So what are we going to do about the statistics, those seemingly outrageous statistical claims that outreach organizations all over the world make about the numbers they've reached and the lives they've changed? One organization in Israel claims that this year alone they've enrolled more than 7,000 secular Israeli school-children in hundreds of Torah schools for the academic year 2000/2001. Sometimes you feel that if all the claims of the outreach organizations throughout the world were true, not only would every Jew be religious by now, but that Christians and Moslems would be converting en masse.

So how do NJOP's unprecedented claims of having reached 530,000 North American Jews hold up? What are these claims based on and what accounting magic makes these figures credible or plausible?

NJOP tries to keep accurate accounts of its participants, and, in an effort to avoid exaggeration, often undercounts the number of participants. The 530,000 participants that NJOP claims to have reached actually represent the total number of individuals who attended NJOP programs. This number was arrived at by adding together all program participants and subtracting those who may have attended multiple programs. As of February 1, 2001, the number of participants in each of our programs is:

"Shabbat Across America/Canada- Turn Friday Night Into Shabbat" 320,000
"Read Hebrew America/Canada- Hebrew Reading Crash Course" 150,000
"Hebrew Reading Level II" 75,000
"Crash Course in Basic Judaism" 80,000
"Beginners Services" 20,000
Total: 640,000

Allowing for people who took multiple programs (our statistics show that 77% of the 150,000 people who participated in the "Hebrew Reading Crash Course" continue on to take other classes) leaves us with a total of 530,000 individual participants.

Yes, 530,000 is a huge number, but it is still less than 10% of the Jewish population of North America. And, despite the fact that NJOP programs have been run in over 3,300 different locations in North America, and that the total number of programs that NJOP has organized since its inception in 1988 is a whopping 18,136, with an average of 28.3 participants per program, when seen as part of the overall picture, the 530,000 number does not seem so large.

To appreciate the scope of NJOP's outreach efforts, I am pleased to share with you the following totals of the number of times that each program has been offered:

"Shabbat Across America/Canada-Turn Friday Night Into Shabbat" has been offered 3,623 times.
"Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level I" has been offered 9,218 times.
"Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level II" has been offered 2,945 times.
"Crash Course in Basic Judaism" has been offered 1,294 times.
"Hebrew Reading One Day Review" has been offered 830 times.
"The Beginners Service" has been offered in 258 different locations.

We at NJOP are truly proud of these accomplishments, but, as I reiterated during my speech at the Annual Dinner, while these figures are unprecedented, they are simply not enough.

To obtain a more in depth picture of what NJOP has achieved, please read the reports contained in this issue of our newsletter. Read about NJOP's new initiatives to reach out more broadly and more effectively. Read about the many marginally affiliated Jews who are now beginning to attend synagogue and temple more regularly. Shep nachas -- but don't allow yourselves or NJOP to become complacent, or slack off from our sacred work.

The weatherman's warning of 6 to 8 inches of snow had many hearts pounding nervously at the NJOP office. Everything was in place at the Waldorf-Astoria for the National Jewish Outreach Program's 7th Annual Dinner. Tables were set in elegant splendor, speeches were written and the Peking chicken was in the oven as the first, fluffy snowflake flittered down onto the city. Despite Old Man Winter's dirty trick, more than 500 supporters arrived at the historic hotel on February 5, 2001, to celebrate NJOP's Bar Mitzvah year.

After enjoying a delightful cocktail reception, guests found their seats in the Grand Ballroom as Dinner co-chairs Simone and David Levinson opened the evening. Simone proudly noted that NJOP enriches so many lives by introducing them to beautiful Jewish rituals which provide "the power to make the mundane holy." For instance, David clarified, "with the introduction of the Sabbath, NJOP transforms ‘just another Friday night' into a weekly holy celebration...with the introduction of a mezuzah, the scroll placed on a doorpost, NJOP transforms a dwelling into a personal sanctuary."

Following this beautiful opening, Rabbi Buchwald "donned a different hat" and led Hatikva and The Star Spangled Banner in lieu of Cantor Sherwood Goffin, who was ill at home. Rabbi Yaakov Nasirov, of Congregation Anshei Shalom, then inaugurated the meal with a unique Afghani chant and the blessing over bread.

Thanking everyone for trudging through the snow, Rabbi Buchwald noted that in proper perspective, a local snowstorm was nothing in comparison to an earthquake. Daman and Sant Singh Chatwal, honorees of the evening, were absent from the Dinner, he explained, because they were in India with Mrs. Chatwal's mother, who lay in a coma after the recent earthquake. To show NJOP's appreciation for Mr. Chatwal's generous support, Rabbi Buchwald requested that donations be made to the World Jewish Service for Indian relief efforts.

The power of philanthropy, family, and love for the Jewish people unified those in attendance. Rabbi Buchwald proceeded to honor the memory of someone who embodied those attributes, his late cousin, the real estate legend, Edward S. Gordon, z"l. In January 1987, when Rabbi Buchwald shared his dream of establishing NJOP with Mr. Gordon, he did not hesitate to pledge his support. More than founder and contributor, Edward Gordon served as "a resourceful fund-raiser, making introductions, organizing solicitation meetings and encouraging NJOP to set the same exacting standards that he had set in his own business." While Mr. Gordon passed away this past September, his generosity to NJOP will continue through a charitable foundation which he established.

Sam Domb is also driven by his love for the Jewish people, Rabbi Buchwald observed as he introduced the evening's Master of Ceremonies. Orphaned as a babe from his mother by the Wermacht, four year old Sam escaped a firing squad and hid in the woods, miraculously surviving the war. He went to Israel, fought in the Israeli army and was deeply involved in Israeli security matters. In the United States he built a successful business and became a liaison for the Jewish community with governments worldwide. Still, Sam doesn't rest "because Sam Domb actually sees himself as the mother and the father of those lost Jewish children [who have not yet experienced the joys of Judaism]. For Sam Domb, nothing is too heavy, nothing is too burdensome, nothing is too much."

Having been presented with a beautiful mezuzah, as well as "Special Ambassador for NJOP" business cards, Sam Domb told the Dinner attendees about his love for NJOP and the Jewish people. Mr. Domb recounted his sleepless nights and the anguish he feels at the "Silent Holocaust" of assimilation. With sincerity evident in his voice, Mr. Domb implored the Dinner guests to "be courageous and support NJOP, because they provide the best dividend for the investment. There is an old Chinese saying: ‘A journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step;' let's take that first step together." It is obvious to all that Sam Domb has taken great steps on his own. NJOP echos Mr. Domb's wish that Hashem continue to grant him good health so that he may continue to use his life to work for the Jewish people.

It was Sam Domb who introduced NJOP to Sant Chatwal at last summer's Hamptons Housewarming event. When Sam described NJOP's mission, Mr. Chatwal immediately responded with a donation of $10,000. To those gathered at the Dinner, Sam Domb explained that Mr. Chatwal felt an affinity with NJOP's goal to help Jews remain Jews because of the challenges he faces raising his own family with a strong ethnic and religious identity. Since Mr. and Mrs. Chatwal were in India, the honorary award, a crystal prism bearing the words Todah Rabah, was presented to their son Vikram. Humbly, the young turbaned Mr. Chatwal thanked Rabbi Buchwald, Sam Domb and those present for honoring his parents and noted that, as members of the Sikh community, the Chatwals shared many principles in common with the Jewish people. "Not only do men in both communities keep their heads covered, but they emphasize the same priorities of love and service to G-d, the importance of family and the value of hard work."

Dinner honorees Beth and Joshua Schwartz are models of NJOP success. Nine years after Beth met Josh and insisted that he join her at the Lincoln Square Beginners Service, Josh readily admits that the Beginners Service was "the doorway to a wonderful experience with Judaism." Now Josh is the President of Congregation Ohav Shalom on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and boasts that his 5 year old son knows more about Judaism than he did at 30. Drawing on her own history, Beth stressed the importance of NJOP programming. Her mother returned to Judaism even though Beth's grandparents had converted to Episcopalianism. If, Beth contended, her mother had the opportunities offered by NJOP, her journey would have been much easier. Accepting a beautiful Alex Gruss spice box from Rabbi Buchwald, the Schwartzes maintained that promoting support for NJOP was their way of helping to continue its vital work.

Beth and Josh shared the evening's honors with another graduate of the Beginners Service, Jill Brandfon Wildes and her husband, Rabbi Mark Wildes. Unlike his fellow honorees, Rabbi Wildes was not a beginner. Rather, he was an up-and-coming young outreach leader conducting his own NJOP Beginners Service, which Jill began frequenting. Eventually, Jill and Mark became Rabbi and Rebbitzen Wildes, and created the Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE), one of the most effective local outreach programs on the national scene. Thanking Rabbi Buchwald for the Special Service Award, Rabbi Wildes noted that the very first program run by MJE was the Hebrew Reading Crash Course. Since that first class, MJE has welcomed thousands, and now offers more than 20 different classes. Recently, MJE has expanded to the East Side and has launched MJE for Youth, supported by NJOP board members Sylvia and Carl Freyer. Rabbi Wildes remarked that he cannot help but look back with gratitude at the guidance, encouragement and advice of Rabbi Buchwald and Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, NJOP Program Director.

After a sumptuous main course, Sam Domb presented Dinner co-chair Karen Lehmann-Eisner. After thanking the honorary chairs of the evening, Helen and Jack Nash and Judy and Michael Steinhardt, and her co-chairs, Simone and David Levinson and David Eisner, her husband, Karen spoke of the value of giving to NJOP. Noting that NJOP made the most of its programs and resources, and that everywhere she went people had heard of NJOP programs, Karen explained that NJOP is all about "giving [Jews] the tools to a way of life" in a land that easily hardens Jewish hearts. Before turning the microphone back over to Rabbi Buchwald, Karen told the Dinner guests that the wonderful evening was very much due to the hard work of Amy Warschawski Vogel, NJOP's Special Events Coordinator, who dedicated her time and energy to coordinate the Dinner, which was taking place only four weeks after her wedding.

Thanking Karen for her beautiful introduction, and for her dedicated years of co-chairing NJOP Dinners, Rabbi Buchwald announced his intention of persuading Karen Lehmann-Eisner and David Eisner to be the Guests of Honor at next year's Dinner.

With slide show accompaniment, Rabbi Buchwald proceeded to express NJOP's "profound gratitude for making it possible...to reach 530,000 North American Jews." Half a million Jews have been introduced to their heritage, but this, Rabbi Buchwald emphasized, "is just not enough!" While rabbis across the continent are reporting that "tens of thousands of Jews of all denominations have begun attending services regularly because they feel empowered by learning Hebrew," millions of North American Jews only celebrate their heritage 3 days a year, if that, and that is "just not enough."

Rabbi Buchwald reported that NJOP began four major initiatives this year to help it fulfill its newly announced goal of reaching another 500,000 as yet uninitiated Jews over the next five years. Through the generosity of Tracy and Sander Gerber, an outreach program has begun in the Russian community, including the training of Russian-speaking outreach personnel. With the backing of the Mitchell family, the Mezuzah campaign was launched, sending exclusive Yaakov Agam mezuzot free of charge to graduates of the Hebrew Reading Crash Course who do not already have a mezuzah on their front door. At the behest of Pam and George Rohr, Gail and Yosef Stechler, Cyrus Schwartz, and Carolyn and Marc Rowan, a new NJOP Community Development and Outreach Coordinator, Larry Greenman, has already begun an ambitious program to energize synagogues to create dynamic outreach programs and insure effective follow-up with NJOP participants. And thanks to Sylvia and Carl Freyer, Rabbi Buchwald and NJOP board member Hilly Gross bring NJOP's message to the New York Jewish community on WPAT 930 am every Wednesday night at 9:00 PM.

Before giving the stage to internationally acclaimed clarinetist and mandolinist Andy Statman, who gave a stunning performance, Rabbi Buchwald congratulated those present on helping NJOP reach its Bar Mitzvah year. And like all Bar Mitzvah boys he promised to use NJOP's gifts wisely to make the dream--to touch the lives of a million Jews--a reality.