614::HBI eZINE

Is Judaism a Girl Thing?

Jewish women have been assuming more positions as synagogue presidents and vice-presidents, are filling synagogue boards, and enrolling in more Jewish adult ed classes than men (except in Orthodox communities). Plenty of females think this is fantastic news. Now we can start running Jewish life the way we like. On the other hand, it's not much good if we lose the participation of men. At a time when Jewish institutions are trying to engage all Jews, can we afford to focus our attention on one sex? As Jewish women, should we be enjoying this power to make decisions after so many years of exclusion, or figuring out ways to bring men back into the fold?

Michelle Cove, Editor, mcove@brandeis.edu

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•In the Reform movement, boys constitute only 22% to 43% of youth group participants and only 28% of campers at the Reform movement's leadership camp for teens, Camp Kutz.

•Males constitute only 33% of first-year rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College.

•According to the National Jewish Population Survey 2000, there are currently more girls than boys in supplementary school classes (Hebrew school) .

		Reviving Our Minds For part-time and stay-at-home moms, synagogue leadership offers a new way to maintain our professional skills and refresh our brains.

		Jewish Men Need Space Too Has the Reform Movement gone too far in denying legitimate conversations on the role of gender differences?

		There is No Boy Crisis Why one Jewish woman is saying that boys and men dropping out of Jewish life is the "crisis that cried wolf."

		Where Should We Focus? Jewish leaders around the country weigh in with thoughts about whether they are feeling a sense of urgency in terms of gender issues right now.

		No Child Left Behind Why the organization that meets girls' needs with Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! is now reaching out to boys.

614:The HBI eZine is generously funded by Annie Sandler.