American Jewish Committee Leading Debate on Jewish Education Priorities

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 17 November 2000

Eighteen prominent Jewish scholars offer their perspectives on the state of Jewish education in an American Jewish Committee publication, A Statement on Jewish Education: Text and Responses, published today.

The scholars were invited to respond to the American Jewish Committee's policy statement on Jewish education, adopted last December, which called upon the Jewish community to make Jewish education, at all ages, a top priority, and to support a wide range of educational opportunities – including day schools, supplementary schools, camps and other formative learning experiences.

The AJC statement, followed by two national conferences sponsored by AJC, are part of a new initiative of AJC's Contemporary Jewish Life Department, which, over the past 20 years, has created pioneering programs to enhance the quality of Jewish life.

"The primary if not sole solution to ensuring Jewish continuity must lie in sustained Jewish education," says Dr. Steven Bayme, director of AJC's Contemporary Jewish Life Department and one of the contributors to the new AJC publication.

The policy statement, writes Dr. Bayme, "breaks new ground" by strongly advocating that Jewish education become a life-long activity – from cradle to grave – and that the Jewish community acknowledges the success of Jewish day schools in securing Jewish continuity.

"The community's renewed focus upon Jewish education forms part of a larger concern—born out of fears over intermarriage, disaffiliation, and shrinkage—that American Jewry's future is imperiled," writes Professor Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, in the AJC publication.

The 18 scholars offer differing approaches to addressing what is widely considered to be a crisis for the Jewish community, and suggest ways to prioritize funding of education alternatives.

The goal of communal initiatives in Jewish education "must be to create a sense of commitment to Jewish tradition and to the Jewish people" writes Michael A. Meyer, Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Jewish history at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Without deeper Jewish commitment, says Professor Meyer, "there will be no Jewish continuity."

Also addressing continuity, Shulamit Reinharz, professor of sociology and director of the Women's Study Program at Brandeis University, observes that "to have a strong Jewish community, we must provide the kind of Jewish education that can produce competent leaders."

But Professor Reinharz cautions that investing mainly in high school education,identified by many as the age group that needs most attention, would be mistaken. "I believe there is enough money in the Jewish community that we do not have to triage age groups," says Professor Reinharz.

Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, Professor of Humanities, at New York University, asserts: "There will be no revival of Jewishness in America unless it radically alters the way of life of adults, of parents, and yes, even grandparents. The adult generation cannot go to the golf course on Sabbath morning and presume that their children or grandchildren will want to go to synagogue."

This theme is echoed by Professor Jack Wertheimer, provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, who says Jewish education "is a necessary foundation for Jewish living."

"The Jewish community can ill afford the delusion that it can raise the next generation with only the most minimal knowledge of what it means to be a Jew," writes Professor Wertheimer. "Jewish education alone, without parental reinforcement, will have only a limited impact."

Among those criticizing the AJC statement, for any omission, is Professor Meyer, who notes that there is no reference to funding recruitment and training of Jewish teachers.

"The shortage of well-trained and motivated teachers for Jewish schools has long been one of the most serious problems of Jewish education," says Professor Meyer. "They are underpaid and their position does not give them proper prestige within the Jewish community."

While applauding the AJC policy statement for favoring "formative experiences over transformative ones," Professor Sarna observes that "Jewish education offers no guarantee against assimilation or intermarriage, any more than proper exercise provides a guarantee of good health."

However, Professor Sarna, acknowledging the value of consistent quality Jewish education, says, "educated Jews are far more likely to draw upon their tradition in making life choices, and even if they do decide to rebel and disaffiliate, at least they have a very clear sense of what they are rebelling against."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org