Spreading the "Jewish" word

EUGENE KAELLIS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

In the first of a three-part series on proselytizing, this article examines the decline in the Jewish population, how proselytizing is part of Jewish history and how it could help ensure a Jewish future.

As far back as 1972, the Encyclopedia Judaica noted, "... the Jewish people is now in a rather precarious demographic position." The world total of Jews (2004 World Jewish Directory) reveals that, while the earth's population has risen to more than six billion, Jews have still not reached their pre-1939 population level. This has consequences for the survival of world Jewry.

Any population, just to maintain itself, needs a replacement rate of more than two; how much more than that amount depends on the death rate of children before they reach reproductive age. Canada's replacement rate has been less than two for some time – Canada now has the lowest birth rate in its history and without immigrants, its population would rapidly diminish.

Furthermore, while, along with the populations of other industrialized countries, Canada's is population is aging, among the various ethnic groups in Canada and the United States, Jews have the greatest average age. Aging and an insufficient replacement rate are characteristic of Diaspora Jewry. The two major causes are the Holocaust, especially the 1.25 million child victims who represented unfulfilled future parentage, and a low Jewish birth rate that is reducing the population of Diaspora Jews not only relatively but absolutely.

To the demographics must be added secularism, assimilation and intermarriage (estimated at anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent) that reduce levels of Jewish identity and commitment. Formal conversion to other religions and the attraction of Eastern spiritualism have further eroded Jewish identity. When local Jewish populations reach low levels, institutions, both religious and secular, which sustain Jewish identity, cannot be maintained, leading to an accelerated decline of Jewish identity.

Within this general decline, some Jewish communities have grown, but at the expense of others. The once-significant Jewish population of the former Soviet Union supplied Jews, often with little attachment to Judaism, to North America, generating a small increase in population over the past ten years. The growth of the Jewish populations of Vancouver and Toronto is at the expense of those in Winnipeg and Montreal.

Overall, Diaspora Jews are aging, dwindling in numbers, and facing decline, even extinction. Encouraging fecundity will almost certainly fail. A falling birth rate in Quebec, which went from one of the highest to one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere, is not being reversed despite natalist efforts, including financial incentives. This has been the experience of other jurisdictions. More offspring by some of Diaspora Jewry's Orthodox communities is insufficient to stem the decline.

One potential remedy that is rarely discussed and never undertaken is proselytizing non-Jews by Jews to create converts.

Jews were once active missionizers. The Christian Testament (Matthew 23:15) even complained that Jews "... traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte...." Rabbi Leo Baeck wrote, "Judaism was the first religion to organize missions, and it was Jewish propaganda which prepared the grounds for the development of Christianity. Political rather than religious considerations put an end to Judaism's attempt to extend its realms of believers."

There had been converts to Judaism for centuries before proselytizing ended. Shabbat services repeat the words of Isaiah (2:3): "... from Zion will go forth the Torah, and the word of Adoshem from Jerusalem." Conversion was a mission accepted by Abraham when God told him, "By you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." Zechariah prophesied, "In those days, 10 men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.' " The Midrash states, "If you do not proclaim my Godhead to the nations, I will punish you." And the Tanhuma states, "Dearer to God is the proselyte who has come of his own accord than all the crowds of Israelites who stood before Mount Sinai." The 13th benediction of Shmoneh Esreh, next to the Shema the most important part of the daily service, is a prayer for converts, "Upon the righteous ... [and] upon the true proselytes, and upon us, may your mercy be aroused."

The adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Rome put an end to Jewish proselytizing since, when discovered, both missionaries and converts were put to death.

Present day responses to the concept of proselytizing among non-Jews include that it is better to turn all Jews into observant Jews. But even if all those identifying themselves as Jews were to become observant, that would not alter the dim demography of Jewish existence.

Secular Jews who actively pursue their Jewish ethnicity cannot reverse the tendency toward decline either. Yiddish culture, the major expression of and contributor to secular Jewishness, seems to be disappearing in spite of fitful efforts to sustain or revive it.

Any successful proselytizing movement would have to uncover the essential elements of Judaism, as expressed in its theological precepts, that distinguish Judaism from other religions, notably Christianity, but including Islam, Buddhism and New Age forms of religion. These elements, contrary to those of normative Christianity and the other religions mentioned, not only express the essence of Judaism, they are consonant with many contemporary views of life and spirituality, and are, therefore, able to make a wide appeal to people who are searching for a religious alternative. Judaism can be a religion offering a realistic view of the world, of morality and of communion with Mystery.

Of historically important religions, Judaism is the only one that is ethnically oriented. For a proselytizing movement to be successful, there must be changes in the social and cultural characteristics of Jews who would promote it. They must stop being defensive about Judaism and isolated from people of other persuasions. They must abandon the comfort of familiarity and the fear of antipathy. They must be ready to declare the universalism of Judaism, regardless of race, class, ethnicity, gender and previous religious affiliation. They must become aware that the strengths of Judaism are greater than its rituals and more relevant than the history of the Jewish people – that they have a broader meaning and appeal. They must also understand that numbers, while important, are not key to the success of the effort. What is key is the preservation of the basic precepts of Judaism and Judaic civilization.

Dr. Eugene Kaellis is a retired academic living in New Westminster.

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