The Phoenix Jewish news., 1960-09-16
BY MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyrieht. 1850, JTA, Inc.)

WASHINGTON-Is Jewish edu-
cation in America a mile wide but
only an inch deep?
Jews are well informed on cur
rent events: anti-SemitiSm and
Israeli problems. But what is the
status of Judaism as a living faith?
How much do American Jews
know about their religion, culture,
and history?
AS a nation, America is alarmed
by reports that the Russians are
building more and better rockets
than Americans can produce. The
Russians are graduating more
engineers and scientists. Technical
education in the Soviet Union has
emerged as superior in many
aspects. Consequently, America
embarked on program to mod
ernie our whole system Of gen.
eral education.
Our highly-vaunted technology
has been challenged. Americans
are cropping for new definition OF
the American image in the con-
fusion of rapidly changing times.
There is talk of implementing the
ideals of the Judei-Christian Herit-
age as a bulwark against material
ism and Communism. This has
raised a question of whether Jews
in this country really know their
own heritage. :.
ONE EMINENT educator said
that "Jewish education in America
is far from the Space Age =. it has
not even caught up the with Horse
Age" Another thinker, National
President Label Katz of B'nai
Birth, held that "where Jewish
education is neglected, the entire
content of Judaism is reduced to
merely an awarenesS of anti
Semitism. Judaism ceases to be
civilization. 1t becomes psyche
logical complex"
The sages OF Israel, in ancient
days, asked why Jerusalem was
destroyed. Replying to this rhetori.
cal question, they concluded that
Jerusalem was destroyed only be-
cause the children remained un
taught Jerusalem was destroy.
ed only because men of scholarship
and learning were deSpiSed
Jerusalem was destroyed only be-
cause there were no longer mer
of faith and hope in her midst"
Jewish teen-agers are caught ir
the spirit of the Space Age. They
have noticed the huge number oi
great scientists of Jewish origin
Is this capacity for learning due
to centuries of Talmudic study, tC
Jewish tradition? Then, what is the
Talmud? What is Jewish tradition
Such questions have emerged from
Jewish youth.
What do Jews believe? Are we q
Chosen People? How and why are
Jews different?
Are Jewish parents equipped tc
answer these questions? Is organic
ed Jewish education meeting the
challenge?
RECENTLY II, 900 Jewish boys
and girls were questioned about
their attitudes on Jewish education
The great majority, more than :
out of 10, accepted such education
as desirable and natural in Ameri-
lean environment. They thought
all children should receive some
form of religious education.
But the children said they liked
their public school teacher better
than Jewish teachers. They pre-
ferred public school to Jewish
schooling. Students of high schoo
age complained about poor teach
ing in Jewish classes and boring
presentation of content. They
wanted to learn about Judaism and
were ready for an interesting
presentation. But their teachers
were too poorly equipped to meet
the challenge.
A major weakness is found In
the Jewish teacher. 1t has been
reliably estimated that $3.50 OF
Jewish Sunday School teachers had