The Changing Face of Judaism

June 1, 1999

Source: The New York Times

On June 1, 1999, The New York Times published an article of reflections on the Pittsburgh Principles. Rabbis Sheldon Zimmerman, president of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, emphasized that since American society reminds Jews of their identity less frequently, the question for American Jews is "'Why be Jewish?' No other generation has had to answer that question." Rabbis Paul J. Menitoff, the executive vice-president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, stated: "I think there's a change in the sociology of what we're all about. Our parents and grandparents were coming to this country and trying to become Americanized. They wanted their kids to be as American as apple pie, and they did a very good job." Rabbi Menitoff also mentioned that the younger generations are searching for their roots.