Jewish renaissance? Rabbis are more skeptical

1.

The annual survey of rabbis by STAR (Synagogues: Transformation And Renewal) is out today and it carries some interesting data. I wrote about this survey when it was first issued, last year. Back then, my focus was twofold: the first article asked Will American rabbis vote Republican?, and another one, headlined Rabbis with Hope, dealt with the positive outlook of those STAR rabbis on the Jewish-American condition:

"The rabbis believe that during the coming three years, more adults will study Judaism (54 percent), the youth will be more involved (44 percent), synagogue attendance will increase (37 percent) and the number of those observing Jewish rituals will increase (36 percent). Half the rabbis (50 percent) also believe that Jewish support for Israel will become stronger."

"About two thirds of the rabbis say that American Jewry is at present in the midst of a true 'renaissance,' and only 19 percent believe it is on the decline."

What a difference a year can make.

2.

There's a sense of decline in almost every category of satisfaction one chooses to look at. In 2006, 52 percent of rabbis said that they have impact as a moral voice; in 2007, only 48 percent agreed. How much impact do you have on groups? focus on Israel? Last year it was 65 percent, this year only 47 percent. And what about local Jewish causes and campaigns? Last year it was 50 percent, this year a mere 33 percent. The rabbis find it hard to mobilize the community on many issues. One thing they find easier to influence is global emergency causes through general civic organizations (meaning, an issue that's not "Jewish" or "Israeli" - time to read, again, the new study on young Jews and Israel).

3.

The main topic of last year's High Holiday sermons was easy to detect. Weeks after the Second Lebanon War, rabbis talked mostly about Israel. This year, they are going back to the concerns of the local community and will be speaking (45 percent) about participation in Jewish life beyond High Holiday services, and (37 percent) about the internal health of the synagogue. Their one and almost only goal (63 percent) is to inspire congregants with a compelling vision of Jewish life. And while most believe that attendance in their congregation can be increased, less than a third (28 percent) of the rabbis surveyed expect an increase in synagogue membership in the U.S. in general, compared with 34 percent last year.

4.

The rabbis in this survey represent - Rabbi Hayim Herring, the director of STAR, clarifies - the "liberal segment" of American Jewry. This can easily be detected by the questions. Increased activities to engage gay/lesbian members in the community (72 percent) are by far the most common concern related to actions and initiatives.

But asked about their goals in more general terms, the rabbis provide indications of their real worries: the most pressing issues are "involving more people in synagogue life" (46 percent) and "making Judaism more relevant" (25 percent). Relevancy is the issue in both the specific congregations they represent and the Jewish community at large. This was also true last year, when the number of rabbis stating these goals was even higher. But this year the 7 percent who said "Israel" dropped to 0 percent.

5.

And what about this Jewish Renaissance everybody is talking about?

Last year, a stunning 64 percent believed in it, and this year it is just 47 percent - still a fair number, but a steep decline nonetheless.

A possible explanation for this is that rabbis are the most reliable witnesses when it comes to problems related to synagogue attendance. They sense the decline in support of organizational denominations, which makes them less optimistic. It also makes them opt for the one solution they can think of - a push for more outreach.

But Herring admits that one of the problems these rabbis might face - one that puts them in danger of misinterpreting current trends - is the movement away from synagogues and toward other ways of expressing one's Judaism. It is a Renaissance indeed - but one that leaves the rabbis behind.

6.

And a word about politics:

Some STAR rabbis (21 percent) are still convinced that the Republican Party is better for Israel than the Democratic Party (16 percent), but the margin is less than it was a year and a half ago, when (49 percent) did not think there was any difference.

Many (22 percent) believe that Hillary Clinton will be the best President when it comes to Israel, followed by Rudy Giuliani (16 precent). Almost one half (41 percent) said they don't know, and 12 percent said they don't think a specific candidate will make a difference.

34 percent believe that the Iraq war has negative repercussions for U.S. Jews. Only 15 percent think US support for Israel has similar negative repercussions. And a vast majority will encourage congregants to vote for a candidate who is supportive of Israel.

Today on Rosner's Domain:

What To Read: Young Jews and Israel: Party doesn't make a difference

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