Editorial, June 17, 2011

A plan for the future

IT is written in black and white, the community is facing trouble. It is not doomed, it is not destined to fail, but changes need to be made to ensure Jewish life remains full, vibrant and inclusive in Australia.

Professor Andrew Markus and his team of Monash University and Jewish Communal Appeal researchers have done a superb job.

They might be criticised for rehashing that which we already knew, but they must be commended for presenting the hard facts in a sophisticated way that turns assumptions into knowledge the community can draw upon.

However, presenting the knowledge is not enough. Jewish leaders have been given an opportunity. It is an opportunity to plan for the future based on academic projections. There is no more flying blind – the community must read the report and heed its messages.

To The AJN’s mind, a shake-up is needed.

Donating money to your old favourite causes, sending your children to Jewish schools but then not lighting the Shabbat candles, taking a trip to Paris, rather than Jerusalem – these are all activities that need to be critically examined.

The allocation of resources must be pulled apart, particularly in Melbourne. Why are we pumping millions into the schools, when out-of-school Jewish education providers and youth movements are running on the smell of an oily rag?

We need to look at identity as a collection of interconnected factors. If parents are serious about helping their children maintain a connection to Judaism, they need to give them a home life full of Jewish values – whether religious or cultural – rather than just farming them off to a Jewish school and expecting then to magically engage.

We also need to look at our organisations. Donating money to Jewish institutions, whose idea of moving forward is simply to launch a website advertising the same old boring programs is not going to attract young people seeking substance. We need to be innovative, inclusive and take risks to find strategies that work and appeal to the younger generations.

Professor Markus has called for a conversation and The AJN is happy to facilitate that. We have set up discussion boards on our Facebook page and are encouraging the community to have their say. Get involved, put forward your ideas and help ensure the Jewish community’s future.