There is an old Talmudic axiom in relation to evaluating your life's accomplishments. "Look not at your children, but at your grandchildren".
This past Sunday, Sheila and I attended a beautiful and moving event in N Woodmere. L I. Our youngest grandchild Dov, joined 44 of his 2nd grade male classmates at HALB (Hebrew Academy of Long Beach)who received their first Chumash ( Bible). The girls portion of the class will have a similar ceremony this coming week. The children are part of a 900-1000 student population in the lower school. There are 2 nearby buildings for a boys and girls high school.
The children sang in Hebrew from the first chapter of the portion of Breshit .
As I looked around the filled auditorium of the 25 million dollar renovated former public school building, I remised as to how orthodox life has changed ( for the better) in the 70+ years since I was in the second grade.
All of the parents were orthodox sabbath observers .Unlike in my time, where many if not a majority sent their kids to yeshiva, so that they would not be dismissed at 3pm while they were still at work. A large portion did not send their children to yeshiva high schools upon graduation, unlike today where the number is probably 100%.
HALB is but one of many such institutions in the 5 Towns area.( covering all religious hashkafot)
This past Shabbat my Rav , Rabbi Zev Goldberg in a sermon on Jewish unity, and the greatness of America , the home of opportunity and pluralism for Jews. noted that his daughter attends a similar school in Teaneck where 1000 students attend. This too is but one of many such institutions in Bergen County NJ.
Examining the local Anglo-Jewish newspapers this week, I noted 9 or 10 open Houses for Yeshiva High Schools in our County for prospective students..There were 80+ minyanim and 30-40 daf yomis listed, in addition to classes for all ages and sexes.
The sad part:
The majority of Jews in this area (and in my building ) are not affiliated.There are no ads for conservative or reform outreach or education. It is a spiritual desert.
One does not have to be a professional demographer to realize that based on intermarriage and assimilation statistics, if you look 30-50- years down the road there is no possibility that a vibrant non-orthodox community can survive and pass on their religion to the next generations.
This should not be a source of gloating but of sadness.
YES WE ARE ALL JEWS-an attack on a Pittsburgh Conservative Temple is an attack on all of us.
The suggestions of a "reverse birthright" or teaching American Jews the Hebrew language, are mere slogans and platitudes
Only Jewish education at all but especially the elementary-high school years is the only solution.
