Amy Zitelman Response to Profes. Davis

Professor David spoke about marriage for American Jews.  More specifically, she spoke about the roles marriage counseling played in American Jewish Lives post WWII.  Marriage counseling, she said, was an under-appreciated attribute in the revival of Religion after the second world war.

After the war, aspects of relationships were different; gender roles had begun to change, and children dating were out of the eyes of their parents, and many young couple's questions were going unanswered.  But, have no fear, religious leaders (in the reform community) stepped up and learned counseling techniques to help these young couples.

Rabbis' focuses in their marriage counseling was not about the couple, but rather about the importance of advancing Jewish communities.  Their counseling was not about marriage, but about the potential JEWISH children.  It was about how the couple will affect the community.

And in these times after World War 2, the Jewish community did prosper.

My only question is- what has changed?  Why is it that Jewish divorce rate, which used to be one of the lowest in the world, has increased?  Why is there a higher rate of inter-marriage?

What were rabbi's saying back then that was apparently so productive, and not saying now?

Clearly, I don't have the answers.  Maybe Professor David does, however!