Reply To: What Is A Young Israel?

For all of those looking down at YI: Back in the 30s and 40s, the assimilation rate was terrible. Many younger people thought that Yiddishkeit was for “old” people. YI came and made it “cool” to be frum. They were called YOUNG Israel to push that point. My mother-in-law who is almost 84, was born in NY and says that if not for the YI movement, there would be no Yiddishkeit in America. Perhaps she was exagerating, but not by much. Young Israel gave the kids a place. Young children are encouraged to participate in the davening i.e. a boy being called up at the end to sing Adon Olam.