Youth is coming back to the synagogue in Milwaukee. The steady, almost inexerable drift of Jewish young-sters away from religious activitivies in recent years has halted and is slowly reversing itself, local rabbis are happily reporting.
Young men’s clubs are reviving in the synagogues and stimulating not only their own members to attend Sabbath services, but even bringing back into the temples their indifferent or baqcksliding parents.
Junior congregations are increasing, youth groups to forster Judaism are expanding, and joint father and child Sabbath services are becoming of Congregation Anshe Sfard, hitherto concentrating on communal activities, has afficliated itself with the temple as a junior congregation and plans to join regularly in Sabbath and holiday services.
At Degel Israel synagogue, the B’Nai Degel Israel, a junior group of young men and women, has held joint services with the elders, and by invitation has increased the attendance of parents, as well. An open forum on Jewish problems, with both young-sters and oldsters participating, follows each service.
In Congregation Beth Israel, the Men’s club has been instrumental in organizing a male chorus for every Friday night service.
Even Boy Scouts at Temple Beth El are doing their part to strengthen synagogue attendance. At the last service, members of the Temple Troop N. 145 borught their parents in as guests and followed that with a reception in the vestry. The junior congregation has also been active here.
At Temple Emanu-el Bine Jeshurun, not only the Jnuior Congregation but other youth organizations are active in augmenting the prayer services.
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.
