L'Dor
V'Dor means from generation to generation.
Nurit
Greenger
After
reading that according to Pew poll intermarriage and assimilation rates among U.S. Jews is
soaring, I say, L'Dor V'Dor, from generation to generation, has profoundly deep
meaning for the Jewish Nation.
Overall,
the intermarriage rate in the USA is at 58 percent, up from 43 percent in 1990
and 17 percent in 1970. Among non-Orthodox Jews, the intermarriage rate is 71
percent. http://www.jta.org/2013/10/01/news-opinion/united-states/pew-survey-u-s-jewish-intermarriage-rate-rises-to-58-percent?utm_source=Newsletter+subscribers&utm_campaign=88129c741c-JTA_Daily_Briefing_6_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2dce5bc6f8-88129c741c-25334281
According to the Pew poll survey, many American Jews
have ‘no religion’ and intermarriage is a direct related phenomenon, much more
common among secular Jews; 79% of married Jews of no religion have a spouse who
is not Jewish, and intermarried Jews are unlikely to raise their children
Jewishly, or to socialize within a Jewish context, or belong to Jewish
institutions.
http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Survey-1-in-5-US-Jews-say-they-have-no-religion-Orthodox-share-of-population-grows-327545
This
is an alarming phenomenon for a nation that has always been on the extinct
path. There are approximately 8 million Jews living in Israel and approximately
6 million Jews living in the United States.
Where
did I come across the L'Dor V'Dor name? At an amazing morning event organized
by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Women Division, held at the marvelous
almost 'out of this world' estate of Jeanni and Tony Pritzker somewhere in
Beverly Hills mountains.
The
event was about passing the torch to the younger generation to emulate their
parents and help ensure the Jewish nation's future. The award's recipient was Janis Black Warner, daughter of the philanthropist Stanley
Black and late wife Joyce, a pillar of the Los Angeles, Jewish and non-Jewish,
community and beyond.
True leadership is passing the torch to the
young generation with
the hope they do even better.
Perfect
fit for the event was the performance of the poet-actress-comedian, always on
the search for the meaning of Judaism, Vanessa Hidary, 'The Hebrew Mamita': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv8tBjp3upk&feature=player_embedded
Based
on Jewish values, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles mission is to convene and
lead the Jewish community and to leverages its donated resources to assure the
continuity of the Jewish people, support a secure State of Israel and care for
Jews in need locally and abroad. Also mobilize on issues of concern to the
local Jewish community, all with local, national, and international partners.
(http://www.jewishla.org/)
The
Pew poll clearly indicates how vulnerable we, Jews, are, living in a broken,
upside-down world. Whereby Jews were always a target and had to fight hard to
maintain their faith and Jewishness, in whatever attire it came, today, 70
years after the Holocaust, after a third of the Jewish nation was murdered, it
is clear that the world has learned nothing from history and that includes Jews.
Jews, again, are the target and now it is even an easier task, it is collectively done; the bull's eye is
Israel, the only Jewish state of earth.
More so, Diaspora Jews are not
only vulnerable to anti-Semitism but also to the new phenomenon of a possible homegrown
Islamic terror attack.
Alarmed
to this phenomenon Jay Sanderson, the Federation President & CEO
explained to the guests that the Federation decided to become proactive. Now every
Jewish community is connected and has the support to protect itself with the
Federation dollars, all collected from public generosity. The federation helps
protecting synagogues, Jewish schools, summer camps for Jewish youth, buildings
that are housing Jewish organizations and any other security and protection
needs.
The
continuation of the Jewish Federation parallels to the continuation of Jewish life
outside the state of Israel, with all the obstacles and even at times hitches.
If we, Jews, do not preserve Jewish life who will?
If
things continue to evolve this way, eventually the only Jews in the world will
be the Israeli Jews. And that is why we have two fold mission:
1.
To keep Israel strong and growing
2.
To get back to basics of Judaism and save the Jewish communities in the Diaspora
from disappearing forever (Three ways
to save American Jewry from extinction, http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/10/04/three-ways-to-save-american-jewry-from-extinction/)
Admitting
the frustration I have with my Jewish nation, I hereby call on the few who
"get it" to help recruit as many and together the nation of Israel
will grow exponentially and become stronger, rather than fail itself.
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