“A Lifetim e of Learning” - Partnership for Excellence in Jewish ...

intermarriage rate, if only more Jews were to avail themselves ofthese experiences combined. Beyond these educational experiencesin childhood and adolescence, we also have such options as campusHillels, Jewish Studies classes, social justice activities, culturalevents, and other policies that will likely foster Jewish associationand residential density and help to provide the rationale for “Why beJewish?”.Some have asked, “If Jewish education is so good, then why arethings so bad?” We have two answers. First, things are not so bad.We must recall the numerous points of strength of American Jewry:affluence, political influence, scholarly productivity, cultural innovation,religious ferment, increasing use of Jewish educational options,and persisting residential concentration, to say nothing of animpressive philanthropic commitment, albeit one shifting away fromhistoric patterns and institutions. The shortcomings of Jewish education(and presumably of synagogue life, Israel travel, culturalevents, and social activism) rest not so much with an inability to influenceparticipants as to attract participants. While educational,cultural, religious, and volunteer experiences can always be improved(and should be improved), the true challenge to policy-makersis in the area of recruitment: How do we encourage more Jews tomake use of day schools, youth groups, Israel travel, Jewish camps,Hillels, Jewish Studies classes, volunteer opportunities, culturalevents, and inspired congregational life?But given the sharp differences in the origins, conditions and futuresof the in-married and intermarried populations, policy makers willneed to begin thinking differently about how to address these twopopulation segments. The in-married are generally affiliated andsometimes highly affiliated. For them, many untapped opportunitiesexist to enlarge participation in Jewish educational activities, bethey formal or informal, focused on texts, cultural engagement, socialjustice activities, or spiritual experiences. For the intermarried,outreach efforts may improve engagement of the current generation;but only conversion substantially improves the chances that today’sintermarried couples will have Jewish grandchildren in two generations.A P U B L I C A T I O N O F Y I T Z H A K R A B I N H I G H S C H O O Lcompliments ofEmcon Emanation Control LimitedThe core of EMCON’s expertise is in-depthknowledge of Compromising Emanations.With our state-of-the-art mechanical andelectronic design tools, we are able todevelop and maintain products andservices that are required in Governmentenvironments wherever sensitive orclassified information is processed.11 Tristan CourtNepean, ON Canada K2E 8B9Telephone: (613) 723-1838Fax: (613) 723-2752E-Mail: sales@emcon.comWeb Site: www.emcon.com“ A L i f e t i m e o f L e a r n i n g ” • P A G E 23