Rabbi Louis I. Newman, in his column, “Telling It In Gath,” says the following about Jewish community centers:
The Jewish community center in the outlying cities of the country apparently has made a deep impression, but it has gained its following at the cost of the temple house movement. Every synagogue has its auxiliary organizations for children, youth and adults. But without personal piety on the part of a synagogue’s members the rabbi will find himself the leader of a rapidly-waning army.
Either the rabbi must develop himself as an orator or he must be content to serve as a court-chaplain, a sublimated rector of the Episcopalian brand. He may attempt to seek out his congregants on the golf-links, in the city and the country-club, and at dinner parties, but he must not expect to find them within the confines of the temple, unless they are prompted to interest themselves in affairs religious.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
