The Evolving Role of Federations and the Jewish Education Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities

Publication Date: January 2004

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): Chaim Y. Botwinick

Research Area:

Keywords: Informal Jewish Education; Jewish Identification; Community Building

Type: Report

Abstract:

Everywhere we look today, in virtually every community throughout North America, the themes of Jewish continuity, Jewish renewal, and Jewish education are at the top of the communal agenda. This growing phenomenon represents an evolving awareness on the part of Jewish communal leadership and institutions regarding the critical importance of Jewish education and its relationship to Jewish identity, continuity, and affiliation. It also represents challenging opportunities for communities to begin rethinking how best to convey the richness and relevance of Judaism in order to inspire and enable Jews to create and maintain meaningful Jewish identities and lives.