How to Strengthen the Identity of American Jews
bySlovie Jungreis-Wolff
November 10, 2024
American Jewry is hemorrhaging. Here’s what needs to be done.
Elliot Abrams, a prominent American lawyer and politician, cites some alarming statistics in his recent Wall Street Journal op-ed How to Recover American Jewish Identity: “About a third of those raised Jewish, or with at least one Jewish parent, no longer identify as such. The intermarriage rate is more than 70%. Only 45% of those who practice their Jewish faith say it’s ‘very important’ to them that their grandchildren be Jewish. Only 4% of Jews who no longer practice their faith say the same.”
He writes that in the US there is less Jewish education and fewer visits to Israel than any other major diaspora community. “If these trends continue there will be fewer Jews who strongly support Israel, are involved in Jewish life, and are interested in passing their identity to their children and grandchildren.”
When confronted with false accusations and distortions of Jewish history, will they stand resilient in the face of animosity or will they fall away in weakness and fear?
We need the next generation to be strong, proud Jews. The Jew hatred that has erupted over college campuses requires young men and women who are filled with a robust sense of self and identity. When confronted with false accusations and distortions of Jewish history, how will they respond? Will they stand resilient in the face of animosity or will they fall away in weakness and fear?
I recently asked a group of high school students at a Jewish day school to raise their hands if they felt proud to be a Jew since the attacks of October 7th. A small portion of students meekly raised their hands, unsure, perhaps ashamed, by their reply. The educators in the room were stunned.
How do we infuse strong Jewish identity and fortitude in our children, our future?
We Cannot Outsource Our Judaism
Abrams believes that we must revisit how our children are raised and educated. Studies have shown that among non-Orthodox Jews it is the immersive experiences that make a difference. Jews need to spend time with other Jews to foster their Jewish identity.
He suggests three goals: better Jewish education – including better Hebrew schools, expanding Jewish summer camping experiences so that kids have two to eight weeks of living in a fully Jewish environment, and more time in Israel with trips like Birthright so that there is a greater sense of peoplehood and identity.
The best Hebrew school, the finest summer camp and the most exciting trip to Israel can never replace a strong Jewish home filled with roots and connection.
These are fine ideas but I believe there is a fatal flaw. We cannot outsource our Judaism. The best Hebrew school, the finest summer camp and the most exciting trip to Israel can never replace a strong Jewish home filled with roots and connection. Lacking a home where Shabbat lights dance and holidays are celebrated, the sense of peoplehood and identity fizzles.
I recall hearing my father’s daily aggravations trying to get students engaged in his synagogue’s Hebrew school after sitting through a long day of classes. Kids acted out and hid in the bathroom. They asked why they needed to learn about things that their families never do anyway. Bar and Bat mitzvahs were all about the parties and their ticket to freedom from studies.
Jewish summer camps are great but they’re only in the summer. Even if a child comes home inspired, if their home does not continue infusing the warmth and meaning of Jewish traditions they learned, it’s only a matter of time for them to be forgotten. The immersive Jewish experience becomes a distant memory.
Trips to Israel are vital for our Jewish identity and knowledge. Connecting to other Jews in the land of our ancestors and meeting dedicated soldiers and citizens putting their lives on the line for the Jewish People engenders the feeling that we are one family. But precious years of youth have passed by and for too many students it is too late. Apathy has set in. Others lack Jewish knowledge. They have never learned of their heritage and some of them are now the loudest protesters, marching against their very own people.
Judaism conveys incredible beauty and wisdom. Each week we have the opportunity to bring the blessing of Shabbat into our lives. We put away the noise and share time with those who sit with us. Each holiday brings a unique energy to our existence. Yom Kippur empowers us to find forgiveness and fresh beginnings. Hanukkah allows us to light up our nights and banish the shadows of assimilation. On Passover we experience true freedom. Torah study uplifts us, bringing us the depth of real-life solutions to our struggles and the necessary ingredients we need to live with meaning and purpose. The land of Israel connects us to our roots and reminds us of the majestic story of the Jewish People that continues to be written.
As the drumbeats of modern-day pogroms and antisemitism beat louder and louder, it’s up to us to commit to building vibrant and strong Jewish homes, fortify our connection, and spread our light and our love.
Discover the depth and meaning of your legacy. Experience the joy of a Shabbat meal. Nurture your inner Jewish spark that shines eternally in every Jew. Together we can strengthen the Jewish nation.