Why Jewish Studies Is More Relevant Than Ever

If you’re a Jewish studies scholar, you know a truth that many American Jews don’t understand. For years, synagogues have decried shrinking membership, and liberal Jewish denominations have reported decreasing engagement. Intermarriage is widely feared, as is a supposed decline in interest in Israel.

“We have lots of negative narratives,” says Leonard Saxe, a professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and director of both the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University.