From Ray Goldstein

Jewish Week Op-Ed: "For Conservative Shuls, A Moment Of Challenge"
by Ray Goldstein
Special To The Jewish Week=20
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c55_a15802/Editorial__Opinion/Op=
inion.html

Recently the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has been =
criticized harshly, both from outside the Conservative movement and, =
more troublingly, from within it as well ("New Rump Group Levels Fresh =
Attacks On USCJ," May 15).

The critiques are not wholly without merit. This is, undeniably, a =
moment of challenge and change for the United Synagogue, which =
represents Conservative synagogues in North America.
The demographics we face are challenging. Today there are fewer people =
who identify themselves as Conservative Jews than there used to be. An =
increasing number view themselves as post-denominational, choosing =
independent minyanim over our synagogues. Others jump from shul to shul, =
or from movement to movement. Some delay going anywhere altogether until =
they marry and start families - a cycle that is being postponed later in =
life than ever. And some simply do not affiliate with synagogues.

Some Conservative synagogues are merging. Some, sadly, simply are =
closing. And a few are leaving United Synagogue altogether - although an =
equal number are joining.

Our communities are changing. They are reshaping themselves, discarding =
some of the mid-20th century forms they have inherited, sometimes =
discarding the labels that identify them as Conservative, but clearly =
still part of us.

But we know as well that the movement, with its insistence on the =
discipline of halachic living and at the same time on balancing that =
discipline with the evolving truths of a changing world, continues to =
offer an approach to Jewish life that resonates with vast numbers of =
Jews.=20

We stand at the crossroads with eyes wide open, recognizing both the =
significant challenges we face and the need for meaningful change these =
challenges demand, as well as the opportunities they present. Soon we =
will install a new executive vice president and a new lay president. We =
recently launched a process to fully reassess our mission and long-term =
strategic plan - a process that we undertake in concert with some of our =
harshest critics. In the meantime, we continue to take the concerns of =
our constituents with the utmost seriousness and are actively making =
changes to best meet their needs.=20

As our incoming leadership team prepares to take charge - and as we =
current leaders get ready to step back - we all pledge ourselves to move =
toward change and transparency. Our budget process must be more open. =
Therefore, I have instructed our finance department to put the budget in =
more understandable form and to post it on the web as soon as possible. =
We also are in the process of re-evaluating each of our programs. Those =
that prove ineffective or inefficient may be eliminated. We already have =
had to take the painful step of eliminating some staff positions.=20
Over the course of this year, our executive vice president, Rabbi Jerome =
Epstein, and I, along with other lay and professional leaders, visited =
all of our regions' conventions to hear first-hand about local concerns =
and issues. We have begun to implement organizational changes that will =
enable us to come to members' aid more quickly. We now quickly put =
together conference calls on topical issues and offer webinars that help =
congregational leaders deal with pressing problems.

Our critics say that we have been too slow to implement change. =
Simultaneously, though, they demand that the United Synagogue act more =
democratically. Their argument is paradoxical: We are a large movement, =
representing many hundreds of congregations. Swift, large-scale changes =
imposed from our headquarters in New York would violate the very spirit =
of greater transparency under which we are committed to operating. We =
need time to build consensus among our international membership.

Despite the clear challenges, there is much evidence that the =
Conservative movement is vital. Our Hekhsher Tzedek project, which is =
focused on creating an ethical certification process for kosher foods, =
has captured the attention of the Jewish community, including the =
Orthodox. Our seminaries are continuing to produce new rabbis, cantors, =
and Jewish educators. Conservative congregations are sprouting in Israel =
and Europe. Our Ramah camps are vibrant, successful, and in demand, and =
our Schechter schools graduate well-educated, well-rounded, committed =
young Conservative Jews. Yeshiva University's Chancellor Rabbi Norman =
Lamm, is dead wrong - as well as offensive - when he says it's time to =
recite Kaddish for our movement.

Part of the problem we face is related to the economy. Our job has =
always been challenging, but the economic downturn has made things much =
tougher. We are well aware, however, that some of the United Synagogue's =
difficulties are of our own making. Much of what the United Synagogue =
does is not readily apparent to our members. Our synagogues do not all =
know enough about what our mandate is and what we do on a day-to-day =
basis. We have not been as effective as we could have been in making =
sure they know about the training we offer to synagogue leaders, the =
support we provide synagogue professionals, the instruction in synagogue =
skills we offer to congregations without rabbis, and the successful work =
we do each day on college campuses. We have not made our members fully =
aware of the assistance we provide on adult education, committee =
structuring, synagogue libraries, personnel, Kadimah and USY youth =
groups. We must do better.

There are those among our critics who want to effect change from within. =
To them we say, bruchim ha'ba'im, welcome. Let's continue to work =
together. There are others, however, who wish only to tear down. To them =
we say: this is not the way forward. The Conservative movement, which =
since its inception has balanced tradition and change, will continue to =
change as we face this new economy with new leadership. We are confident =
that we will not only endure but grow and flourish.=20

Raymond B. Goldstein is international president of the United Synagogue =
of Conservative Judaism.