Our thoughts go out to the families of those tragically lost in the flight collision in Washington, DC. Sadly, one of the flight attendants attended BBYO summer leadership programs with me in 1987. May their memories be for a blessing.
I received a great deal of feedback from my email last Friday about the “anti-social generation.” As a follow-up, I want to share some other statistics and studies that I believe are connected.
A recent Tikvah podcast discussed changes in family structures over the past several generations. Some of you will remember nightly dinners with three generations – grandparents, parents, and children (and perhaps extended family) -- sitting around the table sharing their day and talking over one another. Sadly, in too many cases, that “picture” no longer exists.
The idea of having a family with children is growing less common in America, and at some point in the last decade the number of American adults, aged 18 to 55, who are married with children, and the number of American adults who are single and childless, converged. In 1970, 54% of those ages 18-55 were married with children and 20% were single and childless – described as kinless. Since 2010, the percentage of American adults who are married with children has continued to diminish. In 2023, demographers estimate that in America only 32% of adults ages 18-55 are married with children, and we now have a higher percentage, 38%, who are kinless.
This ties into a recent report in the Willamette Week where Portland State University researchers forecast that Portland Public Schools’ enrollment will decline by nearly 15% in the next decade.
I have written about the lower birthrate before and its potential ramifications on communal life – especially our Jewish community. Jews tend to get married later and have fewer children than the general population. Fewer Jewish children will greatly impact enrollment in our Jewish preschools, day schools, camps, and synagogue membership.
This segues into a recent study on Jewish Families Today. According to the study, parents view “community” as a critical component in their children’s Jewish identity. Significant barriers limit families’ ability to engage fully in Jewish life, including financial costs, such as synagogue memberships and Jewish school tuition, and geographic distance from Jewish centers or family networks. As a result, some families choose to disengage from formal Jewish spaces, focusing instead on cultivating Jewish practices and connections at home.
Parents, therefore, find online resources essential to support their children’s Jewish education and to celebrate Jewish traditions at home. For some, informal peer networks and small, grassroots, community-led gatherings provide a supportive environment (think Gather Grants we launched last week.) Plus, parents are comfortable with a DIY approach, yet still want guidance from clergy, educators, and others.
I find all of these studies and statistics of great interest as they are insights into our evolving Greater Portland Jewish community.
A few miscellaneous things to share:
- Happy to see eight hostages released from Gaza yesterday, including five Thai nationals. Tomorrow, Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, and Ofer Kalderon are scheduled to be released. Yarden was taken along with his wife, Shiri, and their two children, Kfir, then a nine-month old baby, and Ariel, who was four at the time. There is no word on their fate.
- We continue to monitor ‘Executive Orders” from the White House and their potential impact on programs and services in the Jewish community. Earlier this week, the administration announced a “freeze on federal grants and loans,” which could have affected such programs as the Oregon Health Plan, Meals on Wheels, school lunches, and houselessness assistance, among others. The order was rescinded, but it requires us “to be on our toes” to best understand any potential impact.
- President Trump did announce an executive order that calls to “marshal all federal resources” to combat antisemitism on college campuses, among other places. This coincided with a new survey conducted jointly by the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International showing that 83% of Jewish students have experienced or witnessed antisemitism firsthand since October 7, 2023.
- This week, Governor Kotek convened an ad hoc interfaith coalition to address the rising concerns around the Trump administration’s executive orders on immigration and the federal funding freeze (mentioned above). Representatives from the Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Mormon, and Muslim communities were in attendance. The participants agreed to work with the governor to mitigate the impact of any federal policies that lead to indiscriminate sweeping raids of immigrant communities, cut vital social service programs, or undermine our democratic norms.
- We are excited to open nominations for the 2025 Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewish Professional Award. Established 11 years ago to honor Laurie, a pillar of Jewish professional leadership for over 30 years, this award celebrates a early to mid-career professional (minimum three years in Portland Jewish community) working at a Jewish communal organization. The recipient will receive up to $1,800 to participate in a professional development experience. Recognize excellence in Jewish professional leadership by nominating someone here.
- As part of our ongoing community study follow-up initiatives, the Jewish Federation is partnering with Moving Traditions and Jewish Family and Child Service to focus on teen mental health. We have two upcoming webinars for parents: February 11 is focused on Helping Teens Thrive and March 18 focused on Promoting Well-being in the Digital Lives of Jewish Teens. Click here for more information and to register.
- On Monday, I had the opportunity to participate in a national bikur cholim conference. The conference brought together community leaders, social workers, rabbis, chaplains, and others who help people “heal in the face of crisis, trauma, and antisemitism.” Presenters shared prayer, Torah teaching, and coping strategies. It was a positive learning experience hearing caregivers – those who must exhibit strength and resilience while helping others deal with the issues at hand – find ways to provide comfort and healing for themselves.
- Reminder -- The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is partnering with Resetting the Table to offer tools and skills to transcend the “fault lines” within and across our community when it comes to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are looking for participants who represent a wide range of views on Israel. If you are interested in participating in this program, you must complete this application form. Learn more here.
Shabbat shalom.
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