B’nai B’rith Study Confirms Shortage of Jewish Communal Workers

Confirmation of a serious shortage of trained workers in the various fields of Jewish communal service is provided in a study just completed by the B’nai B’rith Vocational Service Bureau, it was announced here today The study was conducted by Robert Shosteck, national director of research for the bureau, and is based on consultations with numerous Jewish organizations and institutions as well as examination of the printed material available.

The study finds that the demand for trained workers in almost all professional fields “far outstrips” the number of persons being graduated by schools with preparation for service to the Jewish community. It points out that the limited number of training institutions and present inadequate recruiting efforts are not likely to overcome the gap.

In a detailed breakdown, the report shows that 2,000 rabbis serve the entire Jewish population of the country. It finds that only 60 percent of the Jewish congregations in this country employ rabbis; the others rely upon the services of cantors or lay readers. According to reports from the various rabbinical schools, their graduates during the next few years will fill only part of the vacant pulpits. The number of rabbis entering the field must at least be doubled to fill the existing needs, the B’nai B’rith agency study concludes.

One of the greatest shortages exists in the field of Jewish education, the study reveals. Last year all teacher training institutions together graduated only 150 teachers, although more than 500 were needed. The growth of this field is indicated by the fact that Jewish school systems in this country now operate on a total budget in excess of $35 million almost double the sum expended a decade ago. The shortage is worldwide, giving those who wish to travel the assurance that they can obtain a job in almost any country where there is a considerable Jewish population.

Another field that has expanded considerably during the last two decades without a proportionate increase in personnel resources is that of community organization work Exclusive of fund-raisers, there are only about 150 full-time paid professional workers directing and coordinating the work of Jewish community federations, councils and welfare funds, It appears that the expanding trend will continue until almost all communities with a Jewish population of 1,000 or more will have a community organization directed by a full-time professional worker. Meanwhile, there are at least a score of communities of this size without professional direction.