ben Nuchim
Kollel/B’nai Jacob
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Surgery for Skin Cancer
ORT celebrated the 10th anniversary of the
Camp Hermelin fundraiser at the home of
Doreen Hermelin in mid-September. More
than 700 kids, parents and grandparents
reconnected with camp friends and staff while
enjoying a variety of activities run by 11 local
camps and 10 activity-based businesses.
Event co-chairs Carole BenEzra, Melissa
Feldman and Shayna Levine, along with the
planning committee, raised nearly $65,000 to
benefit at-risk ORT students.
Additionally, there were 13 raffle prizes
of free and deeply discounted camp tuition,
donated by the participating camps. The 14th
raffle prize awarded the winner a $2,500 credit
toward any 2019 summer experience or orga-
nized trip or extracurricular activity during
the 2018-2019 school year.
The Suburban Collection served as the pre-
senting sponsor. ORT’s 2019 Camp Hermelin
event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8.
For more information, call (248) 723-8860,
visit ortmichigan.org or email nmiller@
ORTmichigan.org. ■
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10
2018
Reform:
Camp Hermelin
Raised Nearly $65,000
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