We live in a secular society. As the years have passed, religion has slowly faded into the background. Many people aren't all that interested in going to church or synagogue or mosque or their designated place of worship anymore. Religion has lost major popularity points, and that is evident in the world around us. This story, "Synagogue and 'Spiritual Starbucks'," deals with the apparent loss of faith in the Jewish community particularly. It discusses a Jewish neighborhood in NYC where the synagogues are struggling. Amidst the dwindling numbers of regulars at the synagogues, Rabbi Simon Jacobson uses unconventional methods to summon stragglers into his synagogue's services.
This story contains a lot of information. Vitello used many sources, including several "experts." The only complaint I have regarding sources is that I think he could have contacted more common people, members of the synagogue. He only spoke to two, and one was a former president of the synagogue, and the other was ninety years old. Vitello should have talked to more young people since many of Jacobson's efforts are aimed at the young Jewish community.
Vitello did an excellent job of backing up his information. He did not trust what sources told him at face value; he looked into the information. There were two specific times in the article when he did this that really stood out. One was when he asked Rabbi Jacobson to respond to an evaluation made by the chairman of the Jewish studies program at Queens College regarding the beliefs at the core of Jacobson's program. Jacobson confirmed what the chairman said but was also given the chance to explain the true purpose of his program. Also, Jacobson told a story about a former student, and Vitello contacted the student to verify the story and to see what the student was doing now. This had the added benefit of showing how these programs could potentially change lives.
This story also had some colorful quotes. Rabbi Jacobson described an event the synagogue held as "Spiritually elevating. A transportation for the soul." I thought this quote was entertaining because Jacobson sounded like he was reviewing a movie. "Fun for the whole family! A rollicking good time!" Also, in regards to Jewish practice in the community, Jacobson said that "It is a kind of tundra, and we are trying to figure out how to resettle it." This quote provided for vivid imagery, bringing the state of faith in the Jewish community to life.
However, at times, the story lost focus. The lead was good, but it could have been better if it were more personal. It was a general example of a rabbi, rather than a specific anecdote of one of the rabbis mentioned in the story. Also, it seemed a little irrelevant because none of the rabbis in the actual body of the story had to do what the rabbi in the lead did. In fact, Vitello specifically mentioned that the main rabbi at the synagogue didn't have to. Also, I thought Vitello meant to focus on the spiritual decline in the synagogue, but he interjected little sections into the story about its physical state instead. I think it would have been a stronger story if he just focused on one form of deterioration or the other, preferably the spiritual.
Overall, this story was solid; Vitello checked his facts and used plenty of sources. I just think he could have varied those sources a little bit more, rather than varying the focus of his story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/nyregion/29synagogue.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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2 comments:
I completey agree with you Mary Beth, I feel like Vitello did a great job at using so many sources, but none of them were your everyday synagogue go-ers. I think that this would have helped him a lot, to have like you said, younger people give their opinons about the matter since they are the ones that are trying to be brought back to the Jewish faith.
I also completey agree with what you said about him backing up his sources. I really felt like this story wasn't one sided at all and that he really took the time and effort to follow up on sources and get the other side of the story. This not only made the article all the more interesting, but it also made it more enjoyable for me to read.
I definately see what you meant by saying that at times the piece lost some of its focus. It was interesting to have those side notes about the physical state of the building, but at the same time it kind of threw me off from the general feel of the article. They were interesting interjections though.
hey mary beth, first off, i just want to say this is a very, very interesting article.
i definitely agree with you on your assessment. this is an interesting story no doubt, and vitello definitely did sufficient research on it, but the angle he chose may not have been the best one. a more personal approach definitely would have connected readers to the story.
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