Ahead of the Kinus Hashluchim, COLlive asked 6 leading figures for their responses to the Pew Study about American Jewry.
Mrs. Baila Gansburg, Director of South Florida Jewish Academy:
I seriously question any correlation between their findings and the true state of American Judaism. This study is further compromised by the exclusion of questions pertaining to participation and engagement with Chabad centers all over the country, which others have pointed outnumber may other traditions of Judaism. Certainly all Jewish people need to be actively a part of preserving and perpetuating the continuity of the Jewish people and it is for that reason the work of the Rebbe must be supported and continue.
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Rabbi Dov Greenberg, Director of the Rohr Chabad House at Stanford University:
This study demonstrates that Judaism is not defeated by great acts of betrayal. It is endangered by small acts of negligence. Jewish continuity will not be achieved by any headline-grabbing deeds of valor. It will be achieved by great loyalty to little mitzvot. Lighting Shabbat candles, going to the synagogue, reading a Jewish book to your child are little deeds. And yet it is precisely in our devotion to these undramatic acts, that the texture of our lives are woven and future of Judaism is secured. Small mitzvot contain the seeds of greatness, they bear the fruits of happiness and they nourish the tree of life for our people.
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Mrs. Shaindy Jacobson, Director of Rosh Chodesh Society at Rohr Jewish Learning Institute:
Tallying numbers and tabulating percentages are certainly worthy exercises as far as statistical studies are concerned, yet regarding the Jewish people, our goal has always been to bottom line as a strong and proud one. The Pew study is simply another in a long list of reminders that each and every one of us has been put on this earth to fulfill our individual, as well as collective mission: to build our Jewish nation one family member at a time. Together we are greater than the sum of our parts.
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Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel:
Amongst the flaws in the report is the most glaring omission of any mention of Chabad, the world’s leader of successful Jewish outreach with some 900 Centers throughout the United States and Canada, and nearly three thousand more in 83 countries around the world, active 24/7. Next weekend will witness the International Conference of Chabad Shluchim, to take place right here in Brooklyn, in which some 4,000 Jewish community leaders will intensively be planning how to further grow the astonishing successes of Chabad-Lubavitch.
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Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar, spiritual leader of The Shul of Bal Harbour, Florida:
The Pew report reminds us of the enormous opportunity we have and jolts us to the urgency to act before the opportunity dissipates. It is great news to know that more than 6,000,000 Americans maintain a Jewish imprint of some kind. The fact that we will survive eternally is unquestionable but whether each of our Family will be part of that is up to us.
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Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna, Professor of Jewish Studies at Brandeis University:
The community-wide debate concerning the results of the Pew Study is highly beneficial. Time and again –in the 1870s, the 1930s and (for Orthodoxy) the 1950s– communal fears concerning the future translated into action, prophecies of gloom and doom were negated, and the community became stronger. One hopes that this will happen again.
From a Chabad perspective, the huge number of Jews who consider themselves religious but of “no denomination” –41% of those under 30 and 30% of all American Jews– suggests a massive potential field for shluchim. Rather than being discouraged, the survey indicates that there is a great deal of work to be done — and if not now, when?
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“The fact that we will survive eternally is unquestionable but whether each of our Family will be part of that is up to us.”
I agree that we should stop hocking a chainik about how it excludes Chabad.
that is why the rebbe felt the urgency so so long ago and inspired so many shluchim to go out with self sacrifice…
our shluchim can take this message back home and feel reinspired and recommitted to making a difference to save klall yisroel one neshama at a time…
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/Dont-lose-hope-for-secular-American-Jews-Israeliness-may-be-the-answer-329885
יאריך ימים על ממלכתו מתוך בריאות הנכונה
R’ Greenberg is spot on. This is the Rebbe’s message to the world. I’m a bit surprised at the umbrage Chabad has taken to the methodology used in the survey. Even if Chabad has touched 300k Jewish souls (and each one is a universe for itself), it does not move the needle in a significant way for what the research is trying to measure. We come across as imbeciles when we try to make the Pew report about Chabad. Just look at how quickly and easily R’ Eliezri’s arguments were rebutted by Pew itself. And Rabbi Elizeri is one of… Read more »
Reb Dov hit the nail on the head, it’s no wonder that Chabad has him at Stanford!
Rabbi Greenberg,
Thank you very much for your response, it inspired me.
There are many reactions to the report.
Some seem like studies in there own right…
I appreciate you taking this opportunity to encourage your brothers and sisters to do mitzvot and strengthen Am Yisroel.
Rabbi Greenberg — That was unexpected! You found the Rebbe’s optimistic and practical message in a gloomy report. The Jewish world needs to know this!
R’ Dov, that’s a profound way of looking at it and I especially liked the “Small mitzvot contain the seeds of greatness, they bear the fruits of happiness and they nourish the tree of life for our people.”
This really touched a nerve.
right on #1
Interesting to see the quality of the responses.
Nice to see Chabad Of Coconut Creek represented…