As Americans seem less and less likely to join a club, a cause, or even a bowling league, Stuart Kurlander bucks the trend. He is an active and persuasive member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, serving as its vice president for financial resource development, and next year as its board chairman. As the eight candlelit nights of Hanukkah came to a close last week, Kurlander, 48, spoke with The Washington Examiner about the demands of faith and the value of commitment. Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?

I am Jewish. I appreciate the cultural connection to people of a similar background, a similar history, and a similar sense of community. I value the Jewish commitment to helping others who are less able to help themselves. And I value, too, the importance that Judaism places on individual lives, and on doing something meaningful with one’s life.