Become a Member
Judaism

The 'religious tsunami' that has brought in sweeping change

It's better to count people in than count them out, says the co-author of a new book on Inclusive Judaism

January 21, 2020 10:06
Gay Jewish wedding in Israel

By

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain,

rabbi dr jonathan romain

3 min read

What a strange community we are. British Jewry is bursting with big names and achievements: from Simon Schama to Maureen Lipman to JW3 to Limmud.

Yet we also have a large drop-out rate: those who assimilate through indifference, or who are in a mixed-faith marriage and are pushed away, or women who feel second- class citizens.

There are also those who are LGBTQ+ and are ostracised, or who are atheist and reckon there is no point belonging to a community that is based on faith, or who are agnostic and wonder what Judaism has to offer them.

The list is long and varied, but collectively adds up to a sizable percentage of British Jews. Whereas in the past they existed but kept their head down, now they are saying: “We are made to feel we do not belong and that this is no longer our home, so we will take the hint and slip away.”