Tikvah
Editors’ Pick

August 10, 2026

Synagogues Remain American Jewry’s Main Connection to Judaism

We ignore them at our peril.

Among professional American Jewish philanthropists and organizers, a conventional wisdom emerged a few decades ago that new, innovative institutions were needed to keep Jews—especially younger, non-Orthodox ones—involved in Jewish life. Informal, lay-led prayer services, communal living arrangements, and charities infused with the spirit of Silicon Valley were in; synagogues were out. Joshua Rabin throws some cold water on this approach:

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