I read a number of articles recently about problems facing the Reform Movement, including this front-page story in today’s Boston Globe, and it seems that a big problem plaguing Reform Judaism today is that men are fleeing the movement in droves. Look at some of these stats:
At the Reform movement’s seminary, 60 percent of the rabbinical students and 84 percent of those studying to become cantors are female. Girls are outnumbering boys by as much as 2 to 1 among adolescents in youth group programs and summer camps, while women outnumber men at worship and in a variety of congregational leadership roles, according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
The evidence is everywhere. At Temple Sinai in Sharon, nine of the 11 members of this year’s confirmation class were girls. At Temple Beth David in Canton, last Saturday’s Bible study drew 11 women and no men. At Temple Isaiah in Lexington, the executive board for the last year had eight women and one man. And at the Prozdor, an intensive supplementary high school program at Hebrew College in Newton, 59 percent of the students are female.
The analysts and experts are creating commissions to investigate the problem, but I think the reasons are simple. According to this article in Commentary Magazine (the voice of the Reform Movement) entitled “What Does Reform Judaism Stand For?” it says:
In recent years, Reform Judaism, at the prodding of its Washington arm, the Religious Action Center, has issued resolution after resolution in support of Left-liberal positions across an array of political and social issues. It has opposed the war in Iraq and the nomination of Justice Samuel Alito; sharply rebuked the Christian Right; and vigorously supported the left-wing Democratic stance on gay marriage, affirmative action, and school vouchers.
In other words, the Reform Movement is a left wing organization. It is leading the fight for “inclusiveness,” and pushes hard for things like women’s rights, gay rights, and egalitarianism. But what does it offer a nice heterosexual Jewish boy looking for something “Jewish” to belong to?
Nothing – or not much at least.
He doesn’t feel at home or comfortable with all the left-wing ideologues. He is cowed by political correctness and afraid to speak up or defend himself. And so he leaves. What do you expect?
Unfortunately for the Reform Movement, the swift exit of men is only one of its many problems. I won’t list them all here, but I think the article in Commentary does a great job summing it all up:
What does all this augur for Reform itself? The movement has wagered its future on the gamble that a coherent and vibrant Judaism can be built on the idea of a big tent, on the informed choice of each Reform Jew, and on a highly elastic definition of both “Reform” and “Jew.” Both in what it cannot accept and in what it cannot but accommodate, the movement is very much at one with the individualistic and “pluralist” ethos of contemporary American culture. But for how long will significant numbers of people continue to be drawn to, or stick with, a religious movement that cannot or will not define standards for committed living, and that, except when it comes to political imperatives, has self-consciously shunned the very notion of imperatives?
June 22nd, 2008
Coffee is again making news and yes - again it comes out that coffee is good for you:
Talk of the Nation, June 20, 2008 · Just smelling the aroma of coffee is enough to change the activity of several genes in rats, researchers report this week in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The affected genes appear to help the animals deal with resistance to the stresses caused by sleep deprivation. Project neuroscientist Yoshinori Masuo of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology talks about whether we should just sniff our morning coffee instead of drinking it.
When will the anti-coffee conspiracy put an end to their lies?
June 20th, 2008
I was told about this video and it is amazing to watch. I don’t know if there is anything better out there that sums up the state of the Jewish people today.
Listen to what the boy is saying – he is clearly an intelligent kid who thinks about things. Unfortunately he surrounded by people who know absolutely nothing about Judaism, he is not getting answers, and he thinks it is all a big joke. And why shouldn’t he? If his family, friends and even the rabbi think he is hysterical – his father is so proud he posted his son’s speech on youtube – what does it say about how they feel about G-d and Judaism?
I just hope no one has the audacity to be mad at him when he marries Christina in a few years.
June 16th, 2008
I was just in Israel (as you can see from my last post) and I was there for Yom Yerushaliam – the day commemorating the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem after 19 years of Jordanian rule (when Jews were forbidden access to holy sites like the Western Wall, etc). About 50,000+ people were gathered at the Wall to dance as part of the annual celebration.
Maybe I am a sap, but I get extremely emotional seeing so many Jews together – it really blows my mind. I called my wife and told her that I want to be 20 and a Zionist. She told me that I am 40 and that I have a family.
I then saw a Rebbe Nachman truck blasting ultra-groovy Nachman music and decided I should join Breslav. So maybe am I just having an identity crisis.
June 13th, 2008
Yes, this is radical. On my recent trip to Israel I made a number of obligatory stops at Maoz for shwarma. As usual, Maoz was in top form and the shwarmas were tasty and transcendent.
But I noticed something unusual in the tray of shwarma add-ons. Next to the hummus, pickles, and Israeli salad was shredded cabbage. I don’t recall ever seeing this as an option before. I admit that maybe cabbage is available with shwarma in America – but Americans are known to put lettuce in their shwarma as well (and that is weird) so I never really took it seriously – but cabbage at Maoz?
I tried it and wow – it was pickled and added just enough zest and tang to be noticed, but it was not gross or overpowering – the awesomeness of the magic shwarma was enhanced.
Innovative – you better believe it.
June 6th, 2008
Look at this - it is live Blind Faith in Hyde Park in 1969. Look carefully at the medallion Clapton is wearing - it is a Magan Dovid! Wow!
You know what they say - “When you are in love, the whole world is Jewish.”
You can see the clip here.
April 2nd, 2008
I gave a talk the other night at George Mason University in Virginia, and so did Bill Clinton.
I am not sure what Bill was thinking – like how could he book a talk the same night as me? It was probably scheduled at the last minute in an effort to help Hillary in the Virginia primary.
I feel kind of bad about what happened though. Bill probably didn’t realize it, but I am sure that his numbers suffered because of our “double booking.” I hope he doesn’t blame me for Hillary’s loss – I think there were other factors involved like Obama’s momentum and the make up of the Virginia electorate – but you never know what these crazy politicians are thinking.
February 13th, 2008
I won’t reveal my connections, but last week I was in Aerosmith’s management office. It was incredibly cool.
In addition to platinum records and Grammies, they also had MTV music awards lying around – you know, the silver spaceman with MTV flag. I picked one up and was about to hold it up in the air (just like the rock stars do on TV) but the flag almost fell out and I got scared. Like what would Joe Perry say if he heard that some Rabbi broke his MTV spaceman statue?
Going there got me thinking – now that I have this semi-celebrity status, and I seem to be in with the music establishment, I think I should offer my services to the lost Jews in the music business. David Lee Roth, Amy Winehouse, people like that – they could use a Rabbi, no?
February 13th, 2008
Aish.com posted a few videos I made about relationships. There are many comments and I am surprised that these videos are controversial. I guess people have strong opinions about maintaining healthy relationships.
But the comments weren’t only limited to content, one viewer looked up my info and sent me an email – and this is shocking:
Thought: your glasses need to be updated. Nothing too trendy, but more narrow, less rounded. Try to get them up higher on nose too (if they can fit this way). I think this will look more stylish, and remove any elements of goofiness that might be imparted to the viewer.
Whoa - like I am not the embodiment of style? Unbelievable.
To be honest, I hate my glasses too – but not because they are not trendy. I hate my glasses because they are too trendy.
Back in the early 90s, when I got my first pair of glasses, large (huge) lenses were in. Large lenses/large frames is what they sold and consequently what I bought. I looked great and was able to see.
About ten years later, fashion changed. Large was out, small was in. My wife and mother conspired against me – they said I looked goofy and that I needed smaller lenses. I broke down, got a new pair of thin, trendy glasses, and I have been miserable ever since. Every time I have my head down, but need to glance up at something, I end up looking over the top of my glasses and see a field of blur. If I had my old huge frames, my eyes would still be covered by the glasses when I look up and I would be able to see fine. But no, because I am a slave to fashion I walk around unable to see.
My only recourse is to wait. When huge glasses are in again I will buy a pair. They will be the last pair I ever plan to buy. When huge goes out and small is back in – too bad – I keep the old, out-dated large lenses and the world can laugh – hahaha – I don’t care – I want to see.
My critic continues:
Also, face sheen is “faced” by many under the lights. Would suggest toning down side lighting and experimenting with face powder possibly.
This is probably legit too, but I don’t care. I am happy to goof around with lighting but there is no way I am putting on any powder. Next thing you know I’ll be a circus performer with whiteface and big red lips – no thank you.
February 11th, 2008
What happened to the great global warming everyone is talking about? I am still eagerly waiting for Boston to become San Diego. According to Canadian scientists – the real problem is global cooling:
Solar activity fluctuates in an 11-year cycle. But so far in this cycle, the sun has been disturbingly quiet. The lack of increased activity could signal the beginning of what is known as a Maunder Minimum, an event which occurs every couple of centuries and can last as long as a century.
Back in the 17th century, this solar cycle led to 65 years of cold weather. I am not ready for that.
Somebody needs to get in touch with this Gore fool and tell him to shut up; we need to warm this world up!
February 8th, 2008
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