Suffolk County, NY – A diverse coalition called the Eastern Long Island Jewish Alliance is taking a wide-ranging pro-active approach to addressing the declining number of Jews in the county affiliated with synagogues and other Jewish organizations.
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NEWSDAY.com (http://nwsdy.li/1fI4W7S) reports that over 30 synagogues, groups and organizations have already signed on, with members ranging from liberal Reform and Orthodox synagogues all the way down to Jewish cultural organizations and a Jewish campground.
Rabbi Steven Moss, who co-chairs the new coalition, said, “The Jewish community has been going through a very difficult time with a decrease in our population. The question is do we do something about this and try to save the Jewish community and assure our future, or do we simply let it take its course.”
Records show that Suffolk County’s Jewish population has declined from 98,000 in 1991, to 86,000 in 2011.
Moss said he believes there is strength in numbers, and that by working together, as opposed to individually, the groups have a more realistic shot at addressing their shrinking numbers.
“We really need to combine forces. It is in unity that we find strength,” Moss said.
I work in Suffolk County and it’s almost impossible to find Glatt kosher food. I have to drive almost five miles from my office to get a kosher bagel.
#1 – Did you consider Bagel Boss that has several branches out there?
Tell em to dial 1800 satmer all their problems will be solved. But I doubt this is the solution they are looking for…
They don’t want any frum jews- it was mostly the other jews that opposed making an eiruv.
The problem is that there are no yreshivos in Suffolk and to send to yeshoivos in Nassau County of Brooklyn or Queens parents would have to find there own transportation. Nassau County which has growing Jewish communities proves bus service to Brooklyn and Queen yeshivos.
I assure 5Tresident that if large numbers of frum Yiddin were to move to Suffolk County the grocers and pizza shops would follow them.
The problem is over100 years old Since 1917 there has been almost no jewish day schools for children .Only after 1950 or so has there been interest in day schools consequently there has been no transmission of Jewish culture or religion to the upcoming generations
We must have free schools or low tuition for all jewish children
They don’t seemed to have learned that, as is evident, mere membership in a temple or JCC is a very tenuous commitment to Judaism. Easy come/easy go, and now they’re paying the price. Unfortunately, they were content with membership and didn’t think they needed to emphasize shmiras hamitzvos, and it didn’t really seem to have worked out.