There is a common, but ignorant, belief that Conservative synagogues are not supportive environments for interfaith couples. It's not true. Each couple must find their own place in community but never say never.
Here is an encouraging article from The Jewish Week by Rabbi David Lerner.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c55_a16893/Editorial__Opinion/Opinion.html.
Showing posts with label Jewish Movements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewish Movements. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Reform and Conservative rabbis to learn together
Interesting news! The Reform and Conservative rabbinic schools will be working on a new combine educational track that will focus on three areas:
One part is demographics and Jewish communal trends. Another is management and organizational leadership. And the last is inclusion, with an emphasis on the intermarried.
How amazing that the rabbis will be educated about demographics and Jewish communal trends! Be still my heart, what this could lead to! Additionally, the opportunity to learn together about how to approach the inclusion of intermarried couples into congregational life is fantastic. This will provide a rich dialog and an exchange of information.
Years ago Esther Perel was brought out to do a weekend teaching with the bay area rabbis. It was a powerful experience for them. One Conservative rabbi told me that the dialog that took place between the rabbis transformed his understanding of his Reform colleagues. He understood their struggle with Jewish law and boundaries as he had never done before. This is a two way street. Reform rabbis also have the chance to understand the longing of the Conservative rabbis to find a comfortable place for each of their beloved congregants. Each stream will find how much they have in common.
It will be called the Schusterman Rabbinical Fellowship.
Read the article at:
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/2008071520080715hucjts.html
One part is demographics and Jewish communal trends. Another is management and organizational leadership. And the last is inclusion, with an emphasis on the intermarried.
How amazing that the rabbis will be educated about demographics and Jewish communal trends! Be still my heart, what this could lead to! Additionally, the opportunity to learn together about how to approach the inclusion of intermarried couples into congregational life is fantastic. This will provide a rich dialog and an exchange of information.
Years ago Esther Perel was brought out to do a weekend teaching with the bay area rabbis. It was a powerful experience for them. One Conservative rabbi told me that the dialog that took place between the rabbis transformed his understanding of his Reform colleagues. He understood their struggle with Jewish law and boundaries as he had never done before. This is a two way street. Reform rabbis also have the chance to understand the longing of the Conservative rabbis to find a comfortable place for each of their beloved congregants. Each stream will find how much they have in common.
It will be called the Schusterman Rabbinical Fellowship.
Read the article at:
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/2008071520080715hucjts.html
Friday, January 4, 2008
Men's Clubs & Lynne Wolfe in the News
Nov. 5, 2007
The Men’s Clubs of the Conservative Movement on the MOVE
Some of you may be aware that Rabbi Charles Simon of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs in the Conservative Movement has been working for several years on developing programs and materials for Conservative congregations to use in their work with the interfaith couples in their shuls. Recently Rabbi Simon hired a long time Outreach professional, Lynne Wolfe, to coordinate the efforts between the congregations.
Lynne's local paper covered her new role as mentor to the Keruv consultants in the Conservative congregations. Fortunately for us, the online article even includes the photographs!
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/110107/njIntermarriageExpert.html
The Men’s Clubs of the Conservative Movement on the MOVE
Some of you may be aware that Rabbi Charles Simon of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs in the Conservative Movement has been working for several years on developing programs and materials for Conservative congregations to use in their work with the interfaith couples in their shuls. Recently Rabbi Simon hired a long time Outreach professional, Lynne Wolfe, to coordinate the efforts between the congregations.
Lynne's local paper covered her new role as mentor to the Keruv consultants in the Conservative congregations. Fortunately for us, the online article even includes the photographs!
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/110107/njIntermarriageExpert.html
Conservative yeshiva in Uganda
Here's one more to make us all happy.
Dawn
The Conservative movement will build an adult yeshiva for the Abayudaya, a community of Jewish converts in Uganda.
The $15,000 gift, announced Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., at the national convention of United Synagogue Youth, the youth arm of the Conservative movement, was presented to Gershom Sizomu, the first member of the Abayudaya community to enter rabbinical school. A research fellow at the Institute for Jewish and Community Research in San Francisco, Sizomu will receive his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles in May.
The 800 members of the Abayudaya, who had been living as Jews for years, were formally converted to Judaism in 2002 by a visiting delegation of Conservative rabbis.
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, said the gift of the yeshiva sustains the youth movement’s support of the Abayudaya Jews begun last year with a donation for a Jewish library.
The library will be housed in the new yeshiva, which is expected to be completed by summer.
Four or five students will begin studying next fall, Epstein said. Other students are expected to follow, some from “lost” African Jewish communities elsewhere in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and southern Africa.
Dawn
The Conservative movement will build an adult yeshiva for the Abayudaya, a community of Jewish converts in Uganda.
The $15,000 gift, announced Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., at the national convention of United Synagogue Youth, the youth arm of the Conservative movement, was presented to Gershom Sizomu, the first member of the Abayudaya community to enter rabbinical school. A research fellow at the Institute for Jewish and Community Research in San Francisco, Sizomu will receive his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles in May.
The 800 members of the Abayudaya, who had been living as Jews for years, were formally converted to Judaism in 2002 by a visiting delegation of Conservative rabbis.
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, said the gift of the yeshiva sustains the youth movement’s support of the Abayudaya Jews begun last year with a donation for a Jewish library.
The library will be housed in the new yeshiva, which is expected to be completed by summer.
Four or five students will begin studying next fall, Epstein said. Other students are expected to follow, some from “lost” African Jewish communities elsewhere in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and southern Africa.
Conservative Movement
Dear Colleagues,
Here is an interesting article about Conservative rabbis serving dual identity congregations.
I respect and value the varied responses that are expressed. Let me quote from one of my favorite Orthodox rabbis:
"Each of you is in a conversation with God and I don't know what that conversation is."
Clearly our conversations are leading us to do many different things and only a madman or a fool believes that he or she is hearing God's sole authentic voice. As we move forward, each of us straining to hear the words in our own ear, may we value those who are straining to hear the words in their ear.
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20071209112907mergersidebar.html
A quick over view of the Conservative movement's 2007 convention.
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20071204eisensynagogue1203.html
Here is an interesting article about Conservative rabbis serving dual identity congregations.
I respect and value the varied responses that are expressed. Let me quote from one of my favorite Orthodox rabbis:
"Each of you is in a conversation with God and I don't know what that conversation is."
Clearly our conversations are leading us to do many different things and only a madman or a fool believes that he or she is hearing God's sole authentic voice. As we move forward, each of us straining to hear the words in our own ear, may we value those who are straining to hear the words in their ear.
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20071209112907mergersidebar.html
A quick over view of the Conservative movement's 2007 convention.
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20071204eisensynagogue1203.html
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