Bribing Jews to move to Dothan, Alabama – a Band-Aid, Not a real Solution

March 5, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

Have you heard about the Reform synagogue in Dothan, Alabama that is bribing Jews to move there?  If you are Jewish, pass a background check, and meet their standards during a visit, this congregation will pay you $50,000 to move to Dothan and be part of the Jewish community there for 5 years.  To see the full story, watch this video.

Sounds like a good deal, right?  Maybe for the families who pocket the cash, but not for the Jewish people as a whole.  I admire the congregation for trying to find a solution to meet the changing needs of the Jewish community.  But, I have to say….  I think there are better approaches.  Their solution seems like a temporary one that focuses on the past.  They are seeking to make Dothan what it once was, and ignoring the realities that fewer Jews live there and fewer Jews affiliate at all.  Judaism needs to instead evolve and find new and different ways to meet the needs of 21st century Jews.

The Dothan congregation is hoping to bring 20 Jewish families to their community, which means spending a million dollars.  A million dollars could go a long way to help the Jewish people.  Disclaimer: I am biased.  Imagine, for example, if that million were spent on OurJewishCommunity.org.  That money would create a contemporary Jewish experience that would speak to tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of Jews, including those in small communities like Dothan.  Instead, the Dothan solution will reach about 70 families (the 50 who are there now and the 20 who may move there).  They may be actively involved in the Jewish community for the next five years, but unless they all stay and have tons of babies (statistically unlikely) who quickly grow up and want to stay in Dothan (statistically unlikely) and affiliate with the synagogue (statistically unlikely), I don’t see great potential for growth there.

Of course, I wish OurJewishCommunity.org had more money to accomplish our goals (and we only need less than $200,000!).  But, even if the Dothan philanthropist doesn’t want to give his money to OurJewishCommunity.org, imagine if he instead gave the money to an admirable cause that helps create peace, cure disease, and/or save lives.  I would feel a million times better about those million dollars going to help in concrete ways with wide reach – rather than just going to twenty families.  Of course, that’s just my two cents.  I don’t have millions.

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2 Responses to “Bribing Jews to move to Dothan, Alabama – a Band-Aid, Not a real Solution”

  1. Rick Feldman Says:
    December 1st, 2009 at 2:41 am

    Y’know everyone has a great cause they would like to see get support. I commend the Dothan Jewish Temple congregant and their family for making a worthwhile effort to bring new Jews into the community. Obviously the Jesish community there feels that Dothan is a very workwhile place to live. And it seems that Dothan is happy to have a Jewish community in the town. My kids are grown so I do not qualify; but the article definitely put Dothan in my sites of choosing a place to retire to, and live in. I hope there are fireflys in Dothan, that would seal the deal. Happy Holidays!
    Shalom, Rick Feldman

  2. Esther Sackheim Says:
    December 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    Hello just loved living in the south. had a large family in Dothan years ago. Think it would be great if Jewish singles started a group and life in Dothan.
    Esther Feinstein Sackheim

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