It Takes a Kehilla to Make a Mensch: Building Jewish Identity as Part of Overall Identity

We live in a challenging period of Jewish life in America. Jewish educators are grappling with seeing the next generation of American Jews through the formative years in the creation of their Jewish identity. Issues of Jewish continuity weigh heavily, as alarming statistics continue to be announced on a regular basis. More and more, educators are recognized as the front-line resource for Jewish ident ity enhancement, the spotlight on them ever-brightening with the publication of further research highlighting the role of Jewish education in promoting Jewish continuity (see Schiff and Schneider, 1994a, 1994b). At the same time, we are realizing the broad and crucial role religious identity can play in the life of an individual. Issues related to the development of a Jewish identity can have a major impact on a variety of life outcomes. A religious orientation has been shown to reduce likelihood of participation in problem behaviors such as substance abuse (Jessor, Donovan, and Costa, 1991; Jessor and Jessor, 1977). Our own research has shown that religious variables can impact on the how one handles stress, through such skills as problem solving and anger management (Kress, Elias, and Novick, 1995; cf., Pargament et al., 1990). Further, the development of a religious identity cannot be understood outside the contex