BY: RABBI YOSSI MAROZOV Special to the CJN

Take a poll of Clevelanders ages 35 and younger on the question �Do you feel heartbroken that the Cleveland Indians failed to reach the World Series?�

Presumably, over 50% would respond �Yes!�

Compare that (loosely) with the recent study sponsored by the Bronfman Foundation titled �Beyond Distancing: Young Adult American Jews and Their Alienation from Israel.� It reveals alarming detachment and alienation among younger American Jews toward Israel and its very existence.

The study has shocked the American Jewish community. Community workers, clergy and laymen wonder where we�ve gone wrong and anxiously seek potential remedies.

I talked with my fellow Chabad rabbis on college campuses around the United States, on the front lines combating Jewish apathy and indifference. I found they weren�t surprised. They encounter this alienation daily.

For any Jewish adult whose heart throbs for the Jewish people and the land of Israel to convey that level of intensity to the next generation is an awesome challenge

The key word in education today is �discuss!� Whether it�s alcohol or drugs, partying or teen sex, everything is now on the table, discussed openly and frankly. No longer can we take for granted that what we know as right or wrong, safe or harmful, is the path our children will automatically follow.

If that�s true about everything else, why should our Jewish values take a back seat? All Jewish parents should ask themselves: Do we ever discuss with our children Israel�s role in Jewish life and its importance? Better still, do we have a heart-to-heart bedtime discussion with our youngsters about our people�s love for the land of Israel?

It�s time to realize the responsibility each of us has to transmit to our families and others the knowledge and awareness of every Jew�s intimate connection to the land of Israel. If we can no longer take for granted that our children will follow us in anything else in life, we certainly can�t take for granted that they will follow the Jewish values we hold so dear.

For that, parents must themselves be knowledgeable and educated.

The Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is launching a six-week course series entitled �The Land and the Spirit n why we all care about Israel� It will explore the Jewish people�s bond with the land of Israel. For information and to register, log on to www.myJLI.com.

Israel has existed as a state only since 1948, but our connection with the land is almost 4,000 years old. Considering that the Cleveland Indians last won the World Series in 1948, we wonder whether they�ll succeed in keeping the excitement going ... as we have for 4,000 years.

Rabbi Yossi Marozov is director of Friendship Circle and will be leading the upcoming JLI course series.

In the Media

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Singapore Outreach Program Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Ancient Wisdom for today The Westender Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Education for Happiness Vail Daily News Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Kabbalah-based course offers steps to fulfillment The Tennessean Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Keeping the Faith Calgary Herald Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Kabbalah-based course focuses on emotional happiness Cincinnati.com Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Chabad opens new learning institute in Winnipeg Canadian Jewish News Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 The Journey to your Inner World through Kabbalah Student Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008 Soul Maps: Chabad House sponsors Kaballah course Asheville Citizen-Times Tuesday, Nov 4th, 2008 New course on Kabbalah WESTENDER Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 In the news: Jewish learning coming to Bonita News Press Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Jewish Learning Institution to teach 'soul maps' Thousand Oaks Acorn Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Lubavitch center to offer 'Soul Maps' course The Baltimore Sun Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Innovative educational series to begin Nov. 12 YourHub.com Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Taub curriculum on Tanya being used throughout world The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Nebraska Joins Worldwide Debut of Soul Maps Jewish Press Friday, Oct 31st, 2008 Educational series to have debut here Staten Island Advance Monday, Oct 27th, 2008 JLI Mission to Israel Lubavitch.com Friday, Aug 22nd, 2008 Course examines moral issues Calgary Herald Thursday, May 15th, 2008 Talmudic Ethics Course Slated Voices Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 Annual JLI Conference Held In New Jersey 5 Towns Jewish Times Monday, Mar 31st, 2008 Jewish faith is focus of class Hunterdon County Democrat Tuesday, Feb 5th, 2008 Keeping the Faith Calgary Herald Saturday, Feb 2nd, 2008 Spirited lecture starts new JLI programme www.JewishTelegraph.com Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 2008 Course Explores Jewish Faith In Modern World Town-Crier Tuesday, Jan 1st, 2008 Chabad Unveils Talmudic Study Program In 15 Cities www.lubavitch.com Monday, Dec 31st, 2007 Semester ends with graduation The Jewish Telegraph Monday, Dec 31st, 2007 Course Targets Apathy Toward Israel Calgary Herald Thursday, Nov 22nd, 2007 Combating Apathy to Israel: Chabad's New Israel Awareness Course Arutz Sheva (www.IsraelNationalNews.com) Wednesday, Nov 21st, 2007 Spirited lecture starts new JLI programme www.JewishTelegraph.com Friday, Nov 9th, 2007 Class to bridge gap between Jews, Israel Northbrook Star Thursday, Nov 1st, 2007 Lectures explore Jews' ties to Israel http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071027/NEWS/710270537/1001/NEWS0105 Saturday, Oct 27th, 2007 Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle-Tallahassee Tallahassee Democrat (FL) Friday, Oct 26th, 2007 To combat disconnect, Israel class free for young adults Jewish Review (Portland, OR) Friday, Oct 26th, 2007 Course all about Israel The Gazette (Colorado Springs) Friday, Oct 26th, 2007 Religion Briefs: Course traces bond between Jews, Israel The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) Friday, Oct 26th, 2007 Goal of New Course: To Appreciate Israel Jewish Exponent Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 Chabad course explores Israel bond JTA News Wire Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 Israel Course Offered At Wellington Jewish Center Towne Crier Online (Wellington, FL) Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 JLI course at Chabad House to begin on October 29 The Reporter (Broome County, NY) Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 Chabad course designed to combat Israel apathy Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 Goal of New Course: To Appreciate Israel The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia) Friday, Oct 19th, 2007 Class to explore Israel�s importance thestate.com Monday, Oct 15th, 2007 Chabad Course Explores Israel's Spiritual Side The Atlanta Jewish Times Monday, Oct 15th, 2007 Rohr Jewish Learning Institute Unveils The Land and The Spirit Courses Westchester.com Monday, Oct 15th, 2007 Eldest Wilhelm offspring returns to head JLI The Jewish Review Sunday, Oct 7th, 2007 Land and Spirit to explore ties that bind The Jewish Review Sunday, Oct 7th, 2007 New features added! 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Jewish News - Dec 20, 2004 Thursday, Dec 30th, 2004 Men, Women & Kabbalah Jewish Learning Institute�s interactive course to apply ancient wisdom to modern issues Thursday, Dec 30th, 2004 JLI of Riverdale opens registration for winter semester. Friday, Dec 17th, 2004 Jewish Learning Institute�s Fall Course Examines �Bible Stories� University-level adult education program utilizes text analysis to probe major dramas in the Book of Genesis Sunday, Dec 5th, 2004 The Jewish Learning Institute The Newtown Gazette Thursday, Oct 21st, 2004 The Jewish Learning Institute The Newtown Gazette Thursday, Oct 21st, 2004 Second Season Starts Soon for Toledo Friday, Oct 15th, 2004 NEW JLI COURSE APPLIES ANCIENT WISDOM TO MODERN ISSUES Jewish Reflector - October issue Monday, Sep 27th, 2004 INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERIES TO PREMIERE IN RICHMOND THIS FALL Jewish News - Sept. Edition Monday, Sep 27th, 2004 New JLI program set Richmond Times Dispatch, Sept. 18, 2004 Monday, Sep 27th, 2004