Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Conservative rabbis 325 videos on jewish topics on youtube
All the videos-find them on Youtube.
1. God/Mitzvote
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 1 Jewu 219
What Jews believe
The Shem-Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One
God and the Holocaust-evil
Judaism: Learn, Live, Love-the spiritual essence
What are the basics of Judaism? JewU 120
What does God really want from us? JewU 121
Choseness and Judaism JewU 151
Why God? JewU 173
Happiness from a Jewish view JewU 156
Devil and Judaism/ What do we believe? JewU 180
God’s Names, Bible, Talmud, Prayers JewU 141
2. Christianity/Holy Books/ Mitzvote
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 2 Jewu 220
a. Christianity and Judaism
Jews and Jesus
Jews Not for Jesus 1 JewU 200
Jews and Evangelical Christians JewU 83
Jews Not for Jesus 2 JewU 201
Jews Not for Jesus 3 JewU 202
Cardinal George and the Chgo Bd Rabbis Jewu295
Jews and Evangelical Christians JewU 83
Jews Not for Jesus 2 JewU 201
Jews Not for Jesus 3 JewU 202
Cardinal George and the Chgo Bd Rabbis Jewu295
Chrisitian and Jewish differences JewU 182
Do Jews need to be perfected ala Coulter jewu271
B. Holy Books
is the Bible myth, legend, literal jewu315
Who wrote the Torah and who cares? I care. Jewu 249
Introduction to the Torah JewU 154
Ten Commandments
Mishnah Gemarah Talmud 101
Hebrew Bible introduction
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Building a Jewish library JewU 177
Books for your jewish Library 2 JewU 191
Books for your Jewish Library 3 JewU 192
c. Jewish Law and mitzvote
Change in Jewish Law JewU 128
Women's Rights in Judaism JewU 127
Mitzvote series 2 Circumcision Jewu297
Mitzvote series 1 Procreate Jewu296
What is a mitzvah? Is it a good deed? JewU 122
Can we add new mitzvote? Jewu304
3. Spiritual models/denominations/Mysticism
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 3 Jewu 221
Jewish Spirituality-Five models
The Jewish Star as a teaching tool
Basic Kabbalah Jewish Mystical terms Jewu 260
Judaism: Learn, Live, Love-the spiritual essence JewU 98
Gematria Jewish numerology JewU 142
Jewish Denominations Movements
Reform Judaism Strength and Challenges JewU 119
Conservative Judaism JEwU 114
Orthodox Judaism strengths and challenges JewU 120
Is Reform really becoming Conservative? jewu 270
Non and trans denominational Judaism Jewu 265
Secular Jewish Humanism JewU 169
Jewish superstitions 18x, too too, evil eye, aliyote jewu311
4. Synagogue and Ritual Objects:
Intro to Judaism #4 Terms Jewish life/synagoue Jewu 222
Geography of the Synagogue JewU 186
Tour our Holiday themed Stained glass windows Jewu324
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Jewish ritual home items
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 How to have an aliyah
Jewish prayer shawl Tallit Tallis 101
fillin Phylacteries JewU 187
Jewish Kippot, Yarmulkes, Head Coverings
Mezuza-what is that box on a Jewish home?
Minyon Prayer quorum: rules and history JewU 140
Virtual synagogue JewU 185
Basic Kabbalah Jewish Mystical terms Jewu 260
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 1 this series on on Google vide
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 2
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 3
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 4
5. Prayer
Intro to Judaism #5 Terms Prayer Jewu 223
The Hebrew alphabet Jewu322
a. About prayers
Must men and women pray separately? jewu282
Minyon Prayer quorum: rules and history JewU 140
Minha The Jewish Afternoon Prayer service
Jewish prayer service-Maariv/Evening
Sacrifices and Judaism
Cohenim Priests In Judaism
What are those strange movements in Jewish prayer? JewU 174
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
Cohenim Priests In Judaism
What are those strange movements in Jewish prayer? JewU 174
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
b. Learning Daily Prayers
Shma first and last paragraphs sung JewU 149
Shaharit-the Jewish morning Prayer service
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
Ashrei psalm 145 sung Jewu 262
Mourner's kaddish how to say it jewu 139
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
c. Learn Shabbat prayers
1. Friday Night
Sabbath Kiddush sanctification and havdalah JewU 96
Holiday version
Chant Holiday Kiddish Jewu 250
Cyber Friday night service in 2 parts Jewu 261
Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat Service part 1 of 2
Shabbat Maariv service part 2 of Kabbalat of 2 videos
Yigdal Prayer ends Shabbat eve services Jewu 236
2. Morning
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Haftorah blessings before and after jewu321
3. Musaf
a. Half Kaddish
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
b. First 2 blessings of Shabbat amidah
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
c. Kedusha Shabbat Musaf Kedusha JewU 263
d. Full kaddish see a
e. Final prayers
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
Haftorah blessings before and after jewu321
3. Musaf
a. Half Kaddish
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
b. First 2 blessings of Shabbat amidah
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
c. Kedusha Shabbat Musaf Kedusha JewU 263
d. Full kaddish see a
e. Final prayers
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
d. General
Travelers Prayer Jewu 258
Jewish Healing Prayer Jewu 217
Do it yourself Jewish unveiling dedication Jewu 216
Thank God Blessings in Judaism JewU 129
Jewish Blessings Brachote -2 JewU 166
Cliff notes on Jewish prayer and Bible melodies JewU 168
Jewish Songs series 1 Birkat hamazone JewU 134
Jewish Songs and Prayers series 2 JewU 136
Jewish Songs and prayers series #3 JewU 137
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 144
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 145
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 146
Parashat Parah dvar Torah for March 10 2007
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
Mourner's kaddish how to say it JewU 139
Jewish Memorial prayer chanted-El Moleh rahamim jewu 215
6. Jewish History
Intro to Judaism #6 Terms Jewish History Jewu 224
History of religion -what order? JewU 171
Jewish history Abraham to Hannukah
Hasidim 101
False Messiahs in Jewish History JewU 165
Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots JewU 164
12 tribes of Israel JewU 143
Taste of American Jewish History Jewu 214
Great Jews series Maimonides Rambam JEwU 118
Great Jews series Abraham Joshua Heschel 100 years JEwU 117
7. Shabbat
Terms for Intro to Judaism class #7 Shabbat Jewu 225
Shabbat-an introduction
Sabbath Kiddush sanctification and havdalah ceremonies chant
History of Shabbat Candle Lighting JewU 176
Beatrice 1 Shabbat Dog Blessing JewU 204
8. Jewish Time/ High Holidays
Intro to Judaism #8 Terms Time/ Jewu 226
Jewish understanding of TIME
Origins of Jewish holidays
Selihote-penitential service prior to Rosh Hashanah JewU 123
Prepare for Rosh Hashanah-Elul JewU 189
An Amazing Shofar Ram's Horn Service Jewu 233
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jR20-0sy1Y
Blessings for Home Rosh Hashanah JewU 190
Rosh Hashanah Jewish New year
High Holiday Bible readings JewU 153
Rabbi stories: shofar, messages, reward Jewu 210
Shofar-Ram's horn
Yom Kippur Jewish Atonement Day
Repentance-Teshuva in Judaism
How world's smartest person helps with Yom Kippur JewU 163
Biblical Book of Jonah-its meaning JewU 152
Books referred to in High Holiday sermon JewU 234
Destination High Holidays JewU 188
9. Sukkot/Hanukah/Purim
Intro to Judaism terms #9 Terms Sukk/hannu/ Jewu 227
Sukkot and Simhat Torah
Sukkah 123 an easy to assemble canvass SUKKAH JEWU 238
Guests to the Sukkhah-ushpizim jewu 242
13 reasons to build a Sukkah Jewu 241
Sukkot Lulav and etrog shown and discussed Jewu 240
Sukkot-Hannukah connection Jewu 244
Chanukah miracle needed today jewu305
Hannukah The real story
Jews and the Christmas dilemma JEWU290
Hannukah songs and blessings sung
How to play Chanukah dredyl Jewu281
Tu bshvat Jewish New Year trees & mystical seder jewu286
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate
Purim the true story
10. Passover/Shavuot/Tisha Bav
Intro to Judaism #10 Terms Pesah/Shavuot Jewu 229
Seder Plate Basics for Passover
Passover Haggadah explained briefly
The 4 Passover questions in Yiddish -Yiddish 1
Passover joke: Why is this night Passover song
Haggadya the little goat explained
Earth Day and Judaism Environmental concerns JewU 74 April 22
Omer-the 49 day period between Passover and Shavuot
Lag Baomer 33rd day Holiday in the midst of sadness JewU 85
The Festival of Shavuot First fruits Hag Habikorim
Cicadas, Shavuot, Memorial day and Ruth's conversion JewU 93
Tisha bAV Ninth of Av saddest day in Jewish year
11. Kashrut
Intro to Judaism terms #11 Kashrut/ Jewu 230
Kosher 101
Meat and Milk JewU 172
Vegetarianism and Judaism JewU130
More on Kosher-lists of yes and no Jewu 253
12. Jewish Peoplehood/Conversion/Jews and others
Intro toJudaism terms #12 Peoplehood/Convert/ Jewu 231
Who Is a Jew? Jewu273
Converting to Judaism
Long distance conversion JewU 183
Kosher evangelism proseltyzing Jewu 275
How do non-Jews achieve salvation? Noahide laws JewU 155
Islam and Judaism Jew U 198
Baha'i and Judaism JewU 147
Understanding Jewish talk, terms usage
Jewish organizations by initials Jewu284
Jewish last names JewU 181
Hebrew and Yiddish
Is there a Jewish language? JewU 124
Some Yiddish expressions JewU 167
Yiddish 2 Greetings in Yiddish
Yiddish 3 Being Polite in Yiddish
Yiddish 4 Body Parts in Yiddish
Yiddish 5 Days of the week in Yiddish
Basic Hebrew vocabulary Jewu 254
Proper Jewish greetings JewU 256
13. Anti Semitism/Holocaust
Intro to Judaism terms #13 Anti semitism/Holocaust Jewu 232
Anti-Semitism-a brief history
Righteous Gentiles and anti-semitism jewu279
Holocaust 2007 Shoah
What happened to 1.4 million Jews in the Ukraine?Jewu 246
(especially if you have young children-these 2)
The story of the Tattooed Torah Holocaust story for children
How we know Jews did not kill Jesus Jewu300
About the Tattooed Torah-how it got to be written
Key issue of the time:Iran Iran Iran JewU 212
14. ISRAEL
New York Times year of ideas Biofuels meteors danger jew319
Intro to Judaism terms #14 Israel Jewu 233
Israel's 59th birthday Happy birthday
Palestinian Refugees "return" wrong
Mearsheimer/Walt -shoddy and anti-semitic? Jewu 239
Israel: the greatest country
What can we personally do to help Israel
Zionism-The Jewish people's right to Israel Jewu 243
It's Not Israel's Fault
AIPAC Crucial for America and the World
Refuting Kristof's March 17 NYT piece on Israel
hat's Wrong with Jimmy Carter's Book?
Shameful British Boycott
Bond to Israel with Israel Bonds Jewu 266
Travel with us to Israel JewU 138
15. Life Cycle through Marriage
Intro to Judaism terms #15 life cycle 1 Jewu 234
Bris Milah and Jewish Baby namings
Status of Jewish children JewU 203
Raising Children to be Jewish
Raising Children to be Jewish -2 JewU 115
Jewish Marriage Ceremony
Sheva Brachote sung seven Jewish wedding benedictions jewu30
Tattooing and Piercing in Jewish Tradition
Euthanasia Mercy Killing from a Jewish view
Capital Punisment Death Penalty from a Jewish View
Abortion from a Jewish perspective
16. Life Cycle Divorce through Death and beyond
Intro to Judaism terms #16 life cycle 2 Jewu 235
Jewish Divorce
Aging well -a Jewish view JewU 158
Jewish Funeral Practices 101
Do it yourself Jewish unveiling dedication Jewu 216
Origin of Yizkor memorial service
Jewish view of the Messiah and Messianic era
Resurrection from a Jewish perspective
Life After Death-a Jewish View of Olam Habah JewU 175
Reincarnation and Judaism JEWU 179
17. Values
Jewish Values 1-3 JewU 13
Jewish Values 4-6 JewU 14
Jewish Values 7-9 JewU 15
Jewish values 10-14 JewU16
Jewish Values 15-21 JewU 17
Jewish Values 22-27 JewU 18
Jewish values 28 on JewU 26
Bikur Cholim Visit the sick JewU 252
Life not death-see the positive Jewish future jewu276
Is it ever ok to fib? Jewu 267
Maimonides 8 laws of giving JewU 255
Videos to help with the
18.100 Q EXAM
100 Q's Jews Should Know -1 Bible
100 Q's Jews Should Know -2-Synagogue and prayer
100 Q's Jews Should Know -3 Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -4 Sabbath and Holidays Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -5 Sukkot and Passover
100 Q's Jews Should Know -6 Minor Holiday and High Holidays
100 Q's Jews Should Know -7 Jewish Life
100 Q's Jews Should Know -8 Jewish belief
100 Q's Jews Should Know -9 History
100 Q's Jews Should Know -10 Israel
19. Weekly Torah portion
Introduction to the Torah JewU 154
Read the weekly Torah Portion JewU 257
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Genesis Breisheet
Breisheet
Voyager, Earth,100 million species & Genesis JewU 248 1/54
Creationism Evolution A Jewish View JewU 84 1/54
Torah Portion Breisheit Genesis JewU 58 1/54
Noah
Torah portion Noah and the flood JewU 60 2/54
Sputnik, Bears half-time speech and rainbows Jewu 245 2/54
Noah, water-too much and too little Jewu 247 2/54
Lech lecha
Torah Portion Lech Lecha- Abraham's call JewU 61 3/54
Vayera
Torah Portion Vayera-the binding of Isaac JewU 62 4/54
Genesis 22 a close reading of the binding of IsaacJewU 193 4/54
Halloween, 3 visiting angels and their missions jewu 264 4/54
Chaye Sarah
Parashat Chaye Sareh Jewu 272 5/54
Aging well -a Jewish view also parshat Chayai Sarah JewU 158 5/54
Improving marriages with Abraham Sarah example Jewu 268 5/54
Toldot
Tunnels, Balfour, Kristallnacht, Nazis, Hamas Jewu280 6/54
Parsha Toldot Isaac Genesis 25 jewu277 6/54
Parashat Veyetze Jacob's dream, ladder,angels Jewu283 7/54
vayishlach Jacob wrestles and gets renamed Israel jewu285 8/54
God was on Jacob's side as Jacob wrestlesd himself jewu292 8/54
Vayeshev
In a pit or jail? How was Joseph sustained Jewu299 9/54
Miketz
Parashat Miketz Genesis 41 10/54 portions
Forgiveness and the Joseph stories Jewu298 10/54
Vayigash
Parashat Vayigash Joseph meets his jewu303
Vayechi
Parshat Veyehi Jacob meets his grandsons 12/54 jewu 313
Exodus Shmot
Is the Exodus from slavery true Shmot 13/54 jewu314
Leviticus Vayikra
Torah portion Tazria Mezora Dvar Torah speech ethics JewU 56 27-28/54
Torah portion Kedoshim-Love thy neighbor as thyself JewU 79 30/54
Behar Behukotai Torah portion Sabbatical, Jubilee JewU 87 32-33/54
Numbers Bamidbar
Torah portion Naso Explained-Priestly benediction JewU 52 35/54
Torah Portion Behaalotcha Numbers 8-12:16 JewU 95 36/54
Torah Portion Sh'lah l'kha-the spies JewU 63 37/54
Torah Portion Korach -Debate ok? JewU 111 38/54
Torah portion Parah /Hukkat JewU 7 39/54
Torah portion Balak-May tovu How goodly thy tents JewU 51 40/54
What we learn from the daughters of Zelophad JewU 157 41/54
Torah Portion Pinhas dvar Torah JewU 50 41/54
Torah Portion Matot Masei ends Numbers JewU 148 42-43/54
Dueteronomy Dvarim
Intro to Devarim-Deuteronomy JewU 160 44/54
Parashat Shoftim Judges JewU 184 48/54
Ki Teze
Don't make a mess in God's Camp JewU 197 Deut. 23 49/54
Deuteronomy 21-25 Kiteze 1 JewU 195 49/54
Deuteronomy 21-25 Kiteze 2 JewU 196 49/54
Parashat Ki Tovo-Optimistic future depends on "If"JewU 205 50/54
The Bible says "Be strong and of good courage" jewu 218 51/54
Parashat Netzavim- Free will, Jewu 213 51/54
20. Humor and Jokes
Favorite Jewish Jokes oneJewU 73
Favorite Jewish jokes number two JewU 132
My favorite Jewish jokes three JewU 77
Favorite Jewish Jokes 5 JewU 135
21. Thoughts and sermons
New York Times year of ideas Biofuels meteors danger jew319
New York Times year of ideas maid and mindfulnes jewu320
New York Times year of ideas appendix Judaism jewu321
baseball steroid abuse and Judaism jewu317
Ask the RABBI WEEKLY VIDEOS ON JEWTUBE JEWU269
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 1 jewu287
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 2 jewu288
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 3 jewu289
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 4 jewu293
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 5 Jewu301
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 6 Jewu308
ask the Erabbi 7 jewu316
A Rabbi's Daily Thought-TV, Bible and Whales JewU 100
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.1 Jewu 206
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.2 Jewu 207
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.3 Jewu 208
Rabbi Reflects on the news 4 Jewu 209
Rabbi Reflects on News 5 JewU 235
Rabbi Reflects on News 6 fanatics,Hiroshima,chimps jewu274
evil vs good inclination & Freud jewu278
Idea behind all these webs and blogs jewu 211
Asceticism, Puritanism, Enjoying Life Jew U 199
Da Vinci, genius, the senses and Judaism JewU 170
Interpreting Dreams,a Jewish view JewU 162
Asking Good Jewish questions, JewU 159
Happiness from a Jewish view JewU 156
Hidur mitzvah-doing something for God's honor JewU 131
The book "Secrets" and Judaism JewU 126
Dumpster diving, sunken treasures and Judaism JewU125
Soprano's end and a Rabbi responds- no ending JewU 116
1. God/Mitzvote
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 1 Jewu 219
What Jews believe
The Shem-Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One
God and the Holocaust-evil
Judaism: Learn, Live, Love-the spiritual essence
What are the basics of Judaism? JewU 120
What does God really want from us? JewU 121
Choseness and Judaism JewU 151
Why God? JewU 173
Happiness from a Jewish view JewU 156
Devil and Judaism/ What do we believe? JewU 180
God’s Names, Bible, Talmud, Prayers JewU 141
2. Christianity/Holy Books/ Mitzvote
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 2 Jewu 220
a. Christianity and Judaism
Jews and Jesus
Jews Not for Jesus 1 JewU 200
Jews and Evangelical Christians JewU 83
Jews Not for Jesus 2 JewU 201
Jews Not for Jesus 3 JewU 202
Cardinal George and the Chgo Bd Rabbis Jewu295
Jews and Evangelical Christians JewU 83
Jews Not for Jesus 2 JewU 201
Jews Not for Jesus 3 JewU 202
Cardinal George and the Chgo Bd Rabbis Jewu295
Chrisitian and Jewish differences JewU 182
Do Jews need to be perfected ala Coulter jewu271
B. Holy Books
is the Bible myth, legend, literal jewu315
Who wrote the Torah and who cares? I care. Jewu 249
Introduction to the Torah JewU 154
Ten Commandments
Mishnah Gemarah Talmud 101
Hebrew Bible introduction
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Building a Jewish library JewU 177
Books for your jewish Library 2 JewU 191
Books for your Jewish Library 3 JewU 192
c. Jewish Law and mitzvote
Change in Jewish Law JewU 128
Women's Rights in Judaism JewU 127
Mitzvote series 2 Circumcision Jewu297
Mitzvote series 1 Procreate Jewu296
What is a mitzvah? Is it a good deed? JewU 122
Can we add new mitzvote? Jewu304
3. Spiritual models/denominations/Mysticism
Terms for Intro to Judaism class session 3 Jewu 221
Jewish Spirituality-Five models
The Jewish Star as a teaching tool
Basic Kabbalah Jewish Mystical terms Jewu 260
Judaism: Learn, Live, Love-the spiritual essence JewU 98
Gematria Jewish numerology JewU 142
Jewish Denominations Movements
Reform Judaism Strength and Challenges JewU 119
Conservative Judaism JEwU 114
Orthodox Judaism strengths and challenges JewU 120
Is Reform really becoming Conservative? jewu 270
Non and trans denominational Judaism Jewu 265
Secular Jewish Humanism JewU 169
Jewish superstitions 18x, too too, evil eye, aliyote jewu311
4. Synagogue and Ritual Objects:
Intro to Judaism #4 Terms Jewish life/synagoue Jewu 222
Geography of the Synagogue JewU 186
Tour our Holiday themed Stained glass windows Jewu324
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Tour a Rabbi's Library of Holy Books Jewu323
Jewish ritual home items
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 How to have an aliyah
Jewish prayer shawl Tallit Tallis 101
fillin Phylacteries JewU 187
Jewish Kippot, Yarmulkes, Head Coverings
Mezuza-what is that box on a Jewish home?
Minyon Prayer quorum: rules and history JewU 140
Virtual synagogue JewU 185
Basic Kabbalah Jewish Mystical terms Jewu 260
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 1 this series on on Google vide
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 2
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 3
Gail's Kabbalah lecture part 4
5. Prayer
Intro to Judaism #5 Terms Prayer Jewu 223
The Hebrew alphabet Jewu322
a. About prayers
Must men and women pray separately? jewu282
Minyon Prayer quorum: rules and history JewU 140
Minha The Jewish Afternoon Prayer service
Jewish prayer service-Maariv/Evening
Sacrifices and Judaism
Cohenim Priests In Judaism
What are those strange movements in Jewish prayer? JewU 174
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
Cohenim Priests In Judaism
What are those strange movements in Jewish prayer? JewU 174
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
b. Learning Daily Prayers
Shma first and last paragraphs sung JewU 149
Shaharit-the Jewish morning Prayer service
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
Ashrei psalm 145 sung Jewu 262
Mourner's kaddish how to say it jewu 139
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
c. Learn Shabbat prayers
1. Friday Night
Sabbath Kiddush sanctification and havdalah JewU 96
Holiday version
Chant Holiday Kiddish Jewu 250
Cyber Friday night service in 2 parts Jewu 261
Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat Service part 1 of 2
Shabbat Maariv service part 2 of Kabbalat of 2 videos
Yigdal Prayer ends Shabbat eve services Jewu 236
2. Morning
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
Torah Aliyah Honors 101 JewU 2
Haftorah blessings before and after jewu321
3. Musaf
a. Half Kaddish
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
b. First 2 blessings of Shabbat amidah
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
c. Kedusha Shabbat Musaf Kedusha JewU 263
d. Full kaddish see a
e. Final prayers
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
Haftorah blessings before and after jewu321
3. Musaf
a. Half Kaddish
Half and Full Kaddish sung Jewu 237
b. First 2 blessings of Shabbat amidah
Sing the weekday and Shabbat amidah beginning jewu 251
c. Kedusha Shabbat Musaf Kedusha JewU 263
d. Full kaddish see a
e. Final prayers
Final prayers: ein kelohenu, alenu, adon olam sung Jewu 232
d. General
Travelers Prayer Jewu 258
Jewish Healing Prayer Jewu 217
Do it yourself Jewish unveiling dedication Jewu 216
Thank God Blessings in Judaism JewU 129
Jewish Blessings Brachote -2 JewU 166
Cliff notes on Jewish prayer and Bible melodies JewU 168
Jewish Songs series 1 Birkat hamazone JewU 134
Jewish Songs and Prayers series 2 JewU 136
Jewish Songs and prayers series #3 JewU 137
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 144
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 145
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 146
Parashat Parah dvar Torah for March 10 2007
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
Mourner's kaddish how to say it JewU 139
Jewish Memorial prayer chanted-El Moleh rahamim jewu 215
6. Jewish History
Intro to Judaism #6 Terms Jewish History Jewu 224
History of religion -what order? JewU 171
Jewish history Abraham to Hannukah
Hasidim 101
False Messiahs in Jewish History JewU 165
Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots JewU 164
12 tribes of Israel JewU 143
Taste of American Jewish History Jewu 214
Great Jews series Maimonides Rambam JEwU 118
Great Jews series Abraham Joshua Heschel 100 years JEwU 117
7. Shabbat
Terms for Intro to Judaism class #7 Shabbat Jewu 225
Shabbat-an introduction
Sabbath Kiddush sanctification and havdalah ceremonies chant
History of Shabbat Candle Lighting JewU 176
Beatrice 1 Shabbat Dog Blessing JewU 204
8. Jewish Time/ High Holidays
Intro to Judaism #8 Terms Time/ Jewu 226
Jewish understanding of TIME
Origins of Jewish holidays
Selihote-penitential service prior to Rosh Hashanah JewU 123
Prepare for Rosh Hashanah-Elul JewU 189
An Amazing Shofar Ram's Horn Service Jewu 233
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jR20-0sy1Y
Blessings for Home Rosh Hashanah JewU 190
Rosh Hashanah Jewish New year
High Holiday Bible readings JewU 153
Rabbi stories: shofar, messages, reward Jewu 210
Shofar-Ram's horn
Yom Kippur Jewish Atonement Day
Repentance-Teshuva in Judaism
How world's smartest person helps with Yom Kippur JewU 163
Biblical Book of Jonah-its meaning JewU 152
Books referred to in High Holiday sermon JewU 234
Destination High Holidays JewU 188
9. Sukkot/Hanukah/Purim
Intro to Judaism terms #9 Terms Sukk/hannu/ Jewu 227
Sukkot and Simhat Torah
Sukkah 123 an easy to assemble canvass SUKKAH JEWU 238
Guests to the Sukkhah-ushpizim jewu 242
13 reasons to build a Sukkah Jewu 241
Sukkot Lulav and etrog shown and discussed Jewu 240
Sukkot-Hannukah connection Jewu 244
Chanukah miracle needed today jewu305
Hannukah The real story
Jews and the Christmas dilemma JEWU290
Hannukah songs and blessings sung
How to play Chanukah dredyl Jewu281
Tu bshvat Jewish New Year trees & mystical seder jewu286
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate
Purim the true story
10. Passover/Shavuot/Tisha Bav
Intro to Judaism #10 Terms Pesah/Shavuot Jewu 229
Seder Plate Basics for Passover
Passover Haggadah explained briefly
The 4 Passover questions in Yiddish -Yiddish 1
Passover joke: Why is this night Passover song
Haggadya the little goat explained
Earth Day and Judaism Environmental concerns JewU 74 April 22
Omer-the 49 day period between Passover and Shavuot
Lag Baomer 33rd day Holiday in the midst of sadness JewU 85
The Festival of Shavuot First fruits Hag Habikorim
Cicadas, Shavuot, Memorial day and Ruth's conversion JewU 93
Tisha bAV Ninth of Av saddest day in Jewish year
11. Kashrut
Intro to Judaism terms #11 Kashrut/ Jewu 230
Kosher 101
Meat and Milk JewU 172
Vegetarianism and Judaism JewU130
More on Kosher-lists of yes and no Jewu 253
12. Jewish Peoplehood/Conversion/Jews and others
Intro toJudaism terms #12 Peoplehood/Convert/ Jewu 231
Who Is a Jew? Jewu273
Converting to Judaism
Long distance conversion JewU 183
Kosher evangelism proseltyzing Jewu 275
How do non-Jews achieve salvation? Noahide laws JewU 155
Islam and Judaism Jew U 198
Baha'i and Judaism JewU 147
Understanding Jewish talk, terms usage
Jewish organizations by initials Jewu284
Jewish last names JewU 181
Hebrew and Yiddish
Is there a Jewish language? JewU 124
Some Yiddish expressions JewU 167
Yiddish 2 Greetings in Yiddish
Yiddish 3 Being Polite in Yiddish
Yiddish 4 Body Parts in Yiddish
Yiddish 5 Days of the week in Yiddish
Basic Hebrew vocabulary Jewu 254
Proper Jewish greetings JewU 256
13. Anti Semitism/Holocaust
Intro to Judaism terms #13 Anti semitism/Holocaust Jewu 232
Anti-Semitism-a brief history
Righteous Gentiles and anti-semitism jewu279
Holocaust 2007 Shoah
What happened to 1.4 million Jews in the Ukraine?Jewu 246
(especially if you have young children-these 2)
The story of the Tattooed Torah Holocaust story for children
How we know Jews did not kill Jesus Jewu300
About the Tattooed Torah-how it got to be written
Key issue of the time:Iran Iran Iran JewU 212
14. ISRAEL
New York Times year of ideas Biofuels meteors danger jew319
Intro to Judaism terms #14 Israel Jewu 233
Israel's 59th birthday Happy birthday
Palestinian Refugees "return" wrong
Mearsheimer/Walt -shoddy and anti-semitic? Jewu 239
Israel: the greatest country
What can we personally do to help Israel
Zionism-The Jewish people's right to Israel Jewu 243
It's Not Israel's Fault
AIPAC Crucial for America and the World
Refuting Kristof's March 17 NYT piece on Israel
hat's Wrong with Jimmy Carter's Book?
Shameful British Boycott
Bond to Israel with Israel Bonds Jewu 266
Travel with us to Israel JewU 138
15. Life Cycle through Marriage
Intro to Judaism terms #15 life cycle 1 Jewu 234
Bris Milah and Jewish Baby namings
Status of Jewish children JewU 203
Raising Children to be Jewish
Raising Children to be Jewish -2 JewU 115
Jewish Marriage Ceremony
Sheva Brachote sung seven Jewish wedding benedictions jewu30
Tattooing and Piercing in Jewish Tradition
Euthanasia Mercy Killing from a Jewish view
Capital Punisment Death Penalty from a Jewish View
Abortion from a Jewish perspective
16. Life Cycle Divorce through Death and beyond
Intro to Judaism terms #16 life cycle 2 Jewu 235
Jewish Divorce
Aging well -a Jewish view JewU 158
Jewish Funeral Practices 101
Do it yourself Jewish unveiling dedication Jewu 216
Origin of Yizkor memorial service
Jewish view of the Messiah and Messianic era
Resurrection from a Jewish perspective
Life After Death-a Jewish View of Olam Habah JewU 175
Reincarnation and Judaism JEWU 179
17. Values
Jewish Values 1-3 JewU 13
Jewish Values 4-6 JewU 14
Jewish Values 7-9 JewU 15
Jewish values 10-14 JewU16
Jewish Values 15-21 JewU 17
Jewish Values 22-27 JewU 18
Jewish values 28 on JewU 26
Bikur Cholim Visit the sick JewU 252
Life not death-see the positive Jewish future jewu276
Is it ever ok to fib? Jewu 267
Maimonides 8 laws of giving JewU 255
Videos to help with the
18.100 Q EXAM
100 Q's Jews Should Know -1 Bible
100 Q's Jews Should Know -2-Synagogue and prayer
100 Q's Jews Should Know -3 Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -4 Sabbath and Holidays Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -5 Sukkot and Passover
100 Q's Jews Should Know -6 Minor Holiday and High Holidays
100 Q's Jews Should Know -7 Jewish Life
100 Q's Jews Should Know -8 Jewish belief
100 Q's Jews Should Know -9 History
100 Q's Jews Should Know -10 Israel
19. Weekly Torah portion
Introduction to the Torah JewU 154
Read the weekly Torah Portion JewU 257
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Genesis Breisheet
Breisheet
Voyager, Earth,100 million species & Genesis JewU 248 1/54
Creationism Evolution A Jewish View JewU 84 1/54
Torah Portion Breisheit Genesis JewU 58 1/54
Noah
Torah portion Noah and the flood JewU 60 2/54
Sputnik, Bears half-time speech and rainbows Jewu 245 2/54
Noah, water-too much and too little Jewu 247 2/54
Lech lecha
Torah Portion Lech Lecha- Abraham's call JewU 61 3/54
Vayera
Torah Portion Vayera-the binding of Isaac JewU 62 4/54
Genesis 22 a close reading of the binding of IsaacJewU 193 4/54
Halloween, 3 visiting angels and their missions jewu 264 4/54
Chaye Sarah
Parashat Chaye Sareh Jewu 272 5/54
Aging well -a Jewish view also parshat Chayai Sarah JewU 158 5/54
Improving marriages with Abraham Sarah example Jewu 268 5/54
Toldot
Tunnels, Balfour, Kristallnacht, Nazis, Hamas Jewu280 6/54
Parsha Toldot Isaac Genesis 25 jewu277 6/54
Parashat Veyetze Jacob's dream, ladder,angels Jewu283 7/54
vayishlach Jacob wrestles and gets renamed Israel jewu285 8/54
God was on Jacob's side as Jacob wrestlesd himself jewu292 8/54
Vayeshev
In a pit or jail? How was Joseph sustained Jewu299 9/54
Miketz
Parashat Miketz Genesis 41 10/54 portions
Forgiveness and the Joseph stories Jewu298 10/54
Vayigash
Parashat Vayigash Joseph meets his jewu303
Vayechi
Parshat Veyehi Jacob meets his grandsons 12/54 jewu 313
Exodus Shmot
Is the Exodus from slavery true Shmot 13/54 jewu314
Leviticus Vayikra
Torah portion Tazria Mezora Dvar Torah speech ethics JewU 56 27-28/54
Torah portion Kedoshim-Love thy neighbor as thyself JewU 79 30/54
Behar Behukotai Torah portion Sabbatical, Jubilee JewU 87 32-33/54
Numbers Bamidbar
Torah portion Naso Explained-Priestly benediction JewU 52 35/54
Torah Portion Behaalotcha Numbers 8-12:16 JewU 95 36/54
Torah Portion Sh'lah l'kha-the spies JewU 63 37/54
Torah Portion Korach -Debate ok? JewU 111 38/54
Torah portion Parah /Hukkat JewU 7 39/54
Torah portion Balak-May tovu How goodly thy tents JewU 51 40/54
What we learn from the daughters of Zelophad JewU 157 41/54
Torah Portion Pinhas dvar Torah JewU 50 41/54
Torah Portion Matot Masei ends Numbers JewU 148 42-43/54
Dueteronomy Dvarim
Intro to Devarim-Deuteronomy JewU 160 44/54
Parashat Shoftim Judges JewU 184 48/54
Ki Teze
Don't make a mess in God's Camp JewU 197 Deut. 23 49/54
Deuteronomy 21-25 Kiteze 1 JewU 195 49/54
Deuteronomy 21-25 Kiteze 2 JewU 196 49/54
Parashat Ki Tovo-Optimistic future depends on "If"JewU 205 50/54
The Bible says "Be strong and of good courage" jewu 218 51/54
Parashat Netzavim- Free will, Jewu 213 51/54
20. Humor and Jokes
Favorite Jewish Jokes oneJewU 73
Favorite Jewish jokes number two JewU 132
My favorite Jewish jokes three JewU 77
Favorite Jewish Jokes 5 JewU 135
21. Thoughts and sermons
New York Times year of ideas Biofuels meteors danger jew319
New York Times year of ideas maid and mindfulnes jewu320
New York Times year of ideas appendix Judaism jewu321
baseball steroid abuse and Judaism jewu317
Ask the RABBI WEEKLY VIDEOS ON JEWTUBE JEWU269
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 1 jewu287
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 2 jewu288
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 3 jewu289
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 4 jewu293
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 5 Jewu301
Ask the ERABBI -WEEKLY VIDEOS 6 Jewu308
ask the Erabbi 7 jewu316
A Rabbi's Daily Thought-TV, Bible and Whales JewU 100
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.1 Jewu 206
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.2 Jewu 207
Rabbi Reflects on the news ed.3 Jewu 208
Rabbi Reflects on the news 4 Jewu 209
Rabbi Reflects on News 5 JewU 235
Rabbi Reflects on News 6 fanatics,Hiroshima,chimps jewu274
evil vs good inclination & Freud jewu278
Idea behind all these webs and blogs jewu 211
Asceticism, Puritanism, Enjoying Life Jew U 199
Da Vinci, genius, the senses and Judaism JewU 170
Interpreting Dreams,a Jewish view JewU 162
Asking Good Jewish questions, JewU 159
Happiness from a Jewish view JewU 156
Hidur mitzvah-doing something for God's honor JewU 131
The book "Secrets" and Judaism JewU 126
Dumpster diving, sunken treasures and Judaism JewU125
Soprano's end and a Rabbi responds- no ending JewU 116
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
On Line Psalms class from Jerusalem
Below you will find a wonderful learning opportunity that is being offered by the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem !
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Conservative Yeshiva is pleased to announce an On-Line Tehillim (Psalms) Course beginning the week of February 10, 2008. The 14-week course will study one Psalm each week and continue through the end of May, 2007. The course is open to Yeshiva alumni, members of USCJ congregations, USCJ staff, and others who are interested in furthering their Jewish learning through study of Psalms.
Description: This course will study Psalms of daily Pesukei DeZimra and of Kabbalat Shabbat. The goal of the course is to develop skills for the study of Tehillim in Hebrew, to develop familiarity with Biblical poetry in general and with Psalms specifically. The course is designed to provide tools for Psalms and Tanach study in Hebrew, as well as expand students understanding of Psalms that are part of the daily and weekly tefillot (prayers).
Format of the course: This is an asynchronous class - the teacher will post materials each week for study in hevruta (or individually), as well as background material and questions. Students can log-on at any time and participate in online forums for discussion. The teacher will be a frequent contributor to the forums and will be available to answer questions. Students are expected to spend 1-2 hours per week in partner study and contributing to the online forums.
Study Materials: The study materials provided in the course serve as a guide to each individual Psalm. The materials include questions and insights regarding the background, setting, structure, language, poetics and spiritual meaning of each Psalm. The materials are designed for use with the Hebrew text of the Psalm, a Biblical lexicon and concordance. Additional explanation of the use of these tools as well as a bibliography will be provided.
In addition to working on their own with the Hebrew text, students will be encouraged to make use of traditional and modern commentaries in Hebrew or English (depending on each student’s Hebrew language skills). References to secondary source material will be provided for many of the Psalms studied.
Students of all Hebrew levels and Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome to join the class. The class will focus on Hebrew language skills and students are encouraged to make use of tools for improving Hebrew language throughout the course. Students should be self-motivated and willing to devote 1-2 hours per week to study. Hevruta study is strongly encouraged for all students including those with no prior experience in hevruta study!
Instructor: Rabbi Gail Diamond (RRC ’93) is the Assistant Director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem , where she has taught Psalms since 2001. She also teaches for Project Oded, Bat Kol Institute, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , and formerly taught at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York . Gail served as a pulpit rabbi for seven years before making aliyah in 2001.
Tuition: $250. Since a goal of the class is Hevruta study, a 10% discount will be given to hevruta partners who sign up together for the class. Alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva receive an additional 10% tuition discount. Students from Asia, South Africa , Eastern Europe and other developing nations will receive a 50% tuition discount.
Registration: To register for the class, alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva only click on the link below and answer the survey:
Here is the link to the survey
If the link above doesn't work, please copy the URL below and paste it into your browser
https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/programs/Survey.asp?nSurvey=94&SurveyeeID=6442
If you are not a Yeshiva alum, please click on the link to the Conservative Yeshiva on-line registration system, https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/ and choose “on-line learning spring 08” for your choice of program. Follow the instructions for completing the on-line application.
Please share this announcement! Additional on-line courses are planned to begin in February. If you have questions about the course or about on-line learning with the Conservative Yeshiva, please contact Rabbi Gail Diamond at yeshiva@uscj.org .
Conservative Yeshiva of United Synagogue
8 Agron Street, PO Box 7456
Jerusalem, Israel
011-972-2-622-3116
011-972-2-624-6473 (fax)
yeshiva@uscj.org
www.ConservativeYeshiva.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Conservative Yeshiva is pleased to announce an On-Line Tehillim (Psalms) Course beginning the week of February 10, 2008. The 14-week course will study one Psalm each week and continue through the end of May, 2007. The course is open to Yeshiva alumni, members of USCJ congregations, USCJ staff, and others who are interested in furthering their Jewish learning through study of Psalms.
Description: This course will study Psalms of daily Pesukei DeZimra and of Kabbalat Shabbat. The goal of the course is to develop skills for the study of Tehillim in Hebrew, to develop familiarity with Biblical poetry in general and with Psalms specifically. The course is designed to provide tools for Psalms and Tanach study in Hebrew, as well as expand students understanding of Psalms that are part of the daily and weekly tefillot (prayers).
Format of the course: This is an asynchronous class - the teacher will post materials each week for study in hevruta (or individually), as well as background material and questions. Students can log-on at any time and participate in online forums for discussion. The teacher will be a frequent contributor to the forums and will be available to answer questions. Students are expected to spend 1-2 hours per week in partner study and contributing to the online forums.
Study Materials: The study materials provided in the course serve as a guide to each individual Psalm. The materials include questions and insights regarding the background, setting, structure, language, poetics and spiritual meaning of each Psalm. The materials are designed for use with the Hebrew text of the Psalm, a Biblical lexicon and concordance. Additional explanation of the use of these tools as well as a bibliography will be provided.
In addition to working on their own with the Hebrew text, students will be encouraged to make use of traditional and modern commentaries in Hebrew or English (depending on each student’s Hebrew language skills). References to secondary source material will be provided for many of the Psalms studied.
Students of all Hebrew levels and Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome to join the class. The class will focus on Hebrew language skills and students are encouraged to make use of tools for improving Hebrew language throughout the course. Students should be self-motivated and willing to devote 1-2 hours per week to study. Hevruta study is strongly encouraged for all students including those with no prior experience in hevruta study!
Instructor: Rabbi Gail Diamond (RRC ’93) is the Assistant Director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem , where she has taught Psalms since 2001. She also teaches for Project Oded, Bat Kol Institute, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , and formerly taught at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York . Gail served as a pulpit rabbi for seven years before making aliyah in 2001.
Tuition: $250. Since a goal of the class is Hevruta study, a 10% discount will be given to hevruta partners who sign up together for the class. Alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva receive an additional 10% tuition discount. Students from Asia, South Africa , Eastern Europe and other developing nations will receive a 50% tuition discount.
Registration: To register for the class, alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva only click on the link below and answer the survey:
Here is the link to the survey
If the link above doesn't work, please copy the URL below and paste it into your browser
https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/programs/Survey.asp?nSurvey=94&SurveyeeID=6442
If you are not a Yeshiva alum, please click on the link to the Conservative Yeshiva on-line registration system, https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/ and choose “on-line learning spring 08” for your choice of program. Follow the instructions for completing the on-line application.
Please share this announcement! Additional on-line courses are planned to begin in February. If you have questions about the course or about on-line learning with the Conservative Yeshiva, please contact Rabbi Gail Diamond at yeshiva@uscj.org .
Conservative Yeshiva of United Synagogue
8 Agron Street, PO Box 7456
Jerusalem, Israel
011-972-2-622-3116
011-972-2-624-6473 (fax)
yeshiva@uscj.org
www.ConservativeYeshiva.org
Friday, December 7, 2007
Arnold Eisen "stole the show"
According to Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporter Ben Harris, Chancellor
Arnold Eisen "stole the show" at the United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism biennial conference with an impassioned plenary
address that culminated in a standing ovation.
Read what Harris has to say:
Eisen Energizes Conservative Parley
ORLANDO (JTA)--Delegates to the United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism biennial apparently didn't expect much when Arnold Eisen took
the stage here last week, offering only tepid applause for the Jewish
Theological Seminary chancellor.
Less than an hour later, however, they were on their feet, cheering a
Conservative leader who has wowed movement audiences frequently since
he took the seminary helm this summer.
Eisen's speech on the opening night of United Synagogue's biennial
convention set the tone for an event that featured an energy missing
in previous years.
More than any other arm of Conservative Judaism, the United Synagogue
has been roiled by the larger challenges bedeviling the
movement--not just its declining membership rolls but the
dilemmas posed by intermarriage, the difficulty of retaining youth and
the seeming ossification of its message.
Not surprising, perhaps, the organization's biennial convention hasn't
been distinguished by its dynamism--younger attendees at the Nov.
29-Dec. 3 gathering joked about the advanced average age of its 400 or
so delegates.
But Eisen brought some vigor on Thursday, and the next night hundreds
danced and joined hands during Sabbath services. On Saturday morning,
multiple worship options demonstrated a willingness to experiment and
innovate that many say has been absent of late.
Raymond Goldstein, United Synagogue's international president, said
the atmosphere was notably different from the 2005 conclave in Boston,
where "a cloud was hanging over us" due to the impending decision of
the movement's law committee on whether to ordain openly gay rabbis.
"The mood is up," Goldstein told JTA. "The mood is up."
In his speech, Eisen delivered something the movement has been
agitating for while watching its numbers decline and its position as
the largest American denomination eclipsed by the Reform movement: a
definition.
As is his inclination as a sociologist, Eisen offered no grand
statements of theology but rather the comparatively simple suggestion
that Conservative Judaism define itself by what Conservative Jews do.
"We are those Jews committed to full and authentic engagement with the
Jewish people and the Jewish tradition, heart and soul and mind, as
well as full engagement with the society and culture of which we are a
part, again heart and soul and mind," Eisen said.
For the most part, that definition is more aspirational than
descriptive. Conservative Jews largely don't live such lives, a
point driven home in remarks the following evening by the United
Synagogue's excecutive vice president, Rabbi Jerome Epstein.
In a forceful address that surprised movement insiders for its
directness, Epstein said Conservative Judaism was quite clear in its
principles--it was Conservative Jews who were not living up to
them.
"We don't need more definitions of Conservative Judaism in order
to make Conservative Judaism come alive," Epstein said. "What we stand
for is abundantly clear. What we do need is commitment on the part of
Conservative Jews to live the definition. We have been too timid in
declaring our vision."
Despite the enthusiasm at the biennial, especially for Eisen, ample
skepticism remains over how his and Epstein's objectives would be put
into practice.
Goldstein said he was doing his part to increase the level of Jewish
practice in the movement by requiring those he named to leadership
positions to commit to keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath, among
other requirements.
One appointee, he said, had been forced to make his kitchen kosher
before accepting the post.
Though a marked shift in emphasis from his 2005 address, when he urged
greater outreach to intermarried couples on the margins of the
movement, Epstein's remarks generally were well received by the
synagogue lay leaders and professionals in attendance. But it was
Eisen who stole the show.
Over the past year, Eisen has emerged as the movement's
indisputable leader and the repository for its hopes of reversing a
generation of decline.
In April, at the annual gathering of the movement's rabbinical
association, the Rabbinical Assembly, Eisen earned a similarly
enthusiastic response as he laid out his assessment of where
Conservative Judaism had come up short and outlined his plans for the
coming year.
Last week, in his first address to leaders of the movement's
congregational arm, Eisen laid out in plain language 10 principles
that should guide Conservative Judaism. Among them: learning Torah,
building strong communities, tikkun olam, commitment to Israel and
Hebrew literacy.
Eisen also reiterated his threefold agenda: articulating a clearer
message about what Conservative Judaism stands for, improving the
quality of programming and improving cooperation among the
movement's bodies.
Beyond the particulars, Eisen established a tone of confidence and
optimism as he enjoined Conservative Jews not to see Judaism as a
lifestyle choice, but to build strong communities and live lives of
Torah.
As he has before, Eisen rejected talk of crisis and malaise, urging
listeners to see that Conservative Judaism "got it right" and is an
authentic bearer of the Jewish tradition.
"I listened to him absolutely mesmerized," said Harriet Moldau from
Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody, Mass. "I think Eisen gets it."
With further leadership changes looming--both Epstein and the
head of the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Joel Meyers, are due to retire
in 2009--the future remains uncertain.
"He has an amazing vision for the future of the Jewish
community," Moldau said of Eisen. "I hope he gets to
implement it."
Arnold Eisen "stole the show" at the United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism biennial conference with an impassioned plenary
address that culminated in a standing ovation.
Read what Harris has to say:
Eisen Energizes Conservative Parley
ORLANDO (JTA)--Delegates to the United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism biennial apparently didn't expect much when Arnold Eisen took
the stage here last week, offering only tepid applause for the Jewish
Theological Seminary chancellor.
Less than an hour later, however, they were on their feet, cheering a
Conservative leader who has wowed movement audiences frequently since
he took the seminary helm this summer.
Eisen's speech on the opening night of United Synagogue's biennial
convention set the tone for an event that featured an energy missing
in previous years.
More than any other arm of Conservative Judaism, the United Synagogue
has been roiled by the larger challenges bedeviling the
movement--not just its declining membership rolls but the
dilemmas posed by intermarriage, the difficulty of retaining youth and
the seeming ossification of its message.
Not surprising, perhaps, the organization's biennial convention hasn't
been distinguished by its dynamism--younger attendees at the Nov.
29-Dec. 3 gathering joked about the advanced average age of its 400 or
so delegates.
But Eisen brought some vigor on Thursday, and the next night hundreds
danced and joined hands during Sabbath services. On Saturday morning,
multiple worship options demonstrated a willingness to experiment and
innovate that many say has been absent of late.
Raymond Goldstein, United Synagogue's international president, said
the atmosphere was notably different from the 2005 conclave in Boston,
where "a cloud was hanging over us" due to the impending decision of
the movement's law committee on whether to ordain openly gay rabbis.
"The mood is up," Goldstein told JTA. "The mood is up."
In his speech, Eisen delivered something the movement has been
agitating for while watching its numbers decline and its position as
the largest American denomination eclipsed by the Reform movement: a
definition.
As is his inclination as a sociologist, Eisen offered no grand
statements of theology but rather the comparatively simple suggestion
that Conservative Judaism define itself by what Conservative Jews do.
"We are those Jews committed to full and authentic engagement with the
Jewish people and the Jewish tradition, heart and soul and mind, as
well as full engagement with the society and culture of which we are a
part, again heart and soul and mind," Eisen said.
For the most part, that definition is more aspirational than
descriptive. Conservative Jews largely don't live such lives, a
point driven home in remarks the following evening by the United
Synagogue's excecutive vice president, Rabbi Jerome Epstein.
In a forceful address that surprised movement insiders for its
directness, Epstein said Conservative Judaism was quite clear in its
principles--it was Conservative Jews who were not living up to
them.
"We don't need more definitions of Conservative Judaism in order
to make Conservative Judaism come alive," Epstein said. "What we stand
for is abundantly clear. What we do need is commitment on the part of
Conservative Jews to live the definition. We have been too timid in
declaring our vision."
Despite the enthusiasm at the biennial, especially for Eisen, ample
skepticism remains over how his and Epstein's objectives would be put
into practice.
Goldstein said he was doing his part to increase the level of Jewish
practice in the movement by requiring those he named to leadership
positions to commit to keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath, among
other requirements.
One appointee, he said, had been forced to make his kitchen kosher
before accepting the post.
Though a marked shift in emphasis from his 2005 address, when he urged
greater outreach to intermarried couples on the margins of the
movement, Epstein's remarks generally were well received by the
synagogue lay leaders and professionals in attendance. But it was
Eisen who stole the show.
Over the past year, Eisen has emerged as the movement's
indisputable leader and the repository for its hopes of reversing a
generation of decline.
In April, at the annual gathering of the movement's rabbinical
association, the Rabbinical Assembly, Eisen earned a similarly
enthusiastic response as he laid out his assessment of where
Conservative Judaism had come up short and outlined his plans for the
coming year.
Last week, in his first address to leaders of the movement's
congregational arm, Eisen laid out in plain language 10 principles
that should guide Conservative Judaism. Among them: learning Torah,
building strong communities, tikkun olam, commitment to Israel and
Hebrew literacy.
Eisen also reiterated his threefold agenda: articulating a clearer
message about what Conservative Judaism stands for, improving the
quality of programming and improving cooperation among the
movement's bodies.
Beyond the particulars, Eisen established a tone of confidence and
optimism as he enjoined Conservative Jews not to see Judaism as a
lifestyle choice, but to build strong communities and live lives of
Torah.
As he has before, Eisen rejected talk of crisis and malaise, urging
listeners to see that Conservative Judaism "got it right" and is an
authentic bearer of the Jewish tradition.
"I listened to him absolutely mesmerized," said Harriet Moldau from
Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody, Mass. "I think Eisen gets it."
With further leadership changes looming--both Epstein and the
head of the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Joel Meyers, are due to retire
in 2009--the future remains uncertain.
"He has an amazing vision for the future of the Jewish
community," Moldau said of Eisen. "I hope he gets to
implement it."
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Happy Chanukah from Camp Ramah
מחנה רמה בוויסקונסין
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
December 5 / 25 Kislev
In this issue
Hanukkah Greeting from Rabbi Soloff
Conover Construction Update
New for Summer 2008
Upcoming Enrollment Meetings
___________________________
It's not too late to order Summer 2007 Play DVDS
If you would like to purchase a DVD of any of the plays from this summer, click on the link below to print the order form. Please return this form with a check to the address printed on the form.
Click Here to Order Your DVD
_____________________________
Upcoming Enrollment Meeting Dates!
Rabbi Soloff will be in the following cities in the next week. Come catch up, bring a friend, and share your Ramah experience with new families interested in camp!
December 5: St. Paul
Temple of Aaron at 6:00pm
December 9: Des Moines
Tifereth Israel at 12:15pm
December 10: Chicago
Moriah Congregation at 7:00pm
December 11: Madison
Beth Israel at 5:30pm
For more details, email registrar@ramahwisconsin.com
This past Sunday I was privileged to attend the wedding of our Program Director, Jacob Cytryn and Tamar Bednarsh, who was a member of our outdoor education staff last summer. Both Tamar and Jacob were faculty at the A.J. Heschel High School in New York. Tamar was a member of our outdoor education staff last summer. Hundreds of friends and relatives joined these two wonderful families to celebrate together.
There were so many special Ramah moments incorporated into the simcha! On Shabbat we enjoyed camp-inspired davening, divrei Torah and zemirot singing. So many people who joined together each had their own connection to the bride and groom but independently shared a personal Ramah connection with the Cytryn family or an East Coast Camp Moshava connection with the Bednarsh family.
So many guests had spent past summers at Ramah Berkshires, New England or Wisconsin. People shared camp stories reflecting their years as campers, staff members or even as parents sending the next generation to Ramah.
Community leaders attending represented shuls, day schools, camps, universities and seminaries. Each had their own connection to the celebrating families. These guests shared stories of Jewish activism in their youth at summer camp and/or in Israel.
Since mid-October I have traveled to the many synagogues that partner with Ramah Wisconsin to send campers to Conover each summer. Often the initial encounters with first time families inquiring about camp start with conversations about sports fields and tennis instructors, meal menus and shower facilities. Only after we begin to get to know each other do we get to the heart of the matter - summer is an awesome time for Jewish kids to discover their Jewish selves and strengthen their Jewish self-esteem while having an amazingly fun time.
This week we celebrate Hanukkah. The texts for the holiday recall Jewish national liberation and Jewish religious renewal. As Jews in America we comfortably light our menorahs and put them in our windows.
What gives our children the confidence and strong self-esteem to publicly celebrate Hanukkah? What experiences empower our kids to search out their Jewish identities and internalize Jewish values and traditions as they prepare to excel in high school, college and beyond?
From where do today's Jewish heroes emerge?
I met many of today's Jewish heroes at this wonderful wedding! Often it was their camp experiences that shaped and empowered them.
Mazal Tov to Jacob and Tamar and
Hanukkah Sameach to our Ramah families!
Rabbi David Soloff, Director
__________________________________________________________________
Conover Construction Update
Thanks to generous community support for our Milestone Campaign, renovation projects at camp continue and the changes are very exciting! Construction is underway on the new Tikvah Vocational Center, being built in the staff housing area. For the last four years, the Tikvah program has provided vocational participants, ages 18-22, a sense of independence through job training at local businesses by developing their communication skills. The participants are called Atzmayim, the Hebrew word for "independent." The new building will provide housing for the Atzmayim as well as for other staff members. It will include a staff lounge, small kitchen, and a lower level room for programming. Architectural plans for the new Chader Ochel / Kitchen are now complete. We will continue preparing for the exciting project during the year with construction slated to start after the 2008 camp season. The new dining complex will be ready to serve its first meal when camp opens in 2009!
________________________________________________________________
New for Summer 2008!
Thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Jewish Camping as part of its Camper-Centric Initiative, Ramah Wisconsin campers will enjoy a new high ropes course this summer! The new challenge course will enable us to enhance our outdoor education curriculum and activities, providing opportunities for team building and leadership training. We are very excited for this new addition at camp!
Forward email
This email was sent to ehntrab@yahoo.com, by parentinfo@ramahwisconsin.com
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מחנה רמה בוויסקונסין
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
December 5 / 25 Kislev
In this issue
Hanukkah Greeting from Rabbi Soloff
Conover Construction Update
New for Summer 2008
Upcoming Enrollment Meetings
___________________________
It's not too late to order Summer 2007 Play DVDS
If you would like to purchase a DVD of any of the plays from this summer, click on the link below to print the order form. Please return this form with a check to the address printed on the form.
Click Here to Order Your DVD
_____________________________
Upcoming Enrollment Meeting Dates!
Rabbi Soloff will be in the following cities in the next week. Come catch up, bring a friend, and share your Ramah experience with new families interested in camp!
December 5: St. Paul
Temple of Aaron at 6:00pm
December 9: Des Moines
Tifereth Israel at 12:15pm
December 10: Chicago
Moriah Congregation at 7:00pm
December 11: Madison
Beth Israel at 5:30pm
For more details, email registrar@ramahwisconsin.com
This past Sunday I was privileged to attend the wedding of our Program Director, Jacob Cytryn and Tamar Bednarsh, who was a member of our outdoor education staff last summer. Both Tamar and Jacob were faculty at the A.J. Heschel High School in New York. Tamar was a member of our outdoor education staff last summer. Hundreds of friends and relatives joined these two wonderful families to celebrate together.
There were so many special Ramah moments incorporated into the simcha! On Shabbat we enjoyed camp-inspired davening, divrei Torah and zemirot singing. So many people who joined together each had their own connection to the bride and groom but independently shared a personal Ramah connection with the Cytryn family or an East Coast Camp Moshava connection with the Bednarsh family.
So many guests had spent past summers at Ramah Berkshires, New England or Wisconsin. People shared camp stories reflecting their years as campers, staff members or even as parents sending the next generation to Ramah.
Community leaders attending represented shuls, day schools, camps, universities and seminaries. Each had their own connection to the celebrating families. These guests shared stories of Jewish activism in their youth at summer camp and/or in Israel.
Since mid-October I have traveled to the many synagogues that partner with Ramah Wisconsin to send campers to Conover each summer. Often the initial encounters with first time families inquiring about camp start with conversations about sports fields and tennis instructors, meal menus and shower facilities. Only after we begin to get to know each other do we get to the heart of the matter - summer is an awesome time for Jewish kids to discover their Jewish selves and strengthen their Jewish self-esteem while having an amazingly fun time.
This week we celebrate Hanukkah. The texts for the holiday recall Jewish national liberation and Jewish religious renewal. As Jews in America we comfortably light our menorahs and put them in our windows.
What gives our children the confidence and strong self-esteem to publicly celebrate Hanukkah? What experiences empower our kids to search out their Jewish identities and internalize Jewish values and traditions as they prepare to excel in high school, college and beyond?
From where do today's Jewish heroes emerge?
I met many of today's Jewish heroes at this wonderful wedding! Often it was their camp experiences that shaped and empowered them.
Mazal Tov to Jacob and Tamar and
Hanukkah Sameach to our Ramah families!
Rabbi David Soloff, Director
__________________________________________________________________
Conover Construction Update
Thanks to generous community support for our Milestone Campaign, renovation projects at camp continue and the changes are very exciting! Construction is underway on the new Tikvah Vocational Center, being built in the staff housing area. For the last four years, the Tikvah program has provided vocational participants, ages 18-22, a sense of independence through job training at local businesses by developing their communication skills. The participants are called Atzmayim, the Hebrew word for "independent." The new building will provide housing for the Atzmayim as well as for other staff members. It will include a staff lounge, small kitchen, and a lower level room for programming. Architectural plans for the new Chader Ochel / Kitchen are now complete. We will continue preparing for the exciting project during the year with construction slated to start after the 2008 camp season. The new dining complex will be ready to serve its first meal when camp opens in 2009!
________________________________________________________________
New for Summer 2008!
Thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Jewish Camping as part of its Camper-Centric Initiative, Ramah Wisconsin campers will enjoy a new high ropes course this summer! The new challenge course will enable us to enhance our outdoor education curriculum and activities, providing opportunities for team building and leadership training. We are very excited for this new addition at camp!
Forward email
This email was sent to ehntrab@yahoo.com, by parentinfo@ramahwisconsin.com
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin | 65 East Wacker Place | Suite1200 | Chicago | IL | 60601
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
go to www.shefanetwork.org
The mission of the Shefa Network is two-fold: To bring together
dreamers from within the Conservative Movement, and to give
their Dreams an audible voice. Click on "Shefa Dreams" to
read the thoughts of members of Shefa.
We are part of the Conservative Movement
and commit ourselves to work towards its health.
Be a part of our community of builders and dreamers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> An Al HaNisim for Thanksgiving
> Jewish Research that will Change the Future
> Prayer by Rabbi Simchah Roth for the safe return of Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser,
Eldad Regev, captive Israeli Soldiers - Hebrew -- English
> Prayer for the State of Israel
> Prayer for Tzahal (The Israel Defense Forces)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To join the conversation, email
shefa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Network: The Conservative Movement
Dreaming from Within
© 2007 ShefaNetwork
dreamers from within the Conservative Movement, and to give
their Dreams an audible voice. Click on "Shefa Dreams" to
read the thoughts of members of Shefa.
We are part of the Conservative Movement
and commit ourselves to work towards its health.
Be a part of our community of builders and dreamers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> An Al HaNisim for Thanksgiving
> Jewish Research that will Change the Future
> Prayer by Rabbi Simchah Roth for the safe return of Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser,
Eldad Regev, captive Israeli Soldiers - Hebrew -- English
> Prayer for the State of Israel
> Prayer for Tzahal (The Israel Defense Forces)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To join the conversation, email
shefa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Conference 5766 Survey
Shefa Network: The Conservative Movement
Dreaming from Within
© 2007 ShefaNetwork
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Dorff responds to Wertheimer in Dec. Commentary
Having registered these
areas of dissent, I should say
that I agree wholeheartedly
with Mr. Wertheimer’s
recipe for the future of
Conservative Judaism: we
need to teach people what
they “need to know, observe,
and believe if they are
to connect to traditional Judaism.”
But I would add
that we also need to explain
why one should lead such a
life—we are a movement
that values unfettered
thought as well as traditional
observance—and why
we stand for an honest,
egalitarian, traditional, and
yet modern way to live authentically
as Jews.
Rabbi Elliot Dorff
American Jewish University
Los Angeles, California
areas of dissent, I should say
that I agree wholeheartedly
with Mr. Wertheimer’s
recipe for the future of
Conservative Judaism: we
need to teach people what
they “need to know, observe,
and believe if they are
to connect to traditional Judaism.”
But I would add
that we also need to explain
why one should lead such a
life—we are a movement
that values unfettered
thought as well as traditional
observance—and why
we stand for an honest,
egalitarian, traditional, and
yet modern way to live authentically
as Jews.
Rabbi Elliot Dorff
American Jewish University
Los Angeles, California
from a Rabbi's blog www.jasonamiller.blogspot.com
The Future of Conservative Judasim
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Bienniel Convention commenced yesterday in Orlando and as the Forward pointed out, the Conservative Movement faces new realities.
The Conservative movement has struggled in recent years to maintain a sense of identity without abandoning its "big tent" philosophy and to boost its sagging membership. This turmoil has been exacerbated in the past year by the movement's change in policy toward gays and lesbians - and by a change in the leadership at the Conservative-affiliated Jewish Theological Seminary, which brought in a new chancellor, Arnold Eisen.
Everyone seems to be talking these days about the poor state of Conservative Judaism with the movement's decreasing membership numbers and some Conservative synagogues being forced to merge or close up completely. Personally, I see much excitement on the horizon for Conservative Judaism and something that resembles the renaissance that changed and strengthened the Jewish campus organization Hillel a decade ago.
At the end of the summer, The Forward published an article titled "Conservative Judaism at a Crossroads". The article, published the week before Prof. Arnie Eisen was officially installed as the new chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, quoted prominent Conservative Jewish leaders and some outside observers who weighed in on the future of the Conservative Movement.
Conservative rabbis including David Wolpe, Alan Silverstein, Naomi Levy, and Harold Kushner each gave their recommendations for the Conservative Movement's recovery from what the former chancellor of JTS, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, referred to in his 2006 commencement address as suffering from "malaise" and a "grievous failure of nerve". Other respondents included Scott Shay (author of "Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry"), Douglas Rushkoff (author of "Nothing Sacred: The Case for Open Source Judaism"), and Jay Michaelson (Zeek.com).
These short summaries of the current state of Conservative Judaism and what can be done for the future serve as good food-for-thought for movement leaders. Chancellor Arnie Eisen's power-packed stump speeches that he's been delivering across the country for over a year have also infused Conservative Judaism's laity and leadership with newfound exhilaration and hope for the future. Top leadership changes will also force the movement on a new course for the future. Rabbi Jerry Epstein (Executive VP of United Synagogue) and Rabbi Joel Meyers (Executive VP of the Rabbinical Assembly) have both announced their retirements will take place in 2009. In addition to those two expected changes and the new JTS chancellor, there is a new dean of the JTS Rabbinical School (Rabbi Danny Nevins) and there will be a new dean of the William Davidson School of Education at the Seminary next year to replace departing dean Rabbi Steve Brown.
The best, most concise vision for the future of Conservative Judaism is presented by Rabbi Harold Kushner (at right with me at the 2007 Rabbinical Assembly Convention) in his article that appears in the current issue of Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Kushner's article should be required reading for every Conservative Jew. Reading it I was reminded of Rabbi Neil Gillman's assertion that the Conservative Judaism treatise Emet Ve'Emunah is not a pareve (neutral) document, but rather is full of blockbuster statements. Rabbi Kushner's article, "Conservative Judaism in an Age of Democracy" is likewise full of blockbusters.
Rabbi Kushner writes, "In the absence of an enforcement mechanism, halakhic Judaism is no longer viable. To the commanding voice of halakhah, 'You shall do the following,' the modern non-Orthodox Jew responds, 'Why should I?' He need not be saying it dismissively. He may simply be asking for a persuasive reason, but the dimension of recognized obligation is no longer there."
Referring to Rabbi Hayim Herring's brilliant article "The Commanding Community and the Sovereign Self," Rabbi Kushner comments, "The end of the halakhic age for the vast majority of Conservative Jews may not be such a bad thing."
On the subject of Conservative Judaism not being able to effectively market its product or tweak its product to ensure success, Rabbi Kushner quotes Gil Mann who makes the following comparison: "If Procter and Gamble find that one of their household products is not selling well, they don't take out full-page ads chastising their customers for being too lazy of disloyal to do the right thing and buy what they are selling. They take out ads emphasizing the benefits of using their product, and if necessary tweak the product to make sure it lives up to their claims."
On halakhic changes that the movement has made, Rabbi Kushner writes, "We permitted driving to synagogue on the Sabbath, countenanced eating dairy foods in non-kosher restaurants and welcomed women as shelihot tzibur. None of those decisions can be justified by Orthodox halakhic criteria, but there would not be a Conservative movement today without them... When our movement was at its most creative and most relevant, our appeal was not to halakhah but to history, to the argument that the forms in which Jews lived their Jewishness had always changed as circumstances changed."
Rabbi Kushner clarifies his understanding of mitzvah, stating that in "in the 21st century, [mitzvah] can no longer mean 'commandment, obligation.' I would prefer not to translate the word mitzvah at all, but I would understand it to mean 'opportunity,' the opportunity to be in touch with God by transforming the ordinary into the sacred."
Conservative Judaism's numbers may continue to decline, but that is not a fair assessment of the state of this movement. There is much promise for Conservative Judaism in the coming decades of the 21st century. Excitement and success are sure to follow Arnie Eisen's vision, the emergence of new leadership, the rethinking of how to handle intermarriage and GLBT inclusion in Conservative synagogues, a new Ramah camp in the Rocky Mountains, and new grassroots projects (Elie Kaunfer's Mechon Hadar, Menachem Creditor's Shefa Network, etc.). The new rabbinical school curriculum at the American Jewish University and the expected new curriculum for the JTS rabbinical school will also have positive effects on the future of the Conservative Movement.
Rabbi Harold Kushner concludes his article as follows:
Our movement, our generation is called on to do what Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai and his colleagues did two thousand years ago, to reinvent Judaism in a way that will meet the needs of people today to fulfill their human destiny and make God a constant presence in their lives in an age when the currency of Jewish loyalty and faith will no longer be obedience but the pursuit of holiness.
May Conservative Judaism realize a revitalization and bring its adherents of all ages and all levels of observance closer to God and Torah. Ken Yehi Ratzon.
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Bienniel Convention commenced yesterday in Orlando and as the Forward pointed out, the Conservative Movement faces new realities.
The Conservative movement has struggled in recent years to maintain a sense of identity without abandoning its "big tent" philosophy and to boost its sagging membership. This turmoil has been exacerbated in the past year by the movement's change in policy toward gays and lesbians - and by a change in the leadership at the Conservative-affiliated Jewish Theological Seminary, which brought in a new chancellor, Arnold Eisen.
Everyone seems to be talking these days about the poor state of Conservative Judaism with the movement's decreasing membership numbers and some Conservative synagogues being forced to merge or close up completely. Personally, I see much excitement on the horizon for Conservative Judaism and something that resembles the renaissance that changed and strengthened the Jewish campus organization Hillel a decade ago.
At the end of the summer, The Forward published an article titled "Conservative Judaism at a Crossroads". The article, published the week before Prof. Arnie Eisen was officially installed as the new chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, quoted prominent Conservative Jewish leaders and some outside observers who weighed in on the future of the Conservative Movement.
Conservative rabbis including David Wolpe, Alan Silverstein, Naomi Levy, and Harold Kushner each gave their recommendations for the Conservative Movement's recovery from what the former chancellor of JTS, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, referred to in his 2006 commencement address as suffering from "malaise" and a "grievous failure of nerve". Other respondents included Scott Shay (author of "Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry"), Douglas Rushkoff (author of "Nothing Sacred: The Case for Open Source Judaism"), and Jay Michaelson (Zeek.com).
These short summaries of the current state of Conservative Judaism and what can be done for the future serve as good food-for-thought for movement leaders. Chancellor Arnie Eisen's power-packed stump speeches that he's been delivering across the country for over a year have also infused Conservative Judaism's laity and leadership with newfound exhilaration and hope for the future. Top leadership changes will also force the movement on a new course for the future. Rabbi Jerry Epstein (Executive VP of United Synagogue) and Rabbi Joel Meyers (Executive VP of the Rabbinical Assembly) have both announced their retirements will take place in 2009. In addition to those two expected changes and the new JTS chancellor, there is a new dean of the JTS Rabbinical School (Rabbi Danny Nevins) and there will be a new dean of the William Davidson School of Education at the Seminary next year to replace departing dean Rabbi Steve Brown.
The best, most concise vision for the future of Conservative Judaism is presented by Rabbi Harold Kushner (at right with me at the 2007 Rabbinical Assembly Convention) in his article that appears in the current issue of Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Kushner's article should be required reading for every Conservative Jew. Reading it I was reminded of Rabbi Neil Gillman's assertion that the Conservative Judaism treatise Emet Ve'Emunah is not a pareve (neutral) document, but rather is full of blockbuster statements. Rabbi Kushner's article, "Conservative Judaism in an Age of Democracy" is likewise full of blockbusters.
Rabbi Kushner writes, "In the absence of an enforcement mechanism, halakhic Judaism is no longer viable. To the commanding voice of halakhah, 'You shall do the following,' the modern non-Orthodox Jew responds, 'Why should I?' He need not be saying it dismissively. He may simply be asking for a persuasive reason, but the dimension of recognized obligation is no longer there."
Referring to Rabbi Hayim Herring's brilliant article "The Commanding Community and the Sovereign Self," Rabbi Kushner comments, "The end of the halakhic age for the vast majority of Conservative Jews may not be such a bad thing."
On the subject of Conservative Judaism not being able to effectively market its product or tweak its product to ensure success, Rabbi Kushner quotes Gil Mann who makes the following comparison: "If Procter and Gamble find that one of their household products is not selling well, they don't take out full-page ads chastising their customers for being too lazy of disloyal to do the right thing and buy what they are selling. They take out ads emphasizing the benefits of using their product, and if necessary tweak the product to make sure it lives up to their claims."
On halakhic changes that the movement has made, Rabbi Kushner writes, "We permitted driving to synagogue on the Sabbath, countenanced eating dairy foods in non-kosher restaurants and welcomed women as shelihot tzibur. None of those decisions can be justified by Orthodox halakhic criteria, but there would not be a Conservative movement today without them... When our movement was at its most creative and most relevant, our appeal was not to halakhah but to history, to the argument that the forms in which Jews lived their Jewishness had always changed as circumstances changed."
Rabbi Kushner clarifies his understanding of mitzvah, stating that in "in the 21st century, [mitzvah] can no longer mean 'commandment, obligation.' I would prefer not to translate the word mitzvah at all, but I would understand it to mean 'opportunity,' the opportunity to be in touch with God by transforming the ordinary into the sacred."
Conservative Judaism's numbers may continue to decline, but that is not a fair assessment of the state of this movement. There is much promise for Conservative Judaism in the coming decades of the 21st century. Excitement and success are sure to follow Arnie Eisen's vision, the emergence of new leadership, the rethinking of how to handle intermarriage and GLBT inclusion in Conservative synagogues, a new Ramah camp in the Rocky Mountains, and new grassroots projects (Elie Kaunfer's Mechon Hadar, Menachem Creditor's Shefa Network, etc.). The new rabbinical school curriculum at the American Jewish University and the expected new curriculum for the JTS rabbinical school will also have positive effects on the future of the Conservative Movement.
Rabbi Harold Kushner concludes his article as follows:
Our movement, our generation is called on to do what Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai and his colleagues did two thousand years ago, to reinvent Judaism in a way that will meet the needs of people today to fulfill their human destiny and make God a constant presence in their lives in an age when the currency of Jewish loyalty and faith will no longer be obedience but the pursuit of holiness.
May Conservative Judaism realize a revitalization and bring its adherents of all ages and all levels of observance closer to God and Torah. Ken Yehi Ratzon.
Conservative Jews and gays
Hello Rabbi
Having just watched your video on procreation, I have
a question I hope you can answer.
You have already indicated to me that Gay people are
able to convert to Judaism, and that the Conservative
Jewish movement recognise Gay unions and allow Gay
Rabbis. How do Gay Jewish Men reconcile this lifestyle
within their faith? If you find the time at some point
in the future, maybe you would make a video on this
subject, or on the Jewish attitude to homosexuality in
general.
Thank you for your efforts. The videos are very
instructive, and strike a good balance between
explaining sometimes complex issues clearly, and not
over simplifying them.
My answer
Go to the Rabbinical Assembly website. They have all the recent law papers on it. Here is the summary of 1. Thanks
SUMMARY OF “HOMOSEXUALITY, HUMAN DIGNITY AND HALAKHA”
by Rabbis Elliot N. Dorff, Daniel S. Nevins and Avram I. Reisner
Tishri 5767 / September 2006
Jewish law has traditionally sanctified heterosexual intimacy under the rubric of marriage, while prohibiting all homosexual
intimacy. Modern psychology has established that homosexual orientation is integral to the identity of some men and
women, and that it is not possible for them simply to “convert” to become heterosexuals. The tension between our traditional
sexual norms and our contemporary understanding of sexual orientation has created a complicated dilemma for both Jewish
homosexuals and for the entire Torah observant community. We have approached this difficult subject with humility and
reverence, and have come to the following understanding:
a. A review of the biblical and rabbinic sources reveals that only one form of homosexual intimacy, anal intercourse between
men, is explicitly forbidden by the Torah. Other forms of homosexual intimacy between men and between women have
been prohibited by the authority of the Rabbis. Although some prominent rabbis such as Maimonides have maintained
that the general prohibitions of homosexual intimacy have biblical authority, the arguments of Nachmanides are more
convincing. The established halakhah has classified mishkav zakhur as assur d’oraita, while other sexual acts between men
and between women are issurim d’rabbanan.
b. As our understanding of sexual orientation has evolved, so too has our sensitivity to the horrific effects of the halakhah’s
comprehensive ban on the sexual behavior of Torah observant homosexuals. They have no legal options for sexual
and social intimacy within the traditional parameters. This situation is degrading and even dangerous for them. Yet
the halakhah also teaches its practitioners to be zealous in protecting human dignity. The principle gadol kvod habriot
shedocheh lo ta’aseh shebaTorah (Brakhot 19b etc.) has been applied in the Talmud and Codes of Halakhah in order to
supersede rabbinic prohibitions for the sake of human dignity. We believe that the halakhic status quo violates the dignity
of gay and lesbian Jews, and we propose the supersession of the rabbinic prohibitions on homosexual sex for the sake of
human dignity.
c. Our practical rulings: Gay and lesbian Jews may form intimate relationships, with the Torah’s explicit prohibition of anal
sex between men remaining in force. Bisexuals with primary sexual desires for someone of the opposite sex should seek
to create a faithful heterosexual marriage with another Jew. Commitment ceremonies that avoid the legal mechanisms
of kiddushin may be designed for gay and lesbian couples. There is to be no discrimination against gay and lesbian Jews.
Should they exhibit the other criteria needed for ordination as clergy, they shall be qualified to serve as rabbis, cantors and
Jewish educators.
Having just watched your video on procreation, I have
a question I hope you can answer.
You have already indicated to me that Gay people are
able to convert to Judaism, and that the Conservative
Jewish movement recognise Gay unions and allow Gay
Rabbis. How do Gay Jewish Men reconcile this lifestyle
within their faith? If you find the time at some point
in the future, maybe you would make a video on this
subject, or on the Jewish attitude to homosexuality in
general.
Thank you for your efforts. The videos are very
instructive, and strike a good balance between
explaining sometimes complex issues clearly, and not
over simplifying them.
My answer
Go to the Rabbinical Assembly website. They have all the recent law papers on it. Here is the summary of 1. Thanks
SUMMARY OF “HOMOSEXUALITY, HUMAN DIGNITY AND HALAKHA”
by Rabbis Elliot N. Dorff, Daniel S. Nevins and Avram I. Reisner
Tishri 5767 / September 2006
Jewish law has traditionally sanctified heterosexual intimacy under the rubric of marriage, while prohibiting all homosexual
intimacy. Modern psychology has established that homosexual orientation is integral to the identity of some men and
women, and that it is not possible for them simply to “convert” to become heterosexuals. The tension between our traditional
sexual norms and our contemporary understanding of sexual orientation has created a complicated dilemma for both Jewish
homosexuals and for the entire Torah observant community. We have approached this difficult subject with humility and
reverence, and have come to the following understanding:
a. A review of the biblical and rabbinic sources reveals that only one form of homosexual intimacy, anal intercourse between
men, is explicitly forbidden by the Torah. Other forms of homosexual intimacy between men and between women have
been prohibited by the authority of the Rabbis. Although some prominent rabbis such as Maimonides have maintained
that the general prohibitions of homosexual intimacy have biblical authority, the arguments of Nachmanides are more
convincing. The established halakhah has classified mishkav zakhur as assur d’oraita, while other sexual acts between men
and between women are issurim d’rabbanan.
b. As our understanding of sexual orientation has evolved, so too has our sensitivity to the horrific effects of the halakhah’s
comprehensive ban on the sexual behavior of Torah observant homosexuals. They have no legal options for sexual
and social intimacy within the traditional parameters. This situation is degrading and even dangerous for them. Yet
the halakhah also teaches its practitioners to be zealous in protecting human dignity. The principle gadol kvod habriot
shedocheh lo ta’aseh shebaTorah (Brakhot 19b etc.) has been applied in the Talmud and Codes of Halakhah in order to
supersede rabbinic prohibitions for the sake of human dignity. We believe that the halakhic status quo violates the dignity
of gay and lesbian Jews, and we propose the supersession of the rabbinic prohibitions on homosexual sex for the sake of
human dignity.
c. Our practical rulings: Gay and lesbian Jews may form intimate relationships, with the Torah’s explicit prohibition of anal
sex between men remaining in force. Bisexuals with primary sexual desires for someone of the opposite sex should seek
to create a faithful heterosexual marriage with another Jew. Commitment ceremonies that avoid the legal mechanisms
of kiddushin may be designed for gay and lesbian couples. There is to be no discrimination against gay and lesbian Jews.
Should they exhibit the other criteria needed for ordination as clergy, they shall be qualified to serve as rabbis, cantors and
Jewish educators.
From Jewbychoice,org
I Just Want to Be an Observant Jew - Updated
Filed under Conservative, Culture, Judaism, Observance
Added/edited later the same day: I reread this post and realized how negative in tone it was so I thought I should try to undo some of the crankiness. I didn’t really intend to come down so hard on the conservative movement, it’s just frustration surfacing.
The bottom line is that I am indeed grateful to the movement and it’s ideology for providing me with the opportunity to connect to Judaism and Observance, in a way that just wasn’t available in the reform movement. I am also grateful that I live in a city where the problem isn’t finding a shul to attend, its trying to pick which one I want to go to because there are so many to choose from. I also live in a town where Jewish (academic) learning is going on everywhere, I mean the American Jewish University , not to mention the HUC. It’s a great place to do all sorts of Jewish and I need to remember NOT to take that for granted.
I guess the problem is that I connected to the Conservative Movement while I was back in Canada in pretty much a purely academic way, with next to no direct contact with actual community members. So I just assumed that Ideology and practice where the same and that’s just not the case. I shouldn’t be all that surprised because it seldom is the case with things like this.
Before Tamara and I got engaged she belonged to a Chabad community and we both liked loved the commitment to tradition, mitzvot and halacha that we found there. We also loved how the community related to, supported and cared for one another. However we didn’t feel so compatible with other aspect of the community which I’m sure you can figure out without my going in to the details. More important was the fact I am not an Orthodox convert and therefore persona non grata, at least as a legitimate Jew. Add to this that I’m not at this stage in the game prepared to accept several of the theological assertions required for an orthodox conversion and that Tamara has some reservations about fulfilling some the obligations that would be expected of her if I was to pursue such a conversion and you can see why Chabad is not the best fit for either of us. Thus we began looking for an alternative where we could get the tradition but with a theology that was more palatable to us. Oh and not to mention was a place where I would count as part of a Minyan.
Obviously as we learnt about the Conservative movement we began to feel like it was going to be the perfect fit (or I did). You know “Progressively Traditional”, an environment that would support serious observance without putting our intellects on hold.
But in some important ways it’s cold and impersonal and its like pulling teeth to get support, when comes to traditional observance. We have yet to find many people (outside of our orthodox friends and acquaintances) who want to participate in an observant community, at least not on a regular basis that is. Ok, I can’t really fault (who Am I to judge) them for it but it just doesn’t make sense to me. I guess this me just discovering the reality is not the ideal, it is unfortunately far from it.
I think both of us feel as though our level of observance in many ways makes us stick out and a little odd. It shouldn’t be that way because were not anymore observant than Conservative Ideology says we should be. In fact there is still lots that we don’t do.
So what follow’s is something of a frustrated tantrum and I admit up front that it isn’t 100% (maybe not even 50% who knows?) fair but there is definitely some truth to it. Maybe someone reading this has some suggestions on how to move forward in finding a way to get our (perceived) needs met?
I am definitely open to suggestions, so don’t be shy and please remember that what follows was originally written in a moment of frustration.
————————————————————————————–
Although I originally converted via a Reform community, I’ve moved quite far from that place and I can honestly say that , both ideologically and theologically I fit quite comfortably within the boundaries of the Conservative/Masorti Movement. I suppose on the surface this means that I’ve moved to a position that, sees being a committed Jew (at least religiously speaking) as accepting the Mitzvot as being both binding and quintessential to the Jewish experience.
Now I’m far from being Shomer Mitzvot (follows all the commandments) or even Shomer Shabbos(observes all of the commandments regarding the Sabbath), but agree or disagree, I do (in most ways) see them as being the Jewish ideal. I’m not trying to convince anyone to accept or abide by my definitions, especially those who identify as being Reform, Reconstructionist or Humanist/Secular. If you don’t buy the binding nature of Halacha that’s fine, and although I do have some thoughts on the subject, they are not relevant to this post ,so I will save them for another time.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’m confident that Tamara and myself at this point in time, are much more observant than the average Conservative Jew here in Los Angeles. But I’m also certain that there are indeed Conservadox Jews who surpass our own observance. The problem as I see it (and I might add a large source of my current frustration) is that the vast majority of the laity seem to be absolutely indifferent to observance if not illiterate on the subject. In fact in practice I don’t think there’s really much difference between the average Reform Jew and his Conservative counterpart. I find this hard to accept because even applying low standards, Conservative Jews should at least in theory be working their way in to observance.
I left the Reform movement because I wanted to be an “Observant Jew” and I didn’t feel that there was any real support their for doing this. Not necessarily the most observant Jew (because I really don’t know what that means) but certainly a seriously observant one.
So I of course moved in that direction, at first theologically and then as a active an participant. The services are longer and more traditional, Kiddush is always kosher and there are opportunities for study. All of which is great if you like to express your Judaism primarily in a synagogue environment.
However, what I’ve come to realize is that I am becoming something of an “ out of the shul Jew”. What I mean by that is that my sense of Judaism isn’t just grounded in official synagogue study and activities. Rather I increasingly experience my Judaism outside of the shul. For example first thing in the morning when I get up and wash my hands, recite morning blessings , put on one of my Tallit Katan and force (yes sometimes those first few minutes are excruciatingly difficult) my way into the living room to daven Shacharit. I can feel my Jewishness bubbling up through my keeping kosher even when it’s difficult. I certainly feel it when Shabbos is made sacred and I’m not talking about going to shul because that’s the easy part. It’s in the preparing of a lovely table and putting on nice clothing before Shabbos starts, then sharing a Sabbath Seder with friends. I can feel my Jewishness in the struggle to stay out of the car, off the computer and television and in not spending money for 25 hours. I feel my Judaism deeply when walking down the street sporting a Kippah and someone gives me a smart ass remark. I feel like a Jew every time I manage to make even the smallest sacrifice, out of a sense of commitment to observance. Especially during those times when no one is watching and I could get away with cheating ,if I wanted to. I feel my Judaism every time I act from a place of loving kindness and I feel it when I miss the boat by falling into Loshon Hara but am able to catch myself even if it’s after-the-fact and do Teshuvah.
Am I being a little self-important and self obsessed, maybe so, but I’m not sure if that’s such a bad thing. I don’t want synagogue affiliation or even denominational affiliation to be my primary source of Jewish identity. I want it to be observance and more importantly, I want to be in an environment that supports that kind of lifestyle. Basically I want a community that’s a little more on the page as we are.
During the last six months in Los Angeles Tamara and I have spent a lot of time “doing Jewish” at a variety of conservative style shul’s be they of officially affiliated or independent, and I’ve come to realize that for the most part Conservative, in this town seems to really only mean “ traditional” services that are longer and use only Hebrew. But apart from this the vast majority of the time there’s little to no to expectation in terms of community standards, there doesn’t even seem to be any local discussion of what the ” Ideal Conservative Jew” might be like.
I’ve actually approached several rabbis looking for feedback and guidance à la Mara Datra (basically a local halachick authority or person who makes decisions regarding observance for a given community) and it’s like pulling teeth. In fact one rabbi who is Orthodox trained and runs, what I would call an independent Conservadox synagogue, about community observance expectations at his shul, to which he replied, “what expectations of there aren’t any?” I followed up by asking him if there was an ideal level of observance that he encouraged within the community, to which he replied “NO”! He went on to say that he leaves it up to the members if they WANT to learn about things they can ask but that they didn’t. I just don’t get that! I mean OK to not pressuring but what about making the ideal known and encouraging reflection and opportunities for discussion.
There seems to be so much effort theologically speaking from the Conservative leadership that goes into distinguishing this movement from Reform, yet it just doesn’t appear to trickle down to the synagogue level at all.
Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places and maybe I’m being unfairly judged mental but that’s been our experience here in Los Angeles. There are certainly pockets of more observant Jews floating around but it seems to be the exception and not the rule. I did have a conversation recently with a retired “ Conservadox” Cantor who used to teach at the U. J. that sheds a little bit of light on the subject. I asked him why observance seemed to be so laid-back here within the conservative community and he said “ well you see it is a West Coast East Coast thing”. He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask anything else but I got the sense that New York conservative Jews might be more committed to being observant.
I suppose I’m just becoming rather frustrated that serious commitments to “observance” don’t seem to be valued as much as paying membership dues. Not that I don’t think hang membership dues is important, I just get the sense that once they have your money they don’t want to ask for anything more because there are a dozen Reform shul’s down the street, that you can go to for some no pressure pick and choose Judaism. Assuming that I’m right this bugs me a) because I don’t have a lot of money but I do have tons of commitment and I’m willing to work hard at meeting the ideal and b) the leadership seems less interested in supporting serious observance than they are in programming that brings in the bucks. Even if doing this is counterproductive to the movement’s “ claimed” theological program.
It’s actually gotten to the point where my (actually Tamara and my) level of observance is closer to that of Orthodox Jews (who by the way don’t even consider me Jewish) then it is to those of my own community. What’s even crazier is that Tamara and I have not hit halachick/observance ceiling of the conservative movement. Our observance is just inflated to look artificially higher than it is because the vast majority of conservative Jews around us have such a low level.
Like I said at the beginning theologically and ideologically I fit very well into the center right side of the conservative movement. At least on paper that is but the unfortunate truth is that the conservative movements theology just isn’t translating into practice, at least not around us. Wait, I take that back, it certainly does translate into practice, if you are in rabbinical school or hang out with rabbinical students but it’s hard to get in to that club.
I have a friend who is an Orthodox rabbinical student and although he won’t count me as part of a minyan, he sees me as being committed to Judaism and as someone who’s trying to work it. In a recent telephone conversation he said to me “ you’ve got converts zeal, so to be honest I’m not sure if you did 10 Orthodox conversions that would ever be satisfying to you, because theology is neat and humans are messy ”. He could well be right but regardless I’m not at a place where I’m prepared to commit to an Orthodox conversion. What I want is to be a “Observant Jew” not the “Most Observant Jew” just a normal “Observant Jew” as its laid out in the Ideology of the Conservative Movement. I want to hang out with other people who are committed to observance, they don’t need to be as observant as me or observant in the same way but at least seriously be committed to working on it. And unfortunately I really haven’t come across that the whole bunch.
Anyhow, my rant has gone on way too long so I think I’ll wrap it up. Let me conclude by clearly saying that I’m not damning the Conservative Movement and I haven’t given up on it either. I’m simply frustrated by the lack of infrastructure and opportunity within the movement for helping people like me be/become serious observant Jews.
Also, I’m fully aware of the fact I live in Los Angeles and therefore don’t have it nearly as hard as other people who live in small towns in parts of the country where they don’t even have access to a conservative community and therefore have to do their “ Conservative style observance” in even more isolation than I do.
And on that note be well!
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Added/edited later the same day: I reread this post and realized how negative in tone it was so I thought I should try to undo some of the crankiness. I didn’t really intend to come down so hard on the conservative movement, it’s just frustration surfacing.
The bottom line is that I am indeed grateful to the movement and it’s ideology for providing me with the opportunity to connect to Judaism and Observance, in a way that just wasn’t available in the reform movement. I am also grateful that I live in a city where the problem isn’t finding a shul to attend, its trying to pick which one I want to go to because there are so many to choose from. I also live in a town where Jewish (academic) learning is going on everywhere, I mean the American Jewish University , not to mention the HUC. It’s a great place to do all sorts of Jewish and I need to remember NOT to take that for granted.
I guess the problem is that I connected to the Conservative Movement while I was back in Canada in pretty much a purely academic way, with next to no direct contact with actual community members. So I just assumed that Ideology and practice where the same and that’s just not the case. I shouldn’t be all that surprised because it seldom is the case with things like this.
Before Tamara and I got engaged she belonged to a Chabad community and we both liked loved the commitment to tradition, mitzvot and halacha that we found there. We also loved how the community related to, supported and cared for one another. However we didn’t feel so compatible with other aspect of the community which I’m sure you can figure out without my going in to the details. More important was the fact I am not an Orthodox convert and therefore persona non grata, at least as a legitimate Jew. Add to this that I’m not at this stage in the game prepared to accept several of the theological assertions required for an orthodox conversion and that Tamara has some reservations about fulfilling some the obligations that would be expected of her if I was to pursue such a conversion and you can see why Chabad is not the best fit for either of us. Thus we began looking for an alternative where we could get the tradition but with a theology that was more palatable to us. Oh and not to mention was a place where I would count as part of a Minyan.
Obviously as we learnt about the Conservative movement we began to feel like it was going to be the perfect fit (or I did). You know “Progressively Traditional”, an environment that would support serious observance without putting our intellects on hold.
But in some important ways it’s cold and impersonal and its like pulling teeth to get support, when comes to traditional observance. We have yet to find many people (outside of our orthodox friends and acquaintances) who want to participate in an observant community, at least not on a regular basis that is. Ok, I can’t really fault (who Am I to judge) them for it but it just doesn’t make sense to me. I guess this me just discovering the reality is not the ideal, it is unfortunately far from it.
I think both of us feel as though our level of observance in many ways makes us stick out and a little odd. It shouldn’t be that way because were not anymore observant than Conservative Ideology says we should be. In fact there is still lots that we don’t do.
So what follow’s is something of a frustrated tantrum and I admit up front that it isn’t 100% (maybe not even 50% who knows?) fair but there is definitely some truth to it. Maybe someone reading this has some suggestions on how to move forward in finding a way to get our (perceived) needs met?
I am definitely open to suggestions, so don’t be shy and please remember that what follows was originally written in a moment of frustration.
————————————————————————————–
Although I originally converted via a Reform community, I’ve moved quite far from that place and I can honestly say that , both ideologically and theologically I fit quite comfortably within the boundaries of the Conservative/Masorti Movement. I suppose on the surface this means that I’ve moved to a position that, sees being a committed Jew (at least religiously speaking) as accepting the Mitzvot as being both binding and quintessential to the Jewish experience.
Now I’m far from being Shomer Mitzvot (follows all the commandments) or even Shomer Shabbos(observes all of the commandments regarding the Sabbath), but agree or disagree, I do (in most ways) see them as being the Jewish ideal. I’m not trying to convince anyone to accept or abide by my definitions, especially those who identify as being Reform, Reconstructionist or Humanist/Secular. If you don’t buy the binding nature of Halacha that’s fine, and although I do have some thoughts on the subject, they are not relevant to this post ,so I will save them for another time.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’m confident that Tamara and myself at this point in time, are much more observant than the average Conservative Jew here in Los Angeles. But I’m also certain that there are indeed Conservadox Jews who surpass our own observance. The problem as I see it (and I might add a large source of my current frustration) is that the vast majority of the laity seem to be absolutely indifferent to observance if not illiterate on the subject. In fact in practice I don’t think there’s really much difference between the average Reform Jew and his Conservative counterpart. I find this hard to accept because even applying low standards, Conservative Jews should at least in theory be working their way in to observance.
I left the Reform movement because I wanted to be an “Observant Jew” and I didn’t feel that there was any real support their for doing this. Not necessarily the most observant Jew (because I really don’t know what that means) but certainly a seriously observant one.
So I of course moved in that direction, at first theologically and then as a active an participant. The services are longer and more traditional, Kiddush is always kosher and there are opportunities for study. All of which is great if you like to express your Judaism primarily in a synagogue environment.
However, what I’ve come to realize is that I am becoming something of an “ out of the shul Jew”. What I mean by that is that my sense of Judaism isn’t just grounded in official synagogue study and activities. Rather I increasingly experience my Judaism outside of the shul. For example first thing in the morning when I get up and wash my hands, recite morning blessings , put on one of my Tallit Katan and force (yes sometimes those first few minutes are excruciatingly difficult) my way into the living room to daven Shacharit. I can feel my Jewishness bubbling up through my keeping kosher even when it’s difficult. I certainly feel it when Shabbos is made sacred and I’m not talking about going to shul because that’s the easy part. It’s in the preparing of a lovely table and putting on nice clothing before Shabbos starts, then sharing a Sabbath Seder with friends. I can feel my Jewishness in the struggle to stay out of the car, off the computer and television and in not spending money for 25 hours. I feel my Judaism deeply when walking down the street sporting a Kippah and someone gives me a smart ass remark. I feel like a Jew every time I manage to make even the smallest sacrifice, out of a sense of commitment to observance. Especially during those times when no one is watching and I could get away with cheating ,if I wanted to. I feel my Judaism every time I act from a place of loving kindness and I feel it when I miss the boat by falling into Loshon Hara but am able to catch myself even if it’s after-the-fact and do Teshuvah.
Am I being a little self-important and self obsessed, maybe so, but I’m not sure if that’s such a bad thing. I don’t want synagogue affiliation or even denominational affiliation to be my primary source of Jewish identity. I want it to be observance and more importantly, I want to be in an environment that supports that kind of lifestyle. Basically I want a community that’s a little more on the page as we are.
During the last six months in Los Angeles Tamara and I have spent a lot of time “doing Jewish” at a variety of conservative style shul’s be they of officially affiliated or independent, and I’ve come to realize that for the most part Conservative, in this town seems to really only mean “ traditional” services that are longer and use only Hebrew. But apart from this the vast majority of the time there’s little to no to expectation in terms of community standards, there doesn’t even seem to be any local discussion of what the ” Ideal Conservative Jew” might be like.
I’ve actually approached several rabbis looking for feedback and guidance à la Mara Datra (basically a local halachick authority or person who makes decisions regarding observance for a given community) and it’s like pulling teeth. In fact one rabbi who is Orthodox trained and runs, what I would call an independent Conservadox synagogue, about community observance expectations at his shul, to which he replied, “what expectations of there aren’t any?” I followed up by asking him if there was an ideal level of observance that he encouraged within the community, to which he replied “NO”! He went on to say that he leaves it up to the members if they WANT to learn about things they can ask but that they didn’t. I just don’t get that! I mean OK to not pressuring but what about making the ideal known and encouraging reflection and opportunities for discussion.
There seems to be so much effort theologically speaking from the Conservative leadership that goes into distinguishing this movement from Reform, yet it just doesn’t appear to trickle down to the synagogue level at all.
Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places and maybe I’m being unfairly judged mental but that’s been our experience here in Los Angeles. There are certainly pockets of more observant Jews floating around but it seems to be the exception and not the rule. I did have a conversation recently with a retired “ Conservadox” Cantor who used to teach at the U. J. that sheds a little bit of light on the subject. I asked him why observance seemed to be so laid-back here within the conservative community and he said “ well you see it is a West Coast East Coast thing”. He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask anything else but I got the sense that New York conservative Jews might be more committed to being observant.
I suppose I’m just becoming rather frustrated that serious commitments to “observance” don’t seem to be valued as much as paying membership dues. Not that I don’t think hang membership dues is important, I just get the sense that once they have your money they don’t want to ask for anything more because there are a dozen Reform shul’s down the street, that you can go to for some no pressure pick and choose Judaism. Assuming that I’m right this bugs me a) because I don’t have a lot of money but I do have tons of commitment and I’m willing to work hard at meeting the ideal and b) the leadership seems less interested in supporting serious observance than they are in programming that brings in the bucks. Even if doing this is counterproductive to the movement’s “ claimed” theological program.
It’s actually gotten to the point where my (actually Tamara and my) level of observance is closer to that of Orthodox Jews (who by the way don’t even consider me Jewish) then it is to those of my own community. What’s even crazier is that Tamara and I have not hit halachick/observance ceiling of the conservative movement. Our observance is just inflated to look artificially higher than it is because the vast majority of conservative Jews around us have such a low level.
Like I said at the beginning theologically and ideologically I fit very well into the center right side of the conservative movement. At least on paper that is but the unfortunate truth is that the conservative movements theology just isn’t translating into practice, at least not around us. Wait, I take that back, it certainly does translate into practice, if you are in rabbinical school or hang out with rabbinical students but it’s hard to get in to that club.
I have a friend who is an Orthodox rabbinical student and although he won’t count me as part of a minyan, he sees me as being committed to Judaism and as someone who’s trying to work it. In a recent telephone conversation he said to me “ you’ve got converts zeal, so to be honest I’m not sure if you did 10 Orthodox conversions that would ever be satisfying to you, because theology is neat and humans are messy ”. He could well be right but regardless I’m not at a place where I’m prepared to commit to an Orthodox conversion. What I want is to be a “Observant Jew” not the “Most Observant Jew” just a normal “Observant Jew” as its laid out in the Ideology of the Conservative Movement. I want to hang out with other people who are committed to observance, they don’t need to be as observant as me or observant in the same way but at least seriously be committed to working on it. And unfortunately I really haven’t come across that the whole bunch.
Anyhow, my rant has gone on way too long so I think I’ll wrap it up. Let me conclude by clearly saying that I’m not damning the Conservative Movement and I haven’t given up on it either. I’m simply frustrated by the lack of infrastructure and opportunity within the movement for helping people like me be/become serious observant Jews.
Also, I’m fully aware of the fact I live in Los Angeles and therefore don’t have it nearly as hard as other people who live in small towns in parts of the country where they don’t even have access to a conservative community and therefore have to do their “ Conservative style observance” in even more isolation than I do.
And on that note be well!
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