Conservative, Reform Rabbis to Jointly Develop Education Programs to Attract Youth

For the first time, Conservative and Reform rabbis in the tri-State area will combine forces to develop Jewish education programs aimed at attracting young people back to the synagogue and Jewish life. A joint statement issued by the New York Association of Reform Rabbis and the Metropolitan Council of the Rabbinical Assembly called for the creation of a “crash program of Jewish education to reach young people to understand and identify with Judaism.” The declaration resulted from the first historic gathering by both Rabbinic Associations at an all-day meeting studying common concerns and problems. The rabbis stressed the need for greater cooperation and closer working relations among their respective Rabbinic bodies, citing that the economic crises, shortage of trained manpower “demands such unity.” While emphasizing that such common efforts did not imply a merger, the Reform and Conservative rabbis noted “there are many overriding crucial issues involving the Jewish community which we can and must face together.” In their statement, the rabbis said, “the alienation of our youth and their defection from this synagogue is in large measure the result of the ignorance of their heritage. They have ‘turned off’ Rather, they have never been ‘turned on.’ The failure is not theirs–it is ours.”

Both groups appointed a committee to develop common programs in the area of Jewish education and other fields. They stated that the process to create programs for Jewish education would “take time” and that the best available minds would be sought, including those of young people. Rabbi Herbert Rose, president of the Reform Rabbinic Association, called for the utilization of experimental pedagogic techniques and to pattern educational programs according to the language of young people and contemporary times.” Rabbi Rose, spiritual leader of Temple Or Elohim, Jericho, N.Y., suggested that in recruiting young people the teaching of Judaism be the prime concern, not financial support of the synagogue. “We should welcome any youngster into our youth groups and high school classes at a nominal charge or no cost at all,” he said. Rabbi Albert Thaler, president of the Metropolitan Council asserted “we must discard the old conceptions of Jewish education. This should apply to all forms, not the classroom alone.” He considered it essential to involve young people in development of such new programs.

Rabbi Thaler, of the Queensboro Jewish Community Center, Queens, N.Y., noted that during the past 15 years Jewish religious institutions erred in pouring such vast sums into the building of immense synagogue buildings. He said, “We have buildings without young people, who neither study or worship with us.” The rabbis also said that not enough was being done to help Soviet Jews “commensurate with the financial, spiritual or material resources capable of being mustered by the Jewish community.” They expressed “gratification” at the increased number of exit visas granted by the USSR authorities, and hoped that the Soviet government would continue “to expand the opportunity for any Jew who wants to leave to do so,” and called for “full freedom of religious and cultural expression to those who choose to remain in the USSR.” The rabbis also called for free religious opportunities for all religious persuasions in the State of Israel. They added, “We believe that we have a contribution to offer Israel’s spiritual growth and development no less than the material support we have assumed as a sacred obligation.”