In honor of the beginning of the Book of Numbers and its theme of surveying the State of the Jewish People, I presented this article at our Friday night services two weeks ago. This week’s Torah portion, Naso, picks up where we left off before Shavuot with the census of the Levitical families, so I thought it only fitting to send it out as a Torah Thought. It’s also perfect for Pride Week in Buffalo. Enjoy!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex
The dance of religious life in America has gotten more intense over the past year. According to a recent PRRI poll, nearly a quarter of all Americans have switched from the religious affiliation of their birth to something new. This is up more than ten percent from a poll conducted a year ago. Luckily for us, Jews are near the bottom of this list, with a little more than fifteen percent finding a new spiritual home. Still high, but nothing compared to our co-religionists.
It seems like the Jewish community is doing something right, not only in our retention of our own, but also in being a beneficiary of the disaffiliated members of other groups. If my experience in Buffalo, New York, is any indication people are flocking in our direction. Just in the past two years, I have conducted fifteen conversions, with a dozen more in process. This is up tenfold from a decade ago. These new Jews have become valuable participants in the life of our synagogue and the life of our overall community.
There is scarcely a month these days when I haven’t received a call or two from an interested applicant. This is with no added marketing – no synagogue in Buffalo has ever paid to advertise Judaism to the wider community – or outreach efforts. They call, email, text, actively wanting to know more about Judaism.
The nature of the applicants has also changed. Whereas before, the majority coming to me would be on the older side, and often in the process of getting married, now they are young and single. By young I mean, in their early twenties, college-age, or even, some, from high school.
There is one other factor that is especially noteworthy, a significant number of these applicants are coming from the LGBTQ+ community, and are often non-binary or Trans. When I ask them what brought them to me, they share that Judaism is much more open and welcoming than communities they have belonged to prior. What’s most interesting about this group in particular is how many are making their journey unprompted, without knowledge that they are part of a revolution in Jewish life that will have implications for years to come.
In talking to colleagues in Reconstructing Judaism, I have come to understand that this is a national and even international trend. Other rabbis from my denomination have shared that they are overwhelmed by the numbers, and sadly have had to turn people away because of lack of time and resources. We are lucky in Buffalo to have a community-wide Introduction to Judaism class and a coordinated effort to train converts. Many of my colleagues are coming from more rural areas, with few Jews and fewer resources available to help. In response to this specific concern, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association is in the process of creating a virtual Introduction to Judaism class to offer as support.
While I do not have hard evidence, I would estimate there are thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of new Jews that fit this demographic. If true, this will no doubt have a significant impact on what our community looks like moving forward. We will have to address key questions, like: How can we make our spaces of worship more inviting? What programs or services should be tailored toward this population? And what resources will need to be allocated to accommodate their needs?
With this influx, we will have a younger, more diverse, and perhaps more politically active community. When asked about how they demonstrate their Judaism in the world, a recent convert in her early thirties shared the Hebrew writing on the back of her punk rock vest, and a large Antifa sign on her wall with a Jewish star.
Hearing the stories of these new Jews often brings tears to my eyes. The Jewish community is almost always the first spiritual home they have ever encountered where they feel fully at home in. I am most especially proud of my 400-family dual affiliated Reform and Reconstructionist congregation, who have opened their arms fully to these newcomers. With the median age of the Buffalo Jewish community, being in the early sixties, they have significantly reduced the age of our participants, becoming regulars at our Shabbat services, and Zoom study sessions.
While the PRRI survey is not all positive for the Jewish community – we are near the bottom of the list in terms of overall enthusiasm for our faith – we should celebrate the things we are doing right. To those of you considering the pathway toward Judaism from another faith, particularly from the Trans or Queer community, I, for one, welcome you with open arms. I look forward to hearing your stories, and seeing how our people’s stories can connect with your own.