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| Chabad Shiluchim at their 2016 annual convention (My Jewish Learning) |
I’m not exactly sure why that is. Perhaps it’s because the leadership believes there is little anyone can do about it. Or maybe it’s just simple parochialism. A kind of ‘We have enough of our own serious problems to solve.’ ‘Why divert attention and resources to something we can do little if anything about?’
But the massive exit of American Jewry from Judaism cannot - should not be ignored. At over 70% - the number of non Orthodox Jews that marry out is mind blowing. I have in the past said that this tragedy is insurmountable. But the truth is that there is something we can do about it. That point was made by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg who yet again hit a ‘home run’ in a column he wrote for Jewish Action Magazine. I could not agree with him more.
Not that his suggestion is a panacea that will fully reverse the hemorrhaging. But it will surely slow it down.
First religious leadership across the entire spectrum of Orthodoxy needs to be more openly supportive of outreach groups like NCSY and the Chicago Torah Network. The Orthodox Jewish leadership should be urging more people to become involved in outreach – even at a professional level. The lager the segment, the greater that participation should be. Charedm are probably the largest segment. Increased participation by them would therefore have the greatest impact.
Unfortunately the opposite is the case. The Charedi world prefers to isolate itself from the outside world fearing its influences will negatively impact them. The problem with that is - the vast majority of American Jews abandoning their heritage in droves are a part of that outside world.
One may ask with all sincerity whether if it is worth taking the chance of compromising one’s own religious observance in that endeavor. I believe the answer is yes. We MUST take that chance. The stakes are too high.
But compromise need not be in the offing when doing outreach. One segment of Jewry, Chabad (that interestingly enough does not refer to themselves as Orthodox) has proven that. At the behest of their Rebbe, they almost define themselves through their outreach. Chabad has sent out emissaries (Shiluchim) to every corner of the world that has Jews living their. No matter how few. To Chabad outreach means as much to them as learning full time in a Kollel means to Charedim. Chabad’s successes are legendary. That should be obvious even to the casual observer. But Rabbi Goldberg quotes a statistic that is as surprising as it is amazing:
Pew reported a denominational shift, particularly among the younger demographic. Chabad, analyzed for the first time as its own denomination and not an Orthodox subgroup, is now the same size as the Reform and Conservative denominations. Thirty-eight percent of all American Jews have engaged in some way with Chabad programs. Forty percent of those are active on a regular or semi-regular basis. Seventy-five of those who are involved with Chabad do not self-identify as Orthodox.
This is good news. I have certainly had my criticisms of Chabad. And they are not insignificant. But the successes they have achieved cannot be denied. They should be admired for that. Big time! And it should motivate the rest of observant Jewry to emulate them.
This does ot mean we have to do it exactly the way they do it. I don’t think it’s even feasible for the the rest of Orthodoxy to start sending Shluchim to the four corners of the world. Beside, why duplicate Chabad’s efforts or be in competition with them?
What we do need to do is take a page from their approach to outreach. We need to involve ourselves with Jews that live in that ‘outside world’. We need to engage with them on their ‘turf’ in order to reach them. Not by preaching or teaching. Not even by one of Chabad’s very common tactics of getting non observant Jewish men to put on Teffilin.
The way to do it is by befriending them unconditionally. By not being judgmental or even mentioning Mitzvah observance at all. But to just be role models of behavior. Both in our intrapersonal behavior and religious behavior. We should be demonstrating that observance does not mean abandoning everything from their past in exchange for a radical new lifestyle.
We need to interact with them in positive ways and treat them like the brothers and sisters they are. Inviting these brothers and sisters to a Shabbos meal should be as natural is it would be inviting our blood relatives. They can see then experience the positive aspects of a family sitting together and interacting with each other without the distractions of technology.
We must be involved with the outside world if we are going to be able to reach out to fellow Jews. Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh BaZeh. We are one people – one big family. And we are supposed to be responsible for one another. Are we?
Not everyone reached out to will became observant. Sometimes it’s just about changing the image of observant Jewry from a negative one to a positive one. But In some cases secular Jews will inspired to find out more about their Judaism and become fully observant. I have personally witnessed that. More than once.
The key is to be non judgmental. And not mentioning anything about observance unless asked, It’s all about role modeling a religious lifestyle in positive ways and inspiring fellow Jews to find out more. Now let us all go out and do it.