August 27, 2004/Elul 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 49
Letters to the EditorAugust 27, 2004
We can reduce drop-out rateEditor:The phenomenon of "bar/bat mitzvah dropouts" described in the Jewish News ("Learning in a world that isn't just Jewish," July 30) leaves us with many Jewish college students so Jewishly uninformed that they do not even think to give Judaism a hearing in the marketplace of ideas on the university campus. Several years ago, Hillel at Arizona State University developed Macabee Clubs for Jewish students at several Valley high school campuses. College students were trained to be club advisers and take Judaic programs to the high schools twice a month. Programs dealt with the variety of Jewish approaches, historical and contemporary, traditional and liberal, to issues like sex, drinking, making friends, forgiving people, immortality and differences between Judaism and Christianity. Despite its successes, especially at schools with a few Jewish students who feel isolated - like Arcadia, Dobson, Mountain Pointe and others - the Macabee Club project was reduced, then discontinued, when funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix was cut. Programs like these are absolutely necessary for our high school kids. The community should fund this pluralistic outreach project again in the future if it is serious about its own youth, dealing with dropouts and securing their and its Jewish future. Rabbi Barton G. Lee Executive Director Hillel Jewish Student Center Arizona State University Tempe Welcoming mature singlesEditor:I read with interest your article entitled "Judaism important to 'lost generation'" (Jewish News, Aug. 13). I have a wonderful suggestion for mature singles who want to be involved in a synagogue and socialize in a religious family where singles are welcome. Our congregation, Beth Ami Temple, is a small, hamish Reform congregation that caters to empty nesters. We have male and female singles of ages ranging from 40 to 75-plus. But single or not, people will find our congregation a warm welcoming family where everyone participates in services, onegs and various activities with an intimate havurah feeling. We meet biweekly at the Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 3535 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. Call 602-956-0805 or e-mail batemple@msn.com for information. Arnold Schwartz Beth Ami Temple Phoenix
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