Steven M. Cohen
HUC-JIR
Steven M. Cohen is Research Professor of Jewish Social Policy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Director of the Florence G. Heller/JCC Association Research Center. With Arnold Eisen, he wrote The Jew Within, and with Charles Liebman, he wrote Two Worlds of Judaism: The Israeli and American Experiences. He made aliyah to Israel in 1992. He and his wife, Marion Lev Cohen, live in Jerusalem and NY. He is the father of Edeet and Adam.
Jews Under 40: Alienated, Bored, Coerced, and Divided
Emerging Identites & New Forms of Endeavor
Identity & Responsibility
- Sunday 11:30AM–12:45PM Empire Room 1
American Jews between the ages of 25 and 39 have embarked on a range of innovation in the realms of learning, social justice, new media, culture, and spiritual communities. In part they are spurred by alienation from the ethos of their elders, and in part by growth in Jewish education and changing patterns of marriage and child-bearing. We will explore the nature and reasons for this recent efflorescence of both individual and collective Jewish creativity.
What's Love Got to Do with It?
Multiple Perspectives and Approaches to Intermarriage
- Sunday 2:30PM–3:45PM Tower Board Room
The demographics of the Jewish community are changing, as more and more Jews choose to marry individuals of other religious faiths and ethnicities. What do our changing demographics mean, and what is the best way for us to ensure a vibrant, strong Jewish future? Join our panel for a lively discussion about the challenges and opportunities that our changing demographics face.
Intermarriage: What do we say? What do we do?
How to Welcome Intermarried and Increase In-Marriage
Identity & Responsibility
- Sunday 5:30PM–6:45PM Empire Room 3 South
Intermarriage continues to shape our demographic, religious, cultural & identity contours. Some startling observations: Only 1 grandchild in 8 of mixed couples identifies as a Jew. In two generations, the Orthodox population is doubling, and the non-Orthodox population is "halving." Conservative numbers have dropped, and the number of Reform Jews has been sliding. Outreach is a good and necessary response, but not enough. We need to re-think what to say, and what to do.
|
