As the Jewish population in Louisville disperses, Jewish infrastructure is suffering
The Jewish community in Louisville, Ky., is struggling as population numbers decline and the Jewish community in Louisville becomes more dispersed, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
The Jewish population there dropped from 8,700 to 8,307 between 1991 and 2006, which has put pressure on the Jewish infrastructure in the area.
Louisville's only non-Orthodox day school recently closed, as did its only kosher restaurant. The local JCC has about 8,000 members, but only 38 percent are Jewish, and it recently closed its kosher cafe because of lack of demand. Several synagogues are discussing mergers simply to stay afloat. And, the local federation's annual campaign has remained stagnant over the past five years at about $2.8 million, the Courier-Journal reports.
The Fundermentalist's take: At the same time that the Louisville paper is reporting this story, several large-city federations, including those in New York and Baltimore, are reporting that they saw record gains in their fund raising last year. But, in the middle of the country, the situation in Louisville is more the norm than an aberration.
Population shift is a serious concern for smaller federations in the Midwest, especially, as Jews move away from Jewish communities that were small to start off with.
Perhaps it is time for the federation system to start considering some sort of domestic profit-sharing plan in which large city federation success could be used to help ease small city federation distress.
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I am saddened to read that this fine city is having problems. Where, however, is the leadership which might be able to turn this around? Has religious expression in Louisville stagnated into lip-service or is it vital How large are the houses of worship? Are they too large to support the population being served? Are the wages being paid to the professional clergy sapping the strength and vitality of the congregants? Is there a young group being raised to love Judaism and its history, and are they learning, among the various synagogues, about our common heritage and acceptance of diversity within our own ranks?
When the west was being populated, most towns had only one or two Jewish families. And they survived as Jews! What has happened to that spirit of identity in Louisville?
I do not know Louisville, but it seems similar to most small populations. The question is not what is wrong, therefore, but what is right?
My advice? Work on your strengths. Do not ignore them in favor of your weaknesses. Your weaknesses will always be there… that’s why they are weaknesses! But your strengths can still carry you upwards.
Benny sounds strange. He left instead of helping. His viewpoint is 40 years old, instead of current. Criticising does not help. Working to support, strengthen and participate do! He sounds like a taker, not a giver!
It is only though giving that we can all reap our religious and cultural rewards. Tzadokah is not only financial—it is giving of one’s time, too!
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Benny
08/26/08 02:32 AM
I left Louisville 40 years ago because Judaism is a joke there. Went to live in a community where Jews are proud to be Jews.