Is Secular Jewish Culture a Vital idea?

By Chanan Tigay, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Blogs/Opinion, May 15, 2007

There's a new online journal out there for secular Jews; this is great news. Not that I think Secular Culture & Ideas on its own is likely to really change the landscape of modern Jewish identity in the United States. But I do think it's an indication, one of several in the past couple of years, that Jewish bigwigs are getting a clue.

For too long Jewish organizational leaders, along with the philanthropists who fund their organizations, were under the impression that with growing intermarriage rates and shrinking identification with things Jewish among relatively young Jews, cultural outlets were a pathway to lure young Jews into greater involvement in traditional Jewish groups: synagogues, federations and the like.

But the Jews with the dollars - the ones who give to Jewish causes, that is - seem now to understand that the way to the young, unaffiliated Jewish heart - and mind and pocketbook - is through artistic and cultural exchange: Jewish music, books, movies and art.

And that, the new journal says, is just what Secular Culture & Ideas is doing, "taking a sharp look at secular Jewish life, culture and ideas."


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