Given the sheer numbers of Jewish organizations in the United States, this template is not intended as a replacement to, or competitor with, the AJYB. (See AJYB Archives for more information.), but is instead more focused on major entities with which American Jews are likely to interact.
The template is designed as an aid to those seeking to understand the spectrum of major Jewish entities in the United States and the ways they are interconnected. As an interpretive guide, the template is not merely a rote listing, but offers nuance and an inherent sense of relative status among the entities. This can take into account:
year of establishment, particularly in the United States
membership/readership/audience numbers, both historical and current
impact, both as measured by scholars and in popular thought and press
similar roots among entities
status of parent/umbrella/other interconnected bodies
geographic links.
This template's initial visibility currently defaults to collapsed, meaning that it is hidden apart from its title bar.
To change this template's initial visibility, the |state=parameter may be used:
{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States|state=expanded}} will show the template expanded, i.e. fully visible.
{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States|state=autocollapse}} will show the template autocollapsed, i.e. if there is another collapsible item on the page (anavbox, sidebar, or table with the collapsible attribute), it is hidden apart from its title bar, but if not, it is fully visible.
