survey for my Jewish readers

[cellio]

A survey in the first session of the Melton (adult-ed) program produced some results that struck me as interesting. I have a theory, but the class wasn't large enough to provide a good sample. So I pose the question to you. :-)

We were given a list of factors (actions and beliefs), and asked which were the top five "in terms of their importance in ensuring that a vital, coherent Judaism will be transmitted to future Jewish generations". So from the options below, which are your top five?

There are two questions below; please respond only to the one that fits your situation. (I've provided "does not apply" options so you can check that and see the poll results more easily.) Feel free to use the comments for things that fall outside the poll parameters (like comments from any non-Jews who read this far :-) ).

[Poll #819573]

Comments

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

You forgot two answers I would have put:

(1) raise a Jewish child in a Jewish home

(2) have her attend a Jewish summer camp (worked for me!)

[cellio]

These weren't my options (I thought "raise children" was noticably absent). I'm just reproducing the options we were given.

I was kind of surprised by some of the things they did include. Make havdalah? I mean yeah, it's nice and I do it, but as a candidate for top five important things, I'm a little dubious.

(I wouldn't have thought of camp, and you're right: that seems to be formative for many folks.)

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

If you notice, many of the factors that are popular are things that make a Jewish home to raise a child in: observing home-based ceremonies, marrying within the faith (thus keeping the house not interfaith). Other factors lead to Jewish education, such as joining a synagogue. Knowing history allows one to teach there children.

Other factors are more internal, and improve one's spirituality, but wouldn't outwardly make the house *jewish*, such as belief in God, following ethics and morals, supporting Israel, giving to charity. These factors, although Jewish in behavour, are also something that would be done by the fundamentalist Christian population as well.