A Listening Tour

by Audrey Lichter

We are living in a very pivotal time for those of us involved in Jewish education. As opportunities for information to disseminate  virtually has grown exponentially, many of us are looking to reinvent ourselves. The challenge of centralization versus decentralization is as old as Judaism is itself.

The challenge of centralization versus decentralization is as old as Judaism is itself.

In fact, one reason why Hashem insisted on a centralized place of Jewish worship was  because  private alters in every community  lead to more idolatry. We live in a time when centralized places which traditionally served the Jewish people for learning and community are challenged. Synagogue school attendance is way down, while private, for-profit Jewish education is growing. You can hire a tutor and have your B’nai Mitzvah in your backyard.  The boundaries of communities are porous. No longer does one need to join their local synagogue… you can tune in virtually to many online communities. As the central focus of our communities, brick and mortar Federations, synagogues, and JCCs are challenged. Rabbi Sid Schwarz’s organization, Kenisa, has documented hundreds of programs that have started outside the organized Jewish community.

In reaction to all this, I have decided to embark on a listening tour and speak to as many organizations as I can, to see what they are thinking about their future. It feels like a good time to stop doing and listen more… I’ll keep you posted as to what I learn along the way.