Orthodox Outreach Is Getting Something Right By Jay Michaelson

Published November 13, 2014.

Its been a year since the Pew Research Center released its Portrait of Jewish Americans. I havent counted how many words have been written about the report since that time, from the Forwards e-book to endless handwringing by the OJC (Organized Jewish Community). But somewhere along the line, Pew definitely turned into Phew. As in, Phew, thank God thats over.

But Ive been struck, over the year of reflections and recommendations, at the relative absence of my own primary vector of Jewish engagement: spiritual practice.

One example, which I came across because its author and I are acquaintances, is Rabbi Dan Smoklers excellent strategy to attract Jewish college students. (Dans piece matters more than most, since he is chief innovation officer at Hillel.) I am on board with his six-point plan: social groups, Jewish mentors, encounters with different kinds of Jews, Torah study, the Jewish calendar, and Jewish service. All good.

But Dan waves off the successes of Aish HaTorah and Chabad on campus, saying most Jews are unlikely ever to move into any sector of the Orthodox camp. That may be true, but its still worth asking why these groups succeed in the first place.

Surely, the odds should be stacked against them. Chabad shlichim are generally quite sincere, open and friendly. But they often look funny, talk funny, and do funny things like put tefillin on strangers. Their practices seem out of step with contemporary mores in many areas, not least the different privileges accorded to women and men.

And yet, as Dan briefly notes, they and other Orthodox/ultra-Orthodox outreach programs often do quite well on campus. Even correcting for the free food.

The fact is, there is something Chabad Houses offer that Hillels dont: effective spiritual practice, and people who believe in its efficacy.

Note the word effective. Of course, Hillels, and mainstream synagogues, offer various forms of religious observance. You can sit (and stand) in traditional services all week long, if you like. But what do these services do, exactly?

Read more here:

Why Do We Keep Dissing Chabad's Spirituality?