This is an interesting article that discusses the pathways into Judaism for youg Gen-Y Jews. The real problem that is not identified in the article is not that young Jews are opting out of the traditional modes of Jewish participation. Rather the problem is that most of them have no idea what those modes are. They were raised by disconnected parents who themselves may not have known anything about Judaism except that it happens on Saturdays in a place that they rarely go.
Of course, having lost them, the question is how to welcome them back into Judaism without succumbing to the pressure to change Judaism to match their prejudices and uninformed stereotypes. The Orthodox are clearly the best at this as they command respect of kids who are at a crossroads by standing up for a principle. More than any other age group, it is the youth who respond to people who can articulate a clear and compelling vision, because that is what a young person is struggling to create for him or herself. They may ultimately reject a particiular vision, but they will have engaged with it.
The Conservative, with its constant pull to be more Reform, is losing this battle. The Conservative movement can offer little that distinguishes itself from Reform Judaism. The big non-Orthodox winner here shoudl be the Reconstructionist movement, which can articular the vision of diversity and flexibility with the trappings of traditional observance. Unfortunately for the Reconstructists, they lack any visible spokesperson to make their case.
Read more at jta.org/page_view_story...
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