Dear Chevreh -
Such an intense conversation for right-before-Shabbat! This debate has been going on for many years, and the current moment in which the USCJ is trying, with all its might, to emerge from decades of dysfunction, is a manifestation of an intense build-up of frustrations. Here are my brief pre-Shabbes thought:
Even if the USCJ Strategic Plan is entirely implemented, it is only about internal fixes for the USCJ. And those are still not value-added to shuls. USY is the one actual function of the USCJ that the Movement needs. Everything else is being led by other agencies in and out of the movement. For instance:
- Women's League just announced it is funding the KOACH Kallah,
- JTS ran the Movement-wide educational conversation,
- the RA is rolling out an incredible new Movement-wide social media/website platform,
- the Schechter Network has completely rebranded,
- Alban (which had already been consulting with many USCJ-affiliated shuls is now running the USCJ leadership program
All of this involves a constellation that has thus far included USCJ, but none of these have been shul-driven, or USCJ-driven - they utilize (or create) networks throughout the movement. But they don't comprise a vision (or need) for USCJ. That remains a question, I believe.
- Non-rabbis and rabbis of large and small shuls who comprised Hayom (claims to the contrary ignore who the leaders of Hayom included) and have always comprised Conservative Judaism know these obvious but rarely-trumpeted truths:
- The Conservative Movement is full of passion and poised to thrive,
- the world needs and hungers for a passionate non-fundamentalist traditional religious approach, and
- shuls should only spend money where it amplifies their dreams. ("Discounted" dues are still serious amounts of money that must be allocated responsibly.)
Conservative shuls should allow USCJ to do its own detoxification/recalibration work while the re-emerging grassroots Conservative/Masorti Movement does its own work as well. Conservative Judaism is not the United Synagogue of America (as Rabbi Solomon Schechter named it) nor the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (whose name change precipitated the conflation of institution with Movement). The Masorti/Conservative Movement is bigger and healthier and different than the current USCJ. If USCJ achieves a new, strong, compelling message, shuls and "kehillot" can consider reconnecting then.
Shabbat Shalom,
Menachem
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Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Congregation Netivot Shalom || Bay Area Masorti || ShefaNetwork
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Visit our home page at http://www.shefanetwork.org
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"Shefa: The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within" is a forum for
passionate Conservative Jews to reflect together as they increase creative
energy within within the culture and environment of the Conservative
Movement in an effort to bring a renewed and revitalized perspective to
Conservative Jews.
We belong to the Conservative Movement and commit ourselves to working
towards its revitalization. Be a part of this community of visionary
thinkers and builders. To join the conversation, email
shefa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Visit our home page at http://www.shefanetwork.org
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"Shefa: The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within" is a forum for
passionate Conservative Jews to reflect together as they increase creative
energy within within the culture and environment of the Conservative
Movement in an effort to bring a renewed and revitalized perspective to
Conservative Jews.
We belong to the Conservative Movement and commit ourselves to working
towards its revitalization. Be a part of this community of visionary
thinkers and builders. To join the conversation, email
shefa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Visit our home page at http://www.shefanetwork.org
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