Vol. LXXXll
No. 15
Omaha, NE
8 Tevet, 5763
December 13.2002
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS
Jewish Agency Institute Struggles with Bleak Demographic Projection by JESSICA STEINBERG
JERUSALEM (JTA)--Confronted with statistics indicating that world Jewry is shrinking, officials here are unsure how to respond. "We have no blueprint of what to do," the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Sallai Meridor, said at an emergency session of the Jewish Agency's Institute for Jewish People Policy Planning. "We need policies that will carry out a strategy." According to the institute's statistics, world Jewry is losing an average of 50,000 Jews per year—or 150 Jews every day. There are now some 12.9 million Jews in the world, according to the institute's statistics, down from earlier estimates that put the total at 13.2. According to the institute, which convened the three-day emergency session this week to address what it called the "demographic crisis" of world Jewry, the number of American Jews dropped by 300,000 in the last decade to 5.2 million, according to the National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01. Other major Jewish communities around the world also declined. Only Israel's Jewish community is growing, the institute said. Meridor called the declines "appalling," saying the figures represented "a point of no return." France, for example, has seen its
is Dennis Ross, former Clinton administration envoy to the Middle East and France 1.76 million now director of the Washington 0.5 million. Institute for Near East Policy. Ross has FSU called for "mapping" and identifying dif0.44 million ferent populations to find what creates a sense of Jewish identity. "How do you make being Jewish attractive?" he asked. "We have to do a survey and see what programs work and which didn't." United States Jewish day schools, camps and 5.2 million Israel trips create bonds and immerse children in an intense Jewish experience, Ross said. But the cost of day schooling is prohibitive, he noted. Meridor said that the cost of day school is one of several issues that deter Jews from remaining involved The distribution of world Jewry, according to statistics in a study by and active in the community: A family the Jewish Agency's Institute for Jewish People Policy Planning. with three children in day schools, for Graphic created by JTA example, could pay close to $60,000 Jewish community decline to 500,000 Just the same, Jewish demographer each year for tuition (In Omaha, that from 535,000 in 1980. In the former Sergio Delia Pergola was troubled by figure would be less than $13,000.) Soviet Union, the total has plummet- the institute's figures. That can have two effects, Meridor ed to 437,000 from 1.45 millionThere were 8,000 deaths of elderly said: Jews who are less affiliated may though much of that is due to the fact Jews in Russia last year and just 600 decide riot to pay those kinds of prices, that one million Jews left the former births, Delia Pergola said, reflecting and affiliated Jews who want to send Soviet Union for Israel in the past "the end of a long process of assimila- their children to day school may decade. tion and aging." decide to have fewer children. The figures may not be universally The bleak demographic picture Yet Ross noted that Jewish day accepted, however. For example, other makes it necessary to strategize and schools in America are experiencing a estimates of the number of Jews in the plan for the future of the Jewish peo- growth spurt that is "nothing short of former Soviet Union run as high as ple, institute officials said. phenomenal." three million. Serving as the institute's co-chairman (Continued on page 12)
Other
Jewish City Councilman to Speak About Postville Experience
Books attract BBYOers by DIANE AXLERBAUM-
by DINAH ABRAHAMSON
about life in Postville-How many towns in the United ^Tarting with the takeover States can boast having a nvvr of an abandoned Chabad Lubavitcher as a memPI oat-processing plant by ber of its city council? Postville, ihf Rubashkin family and Iowa, can. And Aaron Goldsmith, the arrival of hundreds of Postville's only Jewish council"Chabadniks" to this man will be at Omaha's Jewish t.jnall, northeast Iowa Community Center this town of 1500 residents. Thursday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. to AmitTeultural differencesspeak about his experiences. -when townspeople could The Postville community not understand why the received much publicity follownew J ewish residents ing a PBS documentary couldn't eat â&#x20AC;˘ their (Postuille and the Hasids), the casseroles and cakes, for book: Postuille: A Clash of i;\ ample, Goldsmith Cultures in Heartland America by Stephen G. Bloom, and CNN's showed his fellow Jews coverage of the city council race. and Iowans alike that During Goldsmith's candidacy, common ground could be he faced neo-Nazi rallies and found. not-so-subtle hints from townsGoldsmith, who is people and others that he A a r Q n President of Transfer G o l d s m i t h i s a member of the shouldnt run-and in fact that Master Products, Inc., community of the Jews shouldnt be in c h a b a d . L u b a v i t c h manufacturers of <fhi-low" Postville, IA. Postville at all. beds, will speak on "The "Aaron Goldsmith's sensitivity and focus on the Little Town That Could: Jews Christians, Neo-Nazis positive are inspiring," noted Rabbi Mendel and Politics." The program, co-sponsored by the AntiKatzman of Chabad of Nebraska. He is a sterling Defamation League, is followed by a reception. Goldsmith will speak during a Shabbat dinner at example of an individual who has not allowed himthe Chabad House, 1866 So. 120 St., Friday self to be stumped by his challenges." Goldsmith's faith in humanity and his love for his evening, Dec. 20, 6 p.m., on "Every Jew Can Make fellow men allowed him to turn a potentially nega- a Difference," co-sponsored by Jewish Educational tive experience into a model for a meeting of the and Library Services. For more information, or to minds in diverse cultures, according to Rabbi reserve for either event, call Jennifer at Chabad, Katzman. He invited Goldsmith to speak in Omaha 330-1800, or me at 451-7251.
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization members Samantha Friedman, left, Alana Kinarsky and Keith Graul take a break from a meeting at the JCC to browse at the Book Fair in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. The Book Fair, continuing through December, features a sale of new and used books for children and adults. This Sunday, at 7 p.m., award-winning reporter Stephen Fried speaks about his book, The New Rabbi. The lecture, followed by a reception and book-signing, is free and open to the public.
INSIDE: 4,000 Israelis and the Internet Where Are They Now? Crossword Puzzle.
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