I read with great interest, “Atoning For Nothing” (Oct. 7), on High Holiday services for free. Having led High Holiday services for young and less affiliated Jewish men and women for the last 13 years, I take issue with offering them for free.
While I am a huge advocate of removing barriers and obstacles to becoming involved Jewish life, offering anything for free cheapens the product. While “paying to pray” may be a turnoff to young people, everyone knows that anything of true quality costs money. In our sincere effort to bring more Jews into the fold we must be concerned with the way we present Judaism to the less affiliated. Judaism must be seen as something worth paying for. The trick is to offer a reasonable price, particularly for students and those out of work, but never for free.
Manhattan Jewish Experience
