Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Chancellor Eisen in Haaretz on the New Pew Report: "Reengaging American Jews - Before They Drift Away"

Dear JTS Community,

The most recent report on American Jews from the Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project makes it crystal clear: this is no longer our grandparents' Jewish community—nor, for that matter, that of our parents.

The statistics say that, in the last 10 years, interest in Jewish religion has continued to decline and the number of intermarriages has increased—how should we respond to this information? What do these changes mean to Jewish life as a whole? And what is Judaism anyway? A religion? A people? A culture? 

I reflect on these questions and more in my newest article for Israel's Haaretz newspaper, "Reengaging American Jews—Before They Drift Away," which can be accessed in its entirety on my blog, On My Mind: Arnie Eisen.

If you have some thoughts on the new Pew report, or want to share how you would engage or reengage Jews, I encourage you to share your comments online at On My Mind: Arnie Eisen.

Sincerely, 
arnold eisen signature 2
Arnold M. Eisen
Chancellor
The Jewish Theological Seminary


P.S. You can also follow me on Twitter @ArnoldEisen
(twitter.com/ArnoldEisen) or read my blog at http://blog.jtsa.edu/chancellor-eisen/.