In the United States, three out of every five younger Jews are retained in “the orthodox fold” when they reach high school and college as against one out of five in previous generations, it was revealed today by the Chief Rabbi’s office in a report on last week’s Anglo-American Rabbinical Conference. The report stressed the importance of working with “uncommitted” sections of the community and urged greater “personal contact” with younger people on the high school and university level. Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits called for a statistical survey to indicate the effects of intensive Jewish education on social stability in terms of rates of divorce, illegitimacy, delinquency and drug addiction. The American delegates stressed the importance of fostering the establishment of international rabbinic organizations so that under rabbinical leadership the Jewish people’s destinies could be restored. The delegates decided to maintain contacts and hold further conference. The Americans invited their British counterparts to hold the next conference in the U.S.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
