American Judaism Workshops

Instructor: Jack Wertheimer
Stipend: $500 (NYC area) and $1000 (non-NYC area), in addition to housing accommodation over Shabbat

About the Seminar

In October 2013, the Pew Research Center released its “Portrait of Jewish Americans.” Data collected by Pew indicates a rise in the proportions of Jews who do not identify as Jewish by religion, a decline in religious observance among younger Jews and in varying degrees the difficulties the religious movements have in retaining the allegiance of their younger cohorts. Pew also measured major differences between the movements in how their adherents understand and participate in Jewish life.

This workshop will go beyond the Pew report to ask about Jewish religious life in the trenches, on the local scene: What are congregations doing to draw Jews to attend and partake of synagogue life? What are the latest trends in prayer services? Which aspects of Judaism seem to resonate with Jews and which do not? Looking beyond the synagogue, the workshop will also examine other settings where religious life is on display–learning groups, independent minyanim, Orthodox outreach centers, healing and spirituality programs, and programs to engage in hesed and tikkun olam. In short, the workshop will look for Judaism in conventional places, but note how unconventional some of them have become; and it will look at unconventional places that may in fact offer variations on conventional Jewish practices.

Jack Wertheimer of the Jewish Theological Seminary has been studying the habits and beliefs of American Jewry with peerless depth for decades. With the aid of his wisdom and experience, we will examine the current American Jewish moment. What are our core challenges? Which religious institutions seem to attract Jews and why? What are the new strategies for making Judaism meaningful for America’s Jews? And how does American Judaism fit into the larger landscape of American religion in our time?

American Ideas Papers

The American Judaism Workshops are meant to generate practical ideas to strengthen American Jewry, with participants leading the way. Each workshop participant will be asked to prepare and present his or her own concrete plan to address some of the great challenges and opportunities of American Jewish life. What can be done to secure the moral, intellectual, spiritual, political, religious, or demographic vitality of the Jewish people in America? What is your best idea?