ARCHIVES: Bemoaning the state of Jewish education today, a history J. – The Jewish News of Northern California
Posted By admin on August 6, 2022
In some corners of the Jewish community, one hears no end of jeremiads on the state of Jewish education in the country today. Grumble grumble, they all leave after their bnai mitzvah, and its all the parents fault! Grumble grumble, we have to spend more money on day schools or risk losing the next generation to assimilation! Grumble grumble, if they dont learn to keep Shabbos theyll intermarry or worse, become anti-Israel!
There is nothing new under the sun.
Since the earliest days of this newspaper, theres been no shortage of reporters, teachers, parents and community leaders (and others, no doubt) lamenting the imperfections and shortcomings of Jewish education throughout our country and region.
The Jewish Educational Problem in America read a simple and direct headline in our July 1, 1927 issue, and it sat atop a 168-word article by the education director of Temple Emanu-El, then the publisher of this publication. The succinct article provided some numerical analysis: At present only about 200,000 of the Jewish children of elementary school age are receiving some form of Jewish education. Five hundred thousand or half a million are receiving no Jewish education whatsoever. And it concluded abruptly: The situation is even worse with regard to our young people. In very many communities their Jewish education is sadly neglected.
A year later, Michael M. Zarchin of the Jewish Educational Society wrote in our Aug. 17, 1928 issue that Jewish educational effort can not be permitted to remain in the chaotic, helter-skelter conditions in which we find it today. He thought it was a big problem that Jewish education in that period had already begun to solidify around the synagogue. Rather than having each congregation see to the religious education of its members children, he believed there should be large, communal religious schools open to all. Tough luck for Mr. Zarchin; the congregational model continues to dominate almost a century later.
Talk of Jewish education slows down in our archive during the Depression and World War II. But in the 50s, with suburban synagogue life booming, various Jewish education groups were constantly proclaiming it the week of Jewish education or the month of Jewish education, and putting out calls to parents to send their kids to religious school.
In an editorial in our Sept. 17, 1954 issue, we wrote in support of one such call: Thousands of Jewish children in our community are not receiving the religious education that is due them. Let us hope that the Call to Jewish Parents will fall on responsive ears and that it will accomplish the constructive results for which it is intended.
Clearly, it did not. These calls seemingly went unheeded for years as similar pleas were issued annually.
By the 1970s, full-blown panic and despair were setting in with regard to Jewish education. To wit, on April 30, 1971, about 40 college students stormed into the offices of the San Francisco Jewish Welfare Federation (which several years later changed its name to the Jewish Community Federation) to demand better support and funding for local Jewish education. The members called themselves the Jewish Education Coalition. David Biale, a UC Davis professor of Jewish history who was then a 22-year-old senior at UC Berkeley, told J. last year on the 50th anniversary of the sit-in that the Jewish Education Coalition was a front organization for the Radical Jewish Union.
Biale was among the activists who plotted and carried out the subversive yet peaceful event, which lasted from 11:30 a.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday. Jews Liberate Federation beamed a headline in RJUs newspaper, the Jewish Radical. Though this paper did not report on the sit-in at that time, the action drew local TV and media coverage, and during the event the word got out and several rabbis came and visited us and expressed their solidarity, Biale recalled. Among them was Rabbi Wolfe Kelman, a leader in the Conservative movement. He happened to be in town, had heard of our initiative and felt he wanted to celebrate Shabbat with us, one of the activists recalled. He was clearly signaling to us that there was a part of that so-called Jewish Establishment which not only did not oppose our actions, but wholeheartedly validated and supported them.
A few months later, a letter to the editor in our Nov. 12, 1971 issue blasted the Federations for inadequate support of education. There is no question that Jewish education in San Francisco and its suburbs is in a sorry state, the letter writer declared.
A year later, in our Dec. 22, 1972 issue we wrote in an editorial of an American Jewish Committee officials prognostications on what would happen to Jewish youth if the sorry state were allowed to continue: Jewish youth are made vulnerable to the Jesus movement because they are permitted to grow up without the benefit of a solid Jewish education. In spite of endless talk of Jewish education over the decades, the editorial sadly but assuredly declares: Jewish education and intellectuality are still not high priorities in the Jewish communal life of America.
Jewish Education Failing: No Clear Image For U.S. Jews reads an April 7, 1978 headline on a JTA article that we ran. In it, a scholar declares that the current disarray in Jewish education is unique in Jewish history, confident, like so many Jews before him, that things are now much worse than they used to be.
The issue continued apace in the 1980s. On Nov. 8, 1985, a headline read Expert warns of weaknesses in U.S. Jewish education. His formula for solving the problem included such concrete, innovative bullet points as Make homes more Jewish and Provide regular and sustained Jewish education.
On the front page of our Nov. 16, 1990 issue, a JTA headline read 2-year Jewish education study urges overhaul. The reporter writes matter-of-factly of a study that has concluded what everyone already knows that the Jewish education system is troubled and needs more money. (The study, of course, had already cost a cool $1 million.)
We could go on. In recent years, similar complaints can still be heard throughout the Jewish world. Next time you hear one, just remember: Theres nothing new under the sun.
Read the original:
- Juror in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial is excused - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 6th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial: Week 1 featured emotional testimony and chilling 911 recordings - TribLIVE - June 6th, 2023
- Psych exam pending for ethnic intimidation suspect in Royal Oak synagogue graffiti - Oakland Press - June 6th, 2023
- FIDF CEO Weil speaks to 350 at Green Road Synagogue Shabbaton - Cleveland Jewish News - June 6th, 2023
- Audio released of first responders at Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - The Times and Democrat - June 6th, 2023
- I did this myself: Officers describe confrontation with Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting defendant - CNN - June 4th, 2023
- Sole Lodz synagogue to survive Holocaust triumphs over demolition plans - Ynetnews - June 4th, 2023
- Renaming, formal dedication of Park Synagogue campus June 11 - Cleveland Jewish News - June 4th, 2023
- 'The Jewess and the Synagogue' - Tablet Magazine - June 4th, 2023
- Suspect in vandalism of Michigan synagogue hoped to blame graffiti on Ukrainian militia - MLive.com - June 4th, 2023
- Freehold Jewish Center - Wikipedia - May 29th, 2023
- Police: Michigan woman wanted to blame synagogue vandalism on Azov Regiment - UpNorthLive.com - May 29th, 2023
- Jury selection concludes in trial for Pittsburgh synagogue shooter who killed 11 - Fox News - May 29th, 2023
- Graphic crime scene and autopsy images will be part of synagogue ... - thejewishchronicle.net - May 29th, 2023
- Boston Synagogue to Host Boston's West End Lyric's 'The Joys of ... - OperaWire - May 29th, 2023
- Terrorist With A Knife Neutralized Near Synagogue In West Bank ... - i24NEWS - May 29th, 2023
- 22-year-old jailed for attempted arson attack on German synagogue - The Times of Israel - May 26th, 2023
- Jury selection wraps in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre with testimony expected Tuesday - ABC News - May 26th, 2023
- IDF: Palestinian killed after infiltrating West Bank settlement synagogue with knife - The Times of Israel - May 26th, 2023
- SYNAGOGUE - JewishEncyclopedia.com - May 24th, 2023
- Lit Explosive Tossed From Pickup Truck Near Synagogue - Newsweek - May 24th, 2023
- Shavuot: When Children Take Their Parents to Synagogue - Impact of Chabad Hebrew schools felt deeply at reading of ... - Chabad.org - May 24th, 2023
- Light unto the nations: How Kherson's synagogue became a massive outreach center - Ynetnews - May 24th, 2023
- Sim Shalom Online Synagogue Soars into the Summer with ... - Benzinga - May 24th, 2023
- Homepage | Park Avenue Synagogue - May 22nd, 2023
- Cherry Hill rabbi donates Torah to new synagogue in Idaho - CBS News - May 22nd, 2023
- Park East Synagogue is still searching for its next leader as another assistant rabbi exits - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - May 20th, 2023
- Synagogue massacre trial expected to start May 30 | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - May 20th, 2023
- Campaign to give Sons of Jacob Synagogue a fresh look - My North Bay Now - May 20th, 2023
- Sacred Art: The Hope of History at Dohny Street Synagogue - MutualArt.com - May 20th, 2023
- Revelers outside Jerusalem's Great Synagogue say they 'came to ... - The Times of Israel - May 20th, 2023
- Synagogues In Orlando | Jewish Family Community Center | Ohev Shalom ... - May 17th, 2023
- Meet our Clergy - Congregation of Reform Judaism - May 17th, 2023
- London synagogue catches heat for lighting indoor Lag BOmer bonfire - The Times of Israel - May 17th, 2023
- Jury selection in Tree of Life Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial advances - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - May 17th, 2023
- Ivanka Trump and her family were spotted going to synagogue - HOLA! USA - May 17th, 2023
- Wenatchee synagogue vandalized with swastikas | News ... - wenatcheeworld.com - May 17th, 2023
- Warsaw's Great Synagogue destroyed 80 years ago today The ... - The First News - May 17th, 2023
- Pittsburgh Jewish community tracks jump in hate speech amid synagogue massacre trial - The Times of Israel - May 13th, 2023
- Voice for Jewish community reflects on first week of jury selection in synagogue shooting trial - CBS News - April 29th, 2023
- Potential jurors' stance on death penalty gauged as jury selection in synagogue shooting trial continues - WTAE Pittsburgh - April 27th, 2023
- Pittsburgh Jews keep defying hate as synagogue trial nears - The Hill - April 22nd, 2023
- Capitol Hill synagogue vandalized on eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day - The Seattle Times - April 20th, 2023
- This gay Orthodox Jew was banned from his synagogue. Now hes fighting back. - Forward - April 20th, 2023
- Teen accused of posting bomb threat targeting Forsyth County synagogue, deputies say - WSB Atlanta - April 20th, 2023
- The Synagogue | The Pluralism Project - March 10th, 2023
- Jessica Seinfeld Calls For Non-Jews To Join Friends At Synagogue Tomorrow For Shabbat To Counter Day Of Hate With Love And Light - Deadline - February 27th, 2023
- Synagogue Facts & Features | What is a Synagogue? | Study.com - February 19th, 2023
- Arab worlds 1st purpose-built synagogue in century opens at UAE interfaith center - The Times of Israel - February 17th, 2023
- What Is the Purpose of the Synagogue? | Reform Judaism - February 16th, 2023
- Ancient Synagogues in Israel and the Diaspora - February 2nd, 2023
- Park Synagogue, Cory United to hold MLK Jr. Day commemoration - Cleveland Jewish News - January 6th, 2023
- Ice Cream Factory, The Court Hotel and The Old Synagogue set for thrilling New Years Eve celebrations - PerthNow - December 21st, 2022
- NJ Synagogue Threat: FBI Says Credible Information Developed NBC New York - December 11th, 2022
- Video shows man making bigoted remarks at Bloomfield Twp. synagogue - Detroit Free Press - December 11th, 2022
- Two men, one a descendant of Holocaust survivor, indicted in connection with threat to attack NYC synagogue - CNN - December 11th, 2022
- Michigan man charged after threatening synagogue-goers yelled antisemitic invective during arraignment - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 7th, 2022
- AA Synagogue - November 24th, 2022
- How One Jewish Groups Tweet Surveillance Uncovered a Synagogue Plot - The New York Times - November 24th, 2022
- Tree of Life - November 21st, 2022
- Jewish Community Security Organization in UK Says It Discovered N.Y. Synagogue Threats - HS Today - HSToday - November 21st, 2022
- Welcome to Edgware United Synagogue - November 16th, 2022
- New Jersey man accused of sending online threats to attack a synagogue and Jewish people, federal prosecutor says - CNN - November 11th, 2022
- I Let My Son Be an Extra on Maisel on the Holiest Day of the Jewish Year - Kveller.com - October 19th, 2022
- Why a new program aiming to fight anti-Zionism among Reform Jews is bound to fail - Mondoweiss - October 19th, 2022
- Reeling from the loss of her mom, this rabbi created an online community for healing - St. Louis Jewish Light - October 19th, 2022
- Slovak Who Attacked Gay Bar Credits Buffalo Shooter with Giving Him 'Final Nudge' - HS Today - HSToday - October 19th, 2022
- OPINION: Let's make this the year we end paid High Holiday tickets J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 15th, 2022
- Churches need to see more of the faithful - liherald.com - October 15th, 2022
- Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: October 14-20, 2022 - Sedona.biz - October 15th, 2022
- Why Conspiracy Theorists Always Land on the Jews - The Atlantic - October 15th, 2022
- Religion: Clergy strive to reconcile politically divided congregations | Journal-Courier - Jacksonville Journal-Courier - October 8th, 2022
- Huntsville's Temple B'nai Sholom encourages the community to visit the historic synagogue - WZDX - September 29th, 2022
- The synagogue is in the street: On Yom Kippur, Tel Aviv shows another side of itself - Forward - September 29th, 2022
- A Long Island synagogues renovations uncover a massive work of art - Forward - September 29th, 2022
- Synagogues exit pandemic with reflection, determination and hope for the future - Ynetnews - September 29th, 2022
- For the Sin We Have Sinned by Making People Feel Unwelcome at Synagogues - Jewish Exponent - September 29th, 2022
- The tragedy of Jews who can't stand with Israel - JNS.org - September 29th, 2022
- Fellowship in Their Golden Years - International Fellowship of Christians and Jews - September 29th, 2022
- Aurora rabbi joins other faith leaders in call for peace and progress - Daily Herald - September 29th, 2022
Comments