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Renewal

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American Judaism faces an existential crisis, marked by widespread intermarriage, empty synagogues, and eroding traditional values that threaten the future of Jewish life. Despite surface-level institutional vitality, statistical evidence and systematic observation of synagogues, schools, and community organizations reveal deeply troubling trends. Current approaches have proven inadequate - worship services fail to inspire regular attendance, Jewish education yields minimal long-term commitment, and secular Jewish institutions operate with diluted Jewish content. The paradox of affluence and assimilation has particularly undermined Sabbath observance, while rabbinic leaders remain hamstrung by institutional constraints. Through comprehensive analysis of these challenges, this research proposes a bold ten-point renewal program for the Conservative movement, encompassing both structural reforms (rabbinic tenure, personnel reorganization, national funding mechanisms) and substantive changes (leadership standards, adult education modeled on successful youth programs, modern Jewish living codes, liturgical innovation, family-centered learning, and coordinated community guidance). Given the unprecedented scale of these challenges, only radical transformation - not incremental change - can ensure Jewish continuity. The Conservative movement, with its unique capacity to bridge tradition and modernity, stands positioned to lead this essential revitalization of American Jewish life.

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    Published 1965

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    Samuel Dresner