View on U.S. Jews Presented at Convention of B’nai B’rith Youth

A Jewish youth expert rejected today the contention that American Jewish youth was in rebellion against the Jewish heritage, asserting that “what we are witnessing today is more apathy and indifference than hostility to Judaism.”

Dr. Max F. Baer, director of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, expressed that view in an address to the 21st Annual International Convention of the B’nai B’rith Young Adults, which is being held at Camp B’nai B’rith in the Pennsylvania Poconos. He said the reactions of youthful ignorance of the Jewish heritage, the increasing rate of intermarriage, and other forms of “alienation from Jewish life” should be considered “the price we are paying for the enjoyment of the privileges of the most open society in all history.”

Rabbi Myron Fenster of New York told the youth convention that “Some synagogue leaders have a growing tendency to view themselves as the sole bearers of authentic Judaism. As they see the synagogue emerging as the most potent factor in American Judaism, some assume there is a conflict between themselves and the so-called secular agencies in American Judaism. Such a conflict is time consuming and self-defeating.”

Not all of the world’s wisdom or even its piety is to be found in the synagogue.” Rabbi Fenster declared: “Jewish youth organizations, such as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, have an important and distinctive service to render in their respective fields. Jewish civil rights groups and those who have carried on a dignified dialogue with the Christian community have played a valuable role in the emerging patterns of Jewish life. All these efforts should be seen as cooperative. Often the synagogue groups do not have the expertise or the staff to do these jobs properly.”