American Jews “overwhelmingly” wish to retain their Jewish identity and this desire is so great that it constitutes a strong retain their Jewish identity and this desire is so great that it constitutes a strong obstacle to either assimilation or intermarriage. At the same time, native-born Jews display a marked rise of interest in their religion.
These were some of the findings of research projects made public today by a group of social scientists at the two-day Tercentenary Conference on American Jewish Sociology held at the Hotel Commodore. More than 250 educators, sociologists, social workers and communal leaders participated in the two-day parley. The meeting was sponsored by the Conference on Jewish Relations, an organization which seeks to promote, by means of scientific study and research, a better understanding of the position of the Jewish in the modern world. Other trends disclosed were:
1. Increased interest in the Jewish religion goes hand in hand with the degree of Americanization. Jews tend to observe those religious customs and ceremonies which are in line and acceptable to American standards. The rituals which have special appeal for Jews generally are joyous occasions, involve their children, and do not demand daily attention from them; in addition, these ceremonies do not require a high degree of isolation from non-Jews.
2. The great majority of Jews have a favorable attitude toward Israel, However, they have little if any desire to live there. Their “philanthropic kind of Zionism” considers Israel chiefly as a homeland for those Jews that are persecuted or otherwise insecure.
3. Jews are continuing their traditional practice of supporting philanthropies, contributing liberally to both Jewish and non-sectarian causes. Membership inane activity with Jewish organizations helps the Jew to identify himself and gives him a sense of belonging.
NEW LEADERSHIP IN U.S. JEWISH LIFE NOTED
In a panel discussion on the structure of the American Jewish community, the sociologists stated that the chief development was the rise of a new group of persons who had assumed the leadership of organized Jewish life in the United States. A second important change was the growth and rising influence of central philanthropic organizations in local communities.
This was followed by increased rank and file participation in Jewish religious and charitable causes. And finally, they noted, “the restriction of immigration has transferred American Jewry into a community overwhelmingly native born, with great uniformity in Jewish cultural, religious and folk practices.”
The social scientists unanimously adopted a resolution calling for new research projects on “the problems of Jewish social relations in American and in other countries of Jewish settlement.” These projects can be successful only if they are financially supported by “Jewish communal institutions and individual Jews,” the resolution said.
Professor John P. Dean of Cornell University reported that Jews are participating in practically all crease of economic life. Dr. Dean’s presentation was based on Cornell University’s study of majority-minority interaction in America. Other findings of the Cornell study, covering Jews in medium size American communities, were:
1, Increased interest in the Jewish religion goes hand Jo hand with the degree of Americanization. Jews tend to observe those religious customs and ceremonies which are in line and acceptable to American standards. The rituals which have special appeal for Jews generally are joyous occasions, involve their children, and do not demand daily attention from them; in addition, these ceremonies do not require a high degree of isolation from non-Jews.
2. The great majority of Jews have a favorable attitude toward Israel, However, they have little if any desire to live there. Their “philanthropic kind of Zionism” considers Israel chiefly as a homeland for those Jews that are persecuted or otherwise insecure.
3. Jews are continuing their traditional practice of supporting philanthropies, contributing liberally to both Jewish and Nan-sectarian causes. Membership in and activity with Jewish organizations helps the Jew to identify himself and gives him a sense of belonging.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
