It may come as a surprise, especially given that I’m a Jewish professional, but I have not always appreciated the message or the lessons portrayed in Fiddler on the Roof. In 2013, I distinctly remember, as I sat in a Claremont Laemmle theater during my first Fiddler on the Roof sing-along, lamenting about how there has not been another “thing” in the last 50 years that could galvanize Jews like this iconic movie and show. I was thinking about this last month as my daughter was performing the role of Chava in her high school production of Fiddler.
As I watched my daughter and her friends perform in their four shows, I realized I had a new appreciation for the messages portrayed in the show. While I am pretty sure the teens may not have truly comprehended the show’s deep complexities, I found a new relevance and appreciation for it.
I highly encourage you to sit down and watch the movie, or find a production somewhere, whether it is your first or 12th time. And when you watch, try to view it through the lens of the Jewish community today.
There is a line in the dialogue that I somehow have missed over the years. It is when Tevye is telling Golda how he gave his permission for Perchik to marry their daughter Hodel. It is clear that Tevya is lamenting the fact that everything around them is changing. He says, “So what can we do? It’s a new world… a new world.”
The fact is that for so many of us in our community, the Judaism we grew up with and knew has evolved, changed, and looks very different today. What once was an essential part of everyday life, Judaism… let alone religion, for the vast majority of the community has become something like a hat that people put on when they choose to “do something Jewish.”
Please know that I am in no way judging anyone for how they choose to engage with their Judaism… it is merely an observation I have seen over the years as the Executive Director of our Jewish Federation. It is important to note that this is not only taking place in the Jewish community. Religion as a whole has become less and less a part of society.
In 2023 and 2024, the Pew Research Center conducted its most recent religious landscape study, which provided a snapshot of “current” religious views in American society. One key finding from that study indicated that while many Americans identify as religious, the vast majority do not attend religious services of any kind at least once a month. The study also found that Americans are increasingly less likely to consider religion an important part of their lives and have become very divided over its role in society, according to a CNN news story following the publication of the Pew study’s findings.
However, it is important to note that since October 7, the Jewish community has seen a significant increase in Jews looking to connect and become more committed and involved in Jewish life. National Jewish organizations like Jewish Federations of North America, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue, and others are working hard to use this moment to reimagine ways to sustain this interest and counter the trend that the Pew study indicates.
I can assure you that our Jewish Federation works hard each day to provide programs and opportunities that engage our community as the Jewish world continues to evolve.
Jason Moss is executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater
San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
