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August 15, 2003/Av 17 5763, Vol. 55, No. 51
Mutual understandingEditorialTwo new synagogues are now part of the growing list of Valley congregations. Joining the Valley's 29 houses of worship are the Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue and one founded by the Sephardic Community of Arizona.In the past five years alone, like-minded groups have founded 10 synagogues. Yet, at least 71 percent of Valley Jews remain unaffiliated, according to the 2002 Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Study. While a percentage of this group may choose to remain organizationally unconnected, what about those who would affiliate, if only they could find the right fit? Nonmembers can exercise personal responsibility for learning about the Valley's synagogues. They have a valuable opportunity to learn about more than 20 congregations at Phoenix's first synagogue fair, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. At the same time, congregations have an even greater responsibility to learn about the population they are trying to attract. Those most likely to affiliate, young and middle-age adults - particularly those with young children - are a tough group to understand. A valuable resource is "The Jew Within" (Indiana University Press). Authors Stephen M. Cohen and Arnold M. Eisen conducted 50 in-depth interviews with baby boomers; and they collected 1,005 surveys to determine respondents' Jewish identities. Their findings confirm that the synagogue is not the main arena of Jewish life for moderately affiliated Jews - the home is. But those who attend congregational worship use the time to reflect, meditate and learn - making a break from their "busy weeks." Cohen and Eisen report that rabbis have the power to draw people in or push them away, depending in part upon what respondents are looking for and on childhood experiences. Overall, the study reveals that baby boomers are searching for spirituality, personal awareness, moral aspiration, social justice, tradition and a sense of community - often in combination. Congregational leaders who take time to learn about the unaffiliated can take care to adapt their worship, programming and synagogue culture to expressed needs. The Sephardic Community of Arizona and the Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue intend to offer the very essence of Sephardic Judaism - culture, style of worship, food and history - to the community. Other congregations would be wise to follow their lead. |
