THE STRUCTURE AND LEADERSHIP ROLE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY

Bernard Reisman, Ph.D. Klutznick Professor in Contemporary Jewish Studies, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts

The North American Jewish community is one of the four great Diasporas in Jewish history, each of which flourished at a time when the host country itself was a center of intellectual thought and cultural achievements. It has a very extensive and well-organized structure and an unparalleled cadre of well-educated Jewish professionals. The key issue is whether the leaders of the North American Jewish community will address the challenge of continuity and give leadership to world Jewry in the twenty-first century.

ish community as "the largest and most opu­ T lent Diaspora in the history of the Jewish X of the North American Jewish commu­ Nation" (1978). And Daniel Elazar, who nity, which includes the Jewish conununities formerly lived in the United States and now of the United States and Canada. The desig­ lives and teaches in Israel, refers to the Ameri­ nation—North American Jewish commu­ can Jewish community as "among the most nity—has come to be used increasingly in effective I have ever known. Its leadership, recent years to indicate that these two physi­ voluntary and professional, ranks with the cally proximate countries are also very close best I have seen in government, whether of in their history, values, and Jewish organiza­ the United States or Israel" (1978). tional structure. I concentrate in this article Historians have generally identified four primarily on the Jewish community of the criteria ofa "great Diaspora" (Prawer, 1978): United States, recognizing that most of the material I present pertains to the Canadian 1. The community has persisted over a rela­ Jewish community as well. tively long period of time (several hun­ A GREAT DIASPORA dred years). 2. The host community views its Jewish "America is different," concluded the histo­ community as a compatible subpopula- rian, Ben Halpern (1983), as he sought to tion and gives no sanction to anti- explain the exceptionally welcoming and Semitism. compatible relationship between America and 3. The community is of sufficient size to its Jewish settlers. This article seeks to maintain a range of Jewish subpopula- understand the distinctive qualities of America tions, representing the major different that have resulted in the emergence of the Jewish ideological identifications. American Jewish community as one of the 4. The Jewish community operates as the great Diasporas in the history of the Jewish modern version of the traditional kehilla, people. with an organizational structure that is Yet, does the contemporary American Jew­ both responsive to the needs of its Jewish ish community warrant the designation of a residents and also represents the Jewish "great Diaspora community" in the tradition community to the general society. of Babylon in biblical times, Spain in the Middle Ages, and Eastern Europe from the Today's American Jewish community fiilly sixteenth through the early twentieth centu­ meets each of these four criteria. Its first ries? Two eminent Israeli scholars who have settlers arrived in New Amsterdam in 1554, studied Jewish communities across the ages almost 4'/2 centuries ago. Jews have thrived are positive in their response to this question: in America both economically and politically Joshua Prawer describes the American Jew­

134 Leadership Role of the North American Jewish Community / 135 and have been treated with respect by each such as the onset of the era of enlightenment generation of American leaders. They have and the call for emancipation, the Jews in felt secure that American leaders would pro­ these lands had no legal status. Aside from tect them from anti-Semitism, in the spirit several hundred Jews who were chosen be­ enunciated by the founding President George cause of their mercantilist skills to serve as Washington in 1790 as he welcomed the "court Jews" to the emerging class of ruling Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode princes in the Holy Roman Empire, the vast Island, one of the first synagogues built in majority of Jews were "despised and America: disprivileged" (Flohr & Reinharz, p. 8). This negative image was the legacy of the Jews at The government ofthe United States... gives the critical juncture of the onset of modernity. to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assis­ This tentative status of the European Jew tance, requires only that they who Uve under later took expression in the basic tenet of its protection should demean themselves as Zionism—the inevitability of anti-Semitism good citizens.... May the children ofthe stock and assimilation for Jews living in the coun­ of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to tries of the Gentiles—and the corollary: Only merit and enjoy the good will of the other in their homeland of Palestine/Israel can Jews inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety be free of anti-Semitism and live an authentic under his own vine and fig trees, and there Jewish life. shall be none to make him afraid" (cited in In virtually every Diaspora country, out­ Mohr & Reinharz, 1995, pp. 458-459). side of America (to a lesser extent in Great Britain) anti-Semitism has been part of the The modern American Jewish community is platform of one of the national political par­ unique among other current Diasporas in ties. As Ben Halpern (1983, p. 16) notes, another important dimension—it is not as "American anti-Semitism has never reached ideologically dependent upon the State of the level of an historic, politically effective Israel for defining its national Jewish identity movement. It has remained a merely socio­ and the Jewish identity of its citizens as are logical or 'cultural' phenomenon." As a virtually all of the other Diaspora communi­ result, American Jews do not feel "in exile ties. Certainly, American Jewish schools and and whatever may be the case with other organizations highlight Israel in their cur­ Jewries, the open doors of the State of Israel ricula and programs, and trips to Israel are do not beckon to us." American Jews feel strongly encouraged. But Israel is clearly secure andat home in tliis distinctive Diaspora. much more prominent on the agenda of the However, the threat of assimilation is ever other Diaspora communities. In large mea­ present in this benign and prosperous land. sure, this difference is explained by the lesser Leaders of the American Jewish community security Jews of the other Diasporas feel in have come to realize, ironically, that it is the their host society: These Jewish communities open doors of America that pose the greatest are smaller in size, and anti-Semitism has threat to the continuity of the Jewish commu­ been more ingrained in these countries than nity. American Jews have become one of the is the case in America. As a result, Jews in most highly educated (secular) and economi­ these other Diaspora communities experi­ cally prosperous of all the religious/ethnic ence an underlying tentativeness or insecu­ groups in America (Reisman, 1997). In an rity. Might there arise a new leader hostile to ironic twist of the phrase, virtually all Ameri­ the Jews? Might there be an economic down­ can Jews today have become "choosing Jews." turn that would adversely affect their lifestyle Except perhaps for the approximately 10 or lead the population to scapegoat the Jews? percent of Orthodox American Jews, who As the nations of Europe were poised on maintain a fiill and separate Jewish lifestyle, the brink of the eighteenth century, a time the vast majority of American Jews choose to when great societal changes were brewing. remain Jewish to the extent that identifica-

WINTER/SPRING 1997/98 Journal of Jewish Communal Service / 136 tion is responsive to their sophisticated inter­ Russian Jews, Jewish immigrants have been ests and life situation. The vast majority of welcomed and integrated by the American American Jews today are third and fourth Jewish community. generation Americans, which is a statement The following are organizations under that their Jewish interests are holding up. It Jewish auspices that provide a full range of is also a statement that the vast network of services to respond to the health and social American Jewish organizations and an ex­ welfare needs of Jews, as well as offer oppor­ tensive cadre of sophisticated Jewish profes­ tunities for social interaction for all age groups. sionals are effectively serving and playing a key role in sustaining the American Jewish • Jewish federations community (see Ollander, 1995/96). • Jewish Community Centers • national Jewish youth groups THE STRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAN • Jewish family and children's agencies JEWISH COMMUNIFY AT THE END OF • residential settings for elderly and youth THE TWENTIETH CENTURY with physical and emotional problems • hospitals The American Jewish community is a highly organized enterprise that seeks to respond to XL Religious/Educational the fiill range of educational, religious, so­ cial, and cultural needs of its 5,900,000 Jews Each of the four major religious denomina­ and to represent the interests and perspec­ tions (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and tives of American Jewry in their dealings Reconstructionist) provide religious and Jew­ with the general American society, as well as ish educational services to their members in with their fellow Jews in Israel and other synagogues, schools, and camps staffed by countries. The Jewish community must also rabbis, educators, cantors, recreation work­ attend to the reality of raising the funds ers, and administrators. The synagogue for needed to achieve its extensive agenda. Fund centuries had been viewed as the central raising in a voluntary community is akin to organization in Diaspora Jewish communi­ governmental entities taxing the citizenry to ties, but that changed in America. The histo­ fiilfill their civic responsibilities. Therefore, rian, Salo Baron (1950, p. 239), noted that all Jewish organizations develop some mode "by the end ofthe Civil War the shift of the of fund raising. center of gravity of Jewish communal life Eight different categories of organizations from the synagogue and school to the chari­ are currently serving the American Jewish table organization (the federation system) is community. These categories are listed be­ one of the most intriguing facets of American low with a summary statement of the nature Jewish history." of the services provided and the key organiza­ tions that are providing the services. HL Fraternal/Service

A number of important Jewish organizations L Social Welfare/Informal Education have emerged in America with the stated In 1554 when a boat from Holland with 23 primary objective of supporting a major Jew­ Jews aboard was seeking entry into New ish social welfare program or service and at Amsterdam in America, permission was the same time affording their members with granted only after leaders of the Jewish con­ important social ties with other Jews of simi­ tingent assured the apprehensive Dutch offi­ lar ages and interests. Some of these organi­ cial that the Jews would present no economic zations also provide important social welfare burden: "We will care for our own." Indeed, benefits to their members at modest cost, such that pledge has been adhered to thoroughly as health insurance, hospitalization, and cem­ and consistentiy up to the present time. From etery privileges. Three of the largest such the first Dutch Jewish settlers to the current fraternal/service organizations are Hadassah,

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B'nai B'rith, and Jewish War Veterans. • Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture • National Foundation for Jewish Culture IV. Jewish Community Relations VL Jewish Educational Programs Because American Jews are particularly sen­ sitive to any expression of anti-Semitism it The American Jewish community has devel­ follows that they have organized several ma­ oped a broad range of Jewish educational jor national Jewish organizations with the programs for students in Hebrew schools, primary fiinction of monitoring and combat­ Sunday schools, and day schools, offered by ing any evidence of anti-Semitism. In the the major Jewish denominations. There are spirit of consistency these organizations have also agrowing number of Jewish high schools, broadened their mandate to be alert and re­ several of which are trans-denominational. sponsive to any expression of bigotry or preju­ Another set of Jewish educational institu­ dice from other groups. On a more proactive tions are the seminaries, typically sponsored level the Jewish community relations organi­ by the denominations, to educate their fiiture zations also seek to promote intergroup pro­ Jewish professionals: rabbis, educators, and grams with people of color and other reli­ cantors. In addition, there are five indepen­ gious and ethnic groups. The five most dent colleges, originally developed to educate prominent Jewish community relations orga­ teachers for Jewish schools, that more re­ nizations are the American Jewish Commit­ cently have expanded their fiinction to offer tee; the American Jewish Congress; the Anti- serious courses in Judaica for adolescents and Defamation League; the Jewish Council for adults: Gratz College in Philadelphia, He­ Public Affairs (formerly NJCRAC), the coor­ brew College in Boston, Spertus Institute in dinating mechanism for Jewish community Chicago, Baltimore Hebrew University, and relations committees, which are typically or­ the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. ganized and affiliated with the local Jewish Finally, there is Brandeis University in federadon; andthe Council of Presidents of Waltham, created and supportedby the Ameri­ Major American Jewish Organizations. can Jewish community and offering exten­ sive programs in Jewish studies, as well as V. Jewish Culture graduate programs in Jewish education and Jewish communal service. One of the largest categories of Jewish orga­ Several important innovations in higher nizations in America is Jewish culture, which Jewish education have been developed in the includes several important Jewish museums past 50 years. Of significant importance has and libraries, a growing number of Holocaust been the introduction of Judaica courses and memorial centers, and organizations devoted departments of Jewish studies in American to the publication of Jewish books. Several universities. Today such courses are being national organizations coordinate Jewish cul­ offered in over 365 universities in America. tural programs and help generate financial support to encourage graduate students inter­ The professors who teach Judaica courses at ested in doing research on aspects of Jewish the university level formed their own profes­ culture; they also provide fellowships to indi­ sional organization in 1969, the Association vidual scholars and artists to support their for Jewish Studies. By 1998 the Association creative initiatives. membership had grown to 1550 members. The Association sponsors an annual confer­ Among the most prominent national Jew­ ence for its members and publishes its own ish cultural organizations are the following: journal. The proliferation of uni varsity courses and • American Jewish Historical Society departments of Jewish studies offers an unan­ • Jewish Book Council ticipated endorsement of Jewish scholarship • Jewish Publication Society and Jewish thouglit. Given that over three- • Leo Baeck Institute quarters of American Jewish young people

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attend universities, this new resource not Between them they include 79 percent of the only offers them an attractive opportunity for total population of Jews: the U.S. has 44 serious Jewish study but also conveys a mes­ percent and Israel 3 5 percent (A merican Jew­ sage to these impressionable young Jews that ish Yearbook, 1997). The expectation is that Judaism has received the imprimatur of the the combination of continued migration of intellectual elite of America, the guardians Jews to Israel plus a higher birth rate will and conveyors of postmodern values and result in Israel's Jewish population surpass­ thought. ing that ofthe United States by the year 2010. Of particular relevance to the field of Clearly it is vital that there be mutual respect Jewish communal service are the specialized and open communication between the leaders graduate programs that have been developed of the American Jewish community and the since 1969 at nine universities: Baltimore leaders of the State of Israel, since the future Institute for Jewish Communal Service (af­ well-being of the Jewish people rests in their filiated with Baltimore Hebrew University), hands. Hornstein Program for Jewish Communal The major American Jewish organiza­ Service at BrandeisUniversity, Case Western tions serving Israel are the United Jewish Reserve University with the Cleveland Col­ Appeal, Jewish National Fund, Zionist Orga­ lege of Jewish Studies, Gratz College Gradu­ nization of America, and American Friends ate Program in Jewish Communal Service in of... (many Israeli universities and other Is­ cooperation with the University of Pennsyl­ raeli social welfare organizations). vania, School of Jewish Communal Service of the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute Vm Jewish Family Foundations for Religion in Los Angeles, the Graduate A major new source of financial support for School of the Jewish Theological Seminary in the American Jewish community is provided cooperation with Columbia University, Project by Jewish family foundations. It is now STaRat the University of Michigan, Spertus estimated that there are over 3,000 Jewish College of Judaica in Chicago, and the family foundations in America (Mendelson, Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Ye­ 1996). The American Jewish Yearbook con­ shiva University in New York. ducted a smdy of 165 of the major Jewish family foundations in the years 1991 and Vn. Israel/Overseas 1992 and found that in any one year the The American Jewish community has been cumulative contribution of the Jewish family consistently attentive and responsive to de­ foundations was over half a billion dollars, velopments in Jewish life in the other with about 60 percent of these dollars being Diasporas. The primary organization in­ given to non-Jewish causes (Wertheimer, volved with these Jewish communities is the 1997). It is likely that these independent American Jewish Joint Distribution Commit­ Jewish family foundations will flourish and tee—"the Joint." The Joint provides finan­ that they will assume an increasing and influ­ cial and other services to these Diaspora ential role in fiinding American Jewish pro­ communities. When a Jewish community is grams and services in the fiiture. in distress, the Joint arranges a rescue opera­ tion and has indeed salvaged hundreds of CONCLUDING THOUGHTS thousands of Jews in the 84 years of its Since the first dispersion of the Jews from existence. their native land of Palestine, and the destruc­ I discussed earlier the important involve­ tion of the firstTemple , in 586 B.C.E., Jews ment of the American Jewish community have lived in very many different countries. withthe Jewish community of Israel. Indeed, They indeed have been a wandering people. these two communities are the major centers The length of time Jews remained in any of of influence in Jewish life in the world today. their Diaspora settlements and the nature and

WINTER/SPRING 1997/98 Leadership Role of the North American Jewish Community / 139 quality of their lives have been a function of the decline in membership in Jewish organi­ two key variables: the receptivity ofthe host zations. Yet, there is also much important community for their Jewish settlers and the evidence of resurgent Jewish interest and quality ofthe leadership andcommunal struc­ newly developing Jewish collectives, espe­ ture developed by the local Jewish commu­ cially among the most highly educated and nity. acculturated Jews. I conclude that Judaism This review of the contemporary Ameri­ has survived the snare not only of modernity can Jewish community has clearly established but also the challenges of the current era of that the American Jewish Diaspora is one of postmodernity. four great historic Diaspora settlements. In The key question is whether leaders of the the course of this analysis I came up with what American Jewish community will take their I think is an original insight about these four Jewish community seriously. Clearly they great historic Diasporas: Babylon, Spain, have real challenges to address, but they also Eastern Europe, and now the American Jew­ have a formidable resource and base in the ish community. Each of the four great American Jewish community. Will the lead­ Diasporas emerged and flourished at a time ers of the American Jewish community rise to when the host country itself was a center of the challenge and, in a spirit of confidence intellectual thought and cultural achieve­ and pride in their achievements, give leader­ ments. The interesting question that this ship to world Jewry as it enters the twenty- insight raises and that warrants further re­ first century? search is the extent to which the presence of the Jewish community in these host countries REFERENCES not only resulted in the flourishing of the Baron, Salo. (1950, March). American Jewish Jewish community but may have also made a history: Problems and methods. American significant contribution to the intellectual/ Jewish Historical Society, 5P(3), 239. cultural achievements of the host Diaspora Hazar, Daniel. (1978, Wmter). What indeed is country. The idea is that Jews serve as a American Jewry? Forum, p. 156. leavening presence for their host society and Flohr, Paul Mendes, & Reinharz, Jehuda. (1995). spur change and creativity. That concept The Jew in the modern world, 2nd ed. New might also help explain the negative reac­ York: Oxford University Press. tions to Jews by those historic Diaspora coun­ Halpern, Ben. (1983). America is different. In tries whose rulers primarily wanted to main­ The American Jew: A Zionist analysis. New tain the status quo and viewed their Jewish York: Schocken Books. subcommunity as a destabilizing influence. Mendelson, Evan. (1996, September 6). New The American Jewish community has es­ ways of giving. Sh'ma, 27/516, 2. tablished itself as a great Diaspora commu­ Ollander, Joel. (1995/96, Fall/Wmter). JCSA: nity with a very extensive and well-organized The professionals' association. Journal of Jewish structure and an unparalleled cadre of Jewish Communal Service, 110—116. weh-educated Jewish professionals. The Prawer, Joshua. (1978, August 13). The Jewish achievements and potential of this Jewish community as a force for Jewish continuity: community are as impressive as any of the An historical perspective. New York: Inter­ prior great Diasporas. Yet, the irony is that national Conference of Jewish Coimnunal very few American Jews, including the lead­ Service. ers, think of themselves as part of an out­ Reisman, Bemard. (1997, Summer). Are Ameri­ standing Jewish community. They are much can Jews assimilating or acculturating? more likely to see themselves as a community Humanistic Judaism, 25(3), 15-19. in distress, with a bleak future. Certainly Wertheimer, Jack. (1997). Current trends in there are problems within the American Jew­ American Jewish philanthropy, hi American ish community, the two most prominent of Jewish Yearbook, 1997. NewYork: Ameri­ which are the high rate of intermarriage and can Jewish Committee.

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