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A Conservative Juneteenth Haggadah

USCJ Juneteenth 2022/5782 is a program run by and for Jewish Black Americans and those who wish to join in educational, informative, and commemorative celebration of the day that official news of the end of legal chattel slavery reached the last American state, Texas. This program centers the voices of descendants of freed Texan slaves who are moving into sharing this deeply personal and formerly local celebration while also hearing from Black Americans whose personal celebration of Juneteenth is more recent. As Jews, we have centuries of the yearly re-telling of the story of our freedom from enslavement and journey into peoplehood with the right to live, worship, and create families as we see fit. As Black Americans, celebrations of freedom from our enslavement often involve spiritual practice or ritual, and the celebration of Juneteenth that incorporates aspects reminiscent of the Passover Seder by Jewish Black Americans on individual or small community bases is not new. Bringing it into broader community spaces--even within Black Jewish communities and broader Jew of Color communities--is a newer phenomenon. This program endeavors to ensure the voices of those who made the transition from enslaved to free and the stories of their generations remain the central focus as this practice becomes more widespread and moves l'dor v'dor.

Please bookmark this page to join us in:

A Conservative Juneteenth Haggadah, written by USCJ Board Member and rabbinical student Heather Miller with contributions from Juneteenth descendant and historian Sasha King and USCJ Racial Justice Specialist Gulienne Rollins-Rishon, available in pdf printable and e-book formats

A guide for creating your own Juneteenth Seder-in-a-box, with a list of ingredients and recommendations, and explanations for the meaning behind them all

An audio-visual "Ma Nishtana", in the form of a pre-recorded panel discussion asking and answering questions about Juneteenth from an academic, anecdotal, and Jewish perspective

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/a-conservative-juneteenth-haggadah via IFTTT

[uscjblog]

A Conservative Juneteenth Haggadah

USCJ Juneteenth 2022/5782 is a program run by and for Jewish Black Americans and those who wish to join in educational, informative, and commemorative celebration of the day that official news of the end of legal chattel slavery reached the last American state, Texas. This program centers the voices of descendants of freed Texan slaves who are moving into sharing this deeply personal and formerly local celebration while also hearing from Black Americans whose personal celebration of Juneteenth is more recent. As Jews, we have centuries of the yearly re-telling of the story of our freedom from enslavement and journey into peoplehood with the right to live, worship, and create families as we see fit. As Black Americans, celebrations of freedom from our enslavement often involve spiritual practice or ritual, and the celebration of Juneteenth that incorporates aspects reminiscent of the Passover Seder by Jewish Black Americans on individual or small community bases is not new. Bringing it into broader community spaces--even within Black Jewish communities and broader Jew of Color communities--is a newer phenomenon. This program endeavors to ensure the voices of those who made the transition from enslaved to free and the stories of their generations remain the central focus as this practice becomes more widespread and moves l'dor v'dor.

Please bookmark this page to join us in:

A Conservative Juneteenth Haggadah, written by USCJ Board Member and rabbinical student Heather Miller with contributions from Juneteenth descendant and historian Sasha King and USCJ Racial Justice Specialist Gulienne Rollins-Rishon, available in pdf printable and e-book formats

A guide for creating your own Juneteenth Seder-in-a-box, with a list of ingredients and recommendations, and explanations for the meaning behind them all

An audio-visual "Ma Nishtana", in the form of a pre-recorded panel discussion asking and answering questions about Juneteenth from an academic, anecdotal, and Jewish perspective

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/a-conservative-juneteenth-haggadah-1 via IFTTT

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Reflection on Shavuot

Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah. In the biblical text, the Jewish people accept the contents of Torah before they even know what it says. Na’aseh v’nishmah (Exodus 24:7). However, the rabbis who wrote the midrash had a different sense of what accepting Torah means. Rabbi Avdimi bar Hama describes God holding the whole of Mt. Sinai over the heads of the Jewish people and threatening: “If you accept the Torah, great, if not… your grave will be where you stand.” (Bavli Shabbat 88a)

How do we hold such differing narratives at the same time? Were our people enthusiastic about torah or did they accept it under coercion? Why is our tradition ambivalent about what it means for the Jewish people to be the receivers of Torah? 

I’d like to suggest that the ambivalence may be because accepting Torah comes with significant responsibilities and commitments- two key examples are:

To study Torah. We must continue to deepen our understanding of what the Torah calls upon us to do. This is a lifelong process and as we grow our understanding of what the Torah says grows as well. Fortunately there are any number of opportunities to do this. From joining the RA-USCJ Tikkun Leyl Shavuot to Scholarstream and beyond, there are ample opportunities to increase your commitment to Torah study this year. 

To stand up for Torah’s values. At this moment in our society, this is difficult to do. White supremacy, misogyny, religious coercion are too present in our society at the moment. Yet, the Torah calls upon us to protect the vulnerable and to stand up for what’s right. We are also in a time when it can be seen as partisan to take positions on the issues of our time. This makes standing up and speaking out even more challenging and all the more important.

As we begin our celebration of Shavuot, let’s affirm our commitment to Torah. Though it can be difficult, let us affirm our commitments to study Torah and to stand up for its values. 

This is a likely reason that we read the book of Ruth on Shavuot. Just as Ruth is seen as accepting the obligations of Torah, may we too learn from her example and use Shavuot this year as an opportunity to reaccept Torah anew for ourselves. 

May we find enrichment and fulfillment in our continued growth. 

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/reflection-on-shavuot via IFTTT

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Celebrating “Interfaith” Weddings: How Culture Can Unite Families

As the thirtieth anniversary of my wedding date, June 20, approaches, I’m thinking about the multitudes of interfaith couples getting married this spring/summer season. So many choices, decisions, and sensitivities are involved in planning any wedding let alone one that combines families from different faith traditions. However, focusing on the cultural backgrounds of each partner, offers ample opportunities to celebrate what each person brings to the union in ways that preserve Jewish customs and values while respecting the Gentile family of origin. 

In many ways, every marriage is an intermarriage. For example, if a secular Jewish American of Ashkenazi descent marries an Orthodox Israeli person with Sephardic roots, they are bound to navigate both what they have in common and what is distinct to each. Likewise, a Jewish/interfaith wedding can incorporate customs from Judaism with aspects of the Gentile person’s culture such as attire, food, music, broom jumping, and candle lighting. A Jewish-Irish wedding could include a bagpipe player, for example. The book Joining Hands and Hearts: Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations is a practical guide that offers myriad examples of how to integrate the sacred with the secular. 

Many “interfaith” couples do not actually practice dual religions, making the word a misnomer. If news of their engagement is greeted joyfully by the Jewish partner’s rabbi and family, they are more likely to create a Jewish home (and raise Jewish children if so blessed). Brandeis University’s study Under the Chuppah surveyed 1,200 married young adults. Those couples who had Jewish clergy present on their big day were more highly engaged in Jewish life than those who did not. One of the rabbis I consult with attended a same-sex interfaith couple’s wedding, which was a first for him; he subsequently announced their marriage from the bima and blessed their home with the installation of a mezuzah.  When I visited this community, the couple approached me after one of the talks I delivered about interfaith inclusion to express how “refreshing and heartening it was to hear presentations” like mine, and how much the rabbi’s public support of their union meant to them. Hence, while the wedding was interfaith because one of the brides was raised Protestant, the couple’s religious community became the synagogue in which the Jewish bride was raised and where her parents still belong. 

A wedding day itself is an opportunity to highlight what the betrothed each hold dear, to honor loved ones both present and deceased, and to create a unique experience for all who come to celebrate with the couple. 18Doors has a terrific new tool to help couples create Jewish/interfaith wedding ceremonies. There are nine brief videos that illustrate and explain these rituals: bedeken (veiling the bride or brides), circling, chuppah (wedding canopy), kiddush/erusin (wine or juice blessing and betrothal blessing), ring exchange, seven blessings, priestly blessing, breaking the glass, and yichud (private time for couple after ceremony and before reception). These videos educate both the Jewish partner and the Gentile partner of the meaning and implementation of these wedding rituals. The importance of the former should not be overlooked because, unless someone has studied Jewish marriage rituals, it is unlikely that even the Jewish person knows all of them by heart.

If there is a Jewish/interfaith wedding in your family, congregation, or community this wedding season, the most important words you can express to the couple are: “Mazal tov!”  

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/celebrating-interfaith-weddings-how-culture-can-unite-families via IFTTT

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Spotlight On: Jennifer Dennis

For this month’s Leadership Connections’ Spotlight, I had the pleasure of talking to the incoming President at Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City, Jennifer Dennis. After she posted on the USCJ Presidents’ thread we knew we had our feature. After all, she has a legacy of leadership in her family. Her mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather have all been Presidents of Emanuel Synagogue over the years.  

Jennifer’s Jewish upbringing began at an early age, attending Solomon Schechter with her sister. She participated in USY as part of SWUSY and became a member of the Chapter Board, attending all of the events and USY’s International Convention. She went to Camp Ramah in California and also did USY’s Pilgrimage. She attended Nativ, USCJ’s Israel Gap Year Program, making life-long friends. She later attended University of Oklahoma majoring in Political Science and minoring in Judaic Studies, thanks to her Nativ credits.

She continued her Judaic studies, and went to the University of Judaism (now known as American Jewish University). She then took a job as the Religious School and Youth Director at Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada before returning to Oklahoma. She now owns a restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma and is taking advantage of the opportunity to be close to family again. She lives with her husband, Davis Dennis, and three adorable triplets, Jackson, Adelaide, and Maverick, or the JAM Pack as she affectionately calls them. 

Both of her dad’s parents were Presidents of Emanuel Synagogue when she was growing up. And later, her parents were also Presidents. When asked why there is this legacy of leadership she stated, “We care about our synagogue. It’s been so important to our whole family. We want people to have the same opportunities and connections and to keep the synagogue going.” 

Her involvement with USY, Nativ, and Camp Ramah have all contributed to her desire to be a Jewish leader. All those programs made an impact on her and helped her lead a Jewish life and stay active in it. Staying connected with people across the country helped her build that community. The people she met in USY were on Nativ and then later at University of Judaism. She even recently reconnected with someone that was on USY who is now also President of her synagogue in Texas!

While Covid has been challenging for everyone, Jennifer is looking forward to moving forward and planning events and bringing people back to the synagogue. They recently had 70 people at a sisterhood Shabbat, which has inspired Jennifer for future Shabbats. She has some great plans for when she steps into her new role in July. When I asked how she plans to balance it all, raising her kids, running the restaurant, and being President she said she is fortunate to have a lot of help both from family, friends, and nannies. Her grandfather used to say, “the answer is yes, what’s the question?” After sitting down with Jennifer I believe it is Emanuel Synagogue who is very fortunate to have Jennifer following in her family’s footsteps.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-jennifer-dennis via IFTTT

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Balancing Judaism and College

This piece was written by Stephanie Kallish, former USY International Israel Affairs VP. 

The summer before my first year at Brandeis University, I was frequently asked “What are you most excited for about starting college”? My response was always that I was most excited for Jewish life on campus. My experience as a USY leader in the height of the pandemic has taught me the true value of the in-person Jewish experience, and I was deeply craving the feeling of davening, experiencing Shabbat, and learning with my peers. I was also excited to explore my own relationship to Judaism and take on different traditions that are important to me but were difficult for me to do at home. Before arriving at Brandeis, I expected to find answers about my Jewish identity. However, since completing my freshman year, I now have even more questions. 

For me, the transition to college has been all about balance. In addition to the typical balances that all college students must find, like the balance between academics and extracurriculars, college has taught me a lot about balance in my Jewish life. The Brandeis community has so many Jewish opportunities, minyanim, and spaces to learn and grow. I have learned to balance things that were familiar to me with things that are new. I have learned that I can experiment and try new ways of practicing Judaism without leaving what I have learned from home behind. I have learned that Jewish practice can be nuanced, complicated and messy, and that I can subscribe to multiple ways of living Jewishly. 

I have also been able to focus on and grapple with identities and values that are important to me. My involvement with the Jewish Feminist Association at Brandeis has exposed me to so many different women who define their feminism and its intersectionality with Judaism in diverse ways. I have found a home in the Brandeis Beit Midrash, as I have begun putting a greater emphasis on Torah learning in my life. Additionally, I have encountered many important role models who are also finding their Jewish identity, ranging from Masorti’s incredible JTS Rabbinical intern, to one of my Modern Orthodox professors. 

The transition from high school to college is not easy. Being alone in a new place, especially in the wake of the pandemic is challenging. However, once I took the pressure off to ‘figure myself out’, I found that the transition got a lot easier. There is so much pressure for incoming college students to dramatically change or find their ‘true selves’. This pressure is unreasonable because whatever personal growth and change is meant to occur, will happen naturally. While I may not have all the answers of who I am Jewishly, I realize now that it will take way more than four years to figure that out. I don’t need a label or definition for my Jewish practice to be authentic, real and true to who I am.  For me, there is no better place than Brandeis to experience the beauties of pluralism, community, and passion for Jewish life. I am looking forward to another three years of not necessarily finding answers, but of finding personal meaning and joy in Judaism.  

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/balancing-judaism-and-college via IFTTT

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Special Feature: Gulienne Rollins-Roshin

USCJ is pleased to announce the hiring of Gulienne Rollins-Rishon as our first ever Racial Justice Specialist. Gulienne is an Interracial Dialogue and Racial Identity Development Specialist with over a decade and a half of experience helping communities navigate social identity, race, and social justice. She was raised in New City, NY, has lived in both Boston and NYC, and recently relocated to the Philadelphia suburbs.  Gulienne describes herself as the proud granddaughter of German Holocaust survivors and Southern Black Americans, raised on a steady diet of tikkun olam and social justice work. She has been driven since childhood to use her identity and experiences to foster understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of intersectionality and diversity in all communities where she belongs.  Gulienne’s formal education is in racial identity development, the dynamics of racial constructs in various cultures, and group dynamics. Additionally, she has received training in mutual aid and collaborative liberation, and applies that to her own social justice work. She has also been recognized for her work in various communities as a Hakhel grantee, participant in the Meorot Fellowship at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and with an invitation to The Jewish Week‘s The Conversation.  Gulienne has spent most of her career as a public speaker and workshop developer, collaborating with Jewish organizations to engage their audiences in education about bias, the impact of personal identity in social justice work, interracial dialogue and cross-cultural understanding, and the terminology involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Her facilitation work has included a workshop centered on exploring the impact of Ashkenazi Jewish identity with a synagogue in NY, a workshop exploring what it means to have Ashkenazi heritage or as a Jew of Color at JOC Convening, and a social justice workshop centered around personal identity and heritage.   She is also an avid reader, loves to travel, and spent most of 2021 exploring the United States in a pop-up camper and motor home. USCJ is very excited for Gulienne to bring her passion and her expertise to the organization and help build its capacity for programs and training around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/special-feature-gulienne-rollins-roshin via IFTTT

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Spotlight On: Exploring Judaism

ExploringJudaism.org is a new home for the Torah of Conservative Judaism, our path to interpreting and embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism and our personal search for meaning and learning. This website is a space where people like you can share wisdom and reflection in addition to insight on practical living -- all through the lens of a Conservative Jewish worldview. 

This website offers valuable content for synagogue members and others who are connected to and curious about Conservative Judaism. The site is curated to offer relevant and compelling pieces geared for real people in their real lives. Some of your community members may even be excited about pitching an article!

You can share these articles on Shabbat, the Omer, or Shavuot. You can also get the inside scoop on new content on ExploringJudaism.org by signing up here.

We are counting on you to help your members learn about the site so they can enjoy the content, find resources, and connect with others.  We have provided sample language and links HERE to promote the ExploringJudaism.org site. Below are a few ways to ensure your community can take full advantage of the site's content:

1. Link ExploringJudaism.org to your synagogue's website as a resource.

2. Feature a different ExploringJudaism.org article in your weekly emails.

3. Follow ExploringJudaism.org’s social media accounts and share posts directly from your synagogue’s social media that are relevant to your community.

         a.       Facebook

         b.       Twitter

         c.       Instagram

4. Invite members to pitch an idea for an article on the website.

USCJ is proud to pilot this website, and the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) is collaborating on this project with the shared goal of lifting up a wide range of voices representing the diversity of perspectives and practices. ExploringJudaism.org recognizes that Conservative Judaism is filled with a wide-range of experiences and ideas. There is beauty and complexity in the diversity, and we live at the intersection of many worlds. 

This website is in beta version to meet the goal of sharing a Conservative Jewish lens on Torah in a meaningful and sustainable way. Visit the site regularly, share it with friends and family, and offer feedback on the site so it evolves based on our community's interests.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-exploring-judaism via IFTTT

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Finding Strength in our Communities: How We Care for Each Other

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and in recognition of that we wanted to focus this month’s Special Feature in Leadership Connections reflecting on our recent Mental Wellbeing Conference which took place this March. The pandemic has created a unique opportunity for our leadership to come together as a continental organization to learn together virtually thus extending our reach.

Rabbi Blumenthal noted, “Even before the pandemic, people were reporting greater levels of stress and anxiety. Now with an end hopefully in sight, more people are beginning to reflect on ways to reset and take control of their emotional wellbeing.  Synagogue leadership has the opportunity and obligation to find ways to show they care and find ways to provide support. USCJ is deeply committed to providing resources on how to empower support of this important topic.

Covid has worsened the stress, anxiety and isolation of our daily lives. Between building closures, burnout, job cuts and safety concerns, the needs and concerns of our members, clergy and staff have dramatically increased. USCJ has asked “now what,” and many of our congregants have begun to answer.

Mental wellbeing is defined as a state in which individuals can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and are able to make a contribution to their community. Belonging to a sacred community promotes personal and emotional wellbeing. How can our synagogue leadership provide support for members, clergy and staff who need us now more than ever? This past conference was our first step in this process and we welcome your thoughts and support.

To better understand the needs of our communities, USCJ conducted a survey of our member congregations and 240 responded.  What we learned from our congregations informed the conference presentation. The survey was modified to create USCJ’s Mental Wellbeing Assessment which can be viewed here. This survey enables congregational leaders to assess how they were addressing their own community’s needs. Emotional health is still not widely talked about and many may be uncomfortable with the topic but as leaders we need to find ways to show we care and provide assistance to members, clergy and staff. This assessment can be a first step in that journey.

Synagogue leaders presented their great work in the area of mental wellbeing and spirituality. We learned what they are doing to help their community members to better cope with the strains created by Covid, safety concerns and a 24/6 unplugged world. Click here for conference resources. 

Based on the success of this project we are thrilled to announce our new program, Rey’im. This program was created by Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin to train synagogue members to serve as spiritual companions for congregants and friends as they “walk through” life’s challenges. Here is the link to learn more and register for our introductory webinar. 

We look forward to continuing to promote and prioritize mental wellbeing this month and into the future. You can find more resources each month in Leadership Connections to help you bring mental wellbeing to your community. You can also find resources on our website here.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/finding-strength-in-our-communities-how-we-care-for-each-other via IFTTT

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Welcoming the Stranger

It was not until the morning after the family of Ukrainian refugees staying in his south Florida home arrived that Rabbi Adam Watstein learned they were not Jewish.

Anastasia and Sergey Sibiriakova and their three children, who had landed at the Miami airport with a single carry-on bag, slept in, exhausted not just from the flight but from weeks of running from Russian bombs and huddling in basement shelters. Rabbi Watstein's wife, Angelina, had meanwhile made a huge pot of chicken soup with her signature matzah balls. As she put the steaming bowls on the table, Watstein recalled, the Ukrainians looked down and said, "This is amazing.... what is this?"

"At which point we got our answer," he said, since he figured Jews everywhere would recognize matzah balls. "And that's a very important part of the story: We didn't care."

The biblical commandment to welcome the stranger does not apply exclusively to Jews, of course. So this revelation just added one more layer of adjustment as this middle-class household of five instantly became a household of 10, with the Watstein children showing the Sibiriakova children the ins and outs of a kosher kitchen between bonding over YouTube videos.

"Seamless" is how Rabbi Watstein described the transition in our conversation yesterday. By the first night, they could see the kids were getting along, and that Google translate worked "and was funny," he said. It's been comfortable -- if a little crowded -- ever since.

"There's going to be hiccups, there's going to be conflict, and there's going to be times where we throw our hands up because we don't know what we're doing," he said. "But we'll always know that this particular family is under a roof."

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/welcoming-the-stranger via IFTTT

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Four Questions for Synagogue Leaders

In Judaism, good things come in “fours” (also “threes,” “sevens,” “tens,” and a few other significant numbers). Of course, the number “four” is particularly significant at the Passover seder. There are four promises of redemption in the Torah. Four cups of wine.  Four children.  Four pieces of matzah (once we break the middle one in half). And, of course, four questions.

The seder uses questions to encourage curiosity and reflection as well as appreciation for the miracles in ancient times and today. I see the continued thriving of synagogue life over more than 2,000 years as yet another miracle – one that has saved Judaism and Jewish life over the centuries, and one which I have every confidence will continue to do so for generations to come. But like all miracles, synagogue life will require us to be steadfast partners with God in the holy work of creating thriving Jewish life. As synagogue leaders, what are our four questions at this critical point in the evolution of synagogue life? Here are my “four questions for synagogue leaders” this Passover:

How can we put “people” over “program?”  For decades, we’ve seen synagogue life as a set of “programs”--worship, Shabbat meals, social get togethers, good deeds days, religious school, adult education classes. Programs may continue to be the tools to make that happen, but how would their design be different if they became tools for personal growth and building community, and we measured their impact on that basis?

How can we make synagogue leadership sustainable?  A shortage of clergy, educators, synagogue professionals, and lay leadership is clear at every level. Some of this is a “pipeline” issue, but some of it is also how challenging synagogue leadership has been these past two years. How can we help clergy, professionals, and lay leaders find better life/work balance? Could we give our professionals an extra “sabbatical” over the summer, and encourage time for self-care? Can we recruit a Sulam for Emerging Leaders cohort to bring in more volunteer leaders?

What is our “Torah”?  What makes our approach to Jewish life unique? I like to say that we are all about “Becoming” – helping people become their best selves; “Belonging” – forming strong communities; and “Experiencing” – making meaning of life’s journey. As we emerge with new perspectives from two challenging pandemic years, how is our work and our message in each of these areas changing?

How can we move from “control” to “empowerment?” Too often lay leaders, clergy, and synagogue professionals see one another as adversaries rather than partners in creating strong congregations. What are our common goals and dreams in our synagogues, and how can we empower each other to achieve them?

As we celebrate Passover, and as we pray for a more peaceful and healthy world, I look forward to answering these questions together as we partner in strengthening our congregations and Jewish life. Hag Sameah!

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/four-questions-for-synagogue-leaders via IFTTT

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Spotlight On: Dana Sharon Winer

I'm honored to serve as a Vice President of USCJ, after previously serving as Secretary and the 2017 Biennial Convention Program Chair. I've met so many fabulous people through my involvement in USCJ and look forward to meeting many more.

I like to think that I’m someone who lives at the intersection of old and new. I grew up active in my congregation and am familiar with our roots and the older generations; I’m also a borderline millennial who is embracing the challenges of our times along with other parents and young adults. As synagogue president of that same congregation, I used this vantage point to bring together the generations of our congregation during our centennial, and I continue to be involved in my cherished community at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin, TX. 

I joined the board of USCJ in 2017 and have already seen us tackle big challenges, from achieving a balanced budget to strengthening our volunteer network. However, what I find even more exciting are the opportunities that are before us now: to create a cohesive movement and to connect with those individuals whom we traditionally haven’t. I once again hope to be part of bringing together different generations and groups to support, appreciate, and learn from each other.

Professionally, I have spent over 20 years with Accenture, a global professional services company, focusing on quality, process improvement, and risk management.

Some personal fun facts: I’m the cookie coordinator (aka, “dealer”) for my daughter’s girl scout troop. I wasn’t allowed to have a dog as a child and have now rescued two as an adult. I say that I have two religions, Judaism and Longhorn football. I once won a hula-hooping contest by hula-hooping for one hour straight. When I was 12, I cancelled my bat mitzvah and subsequently went through an exploration with my rabbi and community that resulted in my becoming a bat mitzvah -- I think of it as the moment when I “chose Judaism” even though I was born Jewish. May we all have the inspiration to "choose Judaism" every day!

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-dana-sharon-winer via IFTTT

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Spotlight On: Rebecca Weisman

Last fall I joined USCJ to explore innovative approaches and partnerships that can engage newer generations of adults as we engage with younger generations to help cement the movement. Talent abounds in our Movement, so our efforts to blaze new pathways for people to connect with Conservative Judaism has been accelerated by the enthusiasm of rabbis on and off the pulpit, and those who seek to proliferate the Torah of Conservative Judaism.

I am no stranger to the Conservative Movement. I am a USY and Camp Ramah alum, as well as a lifelong member of USCJ congregations. I care deeply about the beauty and meaning we can find – uniquely and communally -- in the balance of modernity and masorah/traditional Judaism.

Leading junior congregation and teaching religious school throughout college put my USY and Ramah leadership skills to the test. However, my real passion for Jewish engagement came from my first full-time Jewish job at my synagogue. I was hired as the youth and media director. While it may seem like a funny combination of portfolios, there is a significant commonality. It’s all about building relationships.

Over my career, I have had the benefit of learning about Jewish engagement, leadership and education from my work with individuals, families and groups in a wide variety of Jewish communal settings. I am grateful to be at USCJ where I can couple my professional expertise in engagement with my enthusiasm for strengthening the Conservative Movement – a movement built and experienced by people with support from our institutions.

Fun Facts: I am married to Steven Weisman, my high school sweetheart. We first became friends in kindergarten at our small Jewish day school in Hampton Roads, VA. We raised our two children, who are now emerging adults, in Gaithersburg, MD. While my favorite leisure activity is spending time with family and friends (I’m an extrovert!), I also enjoy music, cooking, independent coffee shops, fitness classes, collecting honey, and Shark Week on Discovery TV (not a sponsored promotion, I promise!). 

Reach out; I’d love your help building relationships across our Movement.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-rebecca-weisman via IFTTT

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Spotlight On: Ashira Konigsburg

I’ve been Chief Program Officer at USCJ since July 2021 and with the Rabbinical Assembly since 2009 where I’m currently the Chief Operating Officer. In this combined role, I have the privilege of ensuring that there’s coordination in the programming of both organizations. My goal is  to build the structures of our movement so that we serve not only congregations and rabbis but also those who don’t fit into either of those categories. This is what excites me most about the alignment between USCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly, a chance to think creatively about what structures our people need and how to help build them.

The network of people who have come through the Conservative movement is vast and full of talent. There are countless professionals and lots of engaged individuals. I aim to ensure that there’s a space for the entire network to come together to grow, connect, learn, find meaning, and to act to improve the world.

Fun facts: I have a pilot’s licence (though I don’t use it much since moving to NYC). I also enjoy climbing, hiking, traveling, and reading. I also love the challenge of taking ideas and bringing them to fruition. My role at the RA has enabled me to do that and I am looking forward to achieving success for USCJ and the Conservative movement as a whole. 

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-ashira-konigsburg via IFTTT

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Holding God, Our Tradition, and One Another Close

To read the original article on the JTS website click here. 

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As the Omicron variant crescendos, I’m back on Zoom as a congregant with my shul for my prayer experiences. And I’m very ambivalent about it. I spend much of my time on Zoom during the week, so it’s hard to go back to the computer on Shabbat. It certainly feels “one step removed” from the immediacy of in person community and prayer. I look forward to being back in person soon and appreciate communities who have maintained their in-person experiences safely. 

And yet on Zoom I can play with the harmonies as I sing along, and, when they go wrong, only I have to suffer (well, sometimes my wife does too). I see people I love and care about and can smile without a mask. Attendance is often higher than when we were in person, and as I look at the faces on my screen, I see many who had pulled back over the years who are now re-engaged in Shabbat, prayer, and shul life. 

As a leader in the Conservative-Masorti Movement, I see my own ambivalence around the use of technology on Shabbat or for forming minyanim shared among many communities, clergy, and synagogue leaders. How should we position ourselves? Should the new opportunities provided by these technologies lead the way? Should we temper our enthusiasm?  Should we heed Abraham Joshua Heschel’s call to experience Shabbat “independent of technical civilization” and trust in our inherited traditions to hold us together (The Sabbath, 28)? 

Ultimately, are God and tradition leading the way, or should our needs, especially in a time of crisis and loneliness, push those boundaries? The Torah provides interesting models for us to explore this question and we can see how our own struggles are reflected in the biblical text itself. 

Let’s start with Abraham. As God seeks to strengthen a covenantal relationship with our founding patriarch, God appears to him and says: “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1).  Indeed, the subsequent “tests” that God presents to Abraham—sending away Ishmael, saving Sodom, the binding of Isaac—are efforts by God to put Abraham “out in front,” testing his moral compass and offering the opportunity to push back on God’s temper and strict sense of justice. 

But that is not the only model the Torah offers. In the story of the Golden Calf the people despair of Moses’s fate as he tarries in bringing back the tablets with the Ten Commandments.  They panic and demand of Moses’s brother, Aaron: “Rise up! Make for us a god who will go before us, for that man, Moses, who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know has become of him” (Exod. 32:1). The commentator Hizkuni notes that Aaron misinterprets what the people are seeking. They are not asking for a “god” (Hebrew word “elohim”) but rather for a strong leader (another use of the term “elohim”), a human agent who will continue as God’s proxy and lead them from out in front with confidence and certainty through the emotional and cultural upheaval that accompanies their transition from being slaves to being free people. 

Finally, in this week’s parashah the Torah offers a third model in our relationship to God’s presence. This week begins a five-portion sequence (with the Golden Calf story at its center) in which the Israelites are instructed in how to build the Mishkan, the tent and “dwelling place” that will be associated with worship and God’s presence throughout their journey to the Land of Israel.   

What is the goal of this project? The text is explicit: “Make for me a holy dwelling place, and I will dwell among them” (Exod. 25:8).  The goal, fully realized in the final verses of Exodus, is for God’s presence to reside, literally, in the midst of the Israelites. In fact, in the book of Numbers we learn how the Israelites are commanded to pitch their tents in a square encampment that places the Mishkan at the center. This arrangement is also clearly a metaphor for how we are to hold God’s presence, doing mitzvot and bringing God into our minds, hearts, and actions. 

If we take these stories chronologically, we see God pushing Abraham out in front, the people demanding a leader (God’s proxy) out in front of them, and finally the realization of a mutual desire for God to live among the people. 

Each model has its merits and its challenges. We might argue that sometimes Abraham falls short of the task of moral leadership. Aaron misinterprets the desire of the people for an “out in front” leader and constructs an idol. And by the end of the book of Exodus, Moses and the Israelites complete the building of the Mishkan, but God’s presence is so intense that Moses “cannot approach the tent” (Exod. 40:35). God’s immanence is both welcome and fearsome. 

I would argue that these models characterize our relationship with our leaders and also with Jewish tradition. Sometimes we insist on our needs coming first and demand that leaders actually follow. Sometimes we want leaders out in front, showing us the way. And sometimes we just want to hold our leaders, God, and our traditions close, and wrestle with them together in mutual conversation. In our Conservative-Masorti Movement, our clergy, volunteer leaders, and community members often shift among these roles as we create a conversation around challenging issues such as the use of technology for worship and for community building on Shabbat. 

If I was to choose from among the three models, I am often personally drawn to the vision of this week’s parashah, which insists that ultimately our goal is for God’s presence to dwell among us, and within us. That requires us to hold our modern needs and our traditions in careful balance, and for us to hold one another close as well. 

Appreciation for assistance with this devar Torah also goes to Aiden Pink, JTS rabbinical student and RA special projects coordinator. 

The publication and distribution of the JTS Commentary are made possible by a generous grant from Rita Dee (z”l) and Harold Hassenfeld (z”l).     

More on Terumah More by Jacob Blumenthal

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/holding-god-our-tradition-and-one-another-close via IFTTT

[uscjblog]

Spotlight On: Ashira Konigsburg

I’ve been Chief Program Officer at USCJ since July 2021 and with the Rabbinical Assembly since 2009 where I’m currently the Chief Operating Officer. In this combined role, I have the privilege of ensuring that there’s coordination in the programming of both organizations. My goal is  to build the structures of our movement so that we serve not only congregations and rabbis but also those who don’t fit into either of those categories. This is what excites me most about the alignment between USCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly, a chance to think creatively about what structures our people need and how to help build them.

The network of people who have come through the Conservative movement is vast and full of talent. There are countless professionals and lots of engaged individuals. I aim to ensure that there’s a space for the entire network to come together to grow, connect, learn, find meaning, and to act to improve the world.

Fun facts: I have a pilot’s licence (though I don’t use it much since moving to NYC). I also enjoy climbing, hiking, traveling, and reading. I also love the challenge of taking ideas and bringing them to fruition. My role at the RA has enabled me to do that and I am looking forward to achieving success for USCJ and the Conservative movement as a whole. 

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/spotlight-on-ashira-konigsburg via IFTTT

[uscjblog]

The Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Respond to Attack at Colleyville, TX Synagogue

New York, NY – In response to the current crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) issued the following statement:

"We are horrified by the ongoing hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, with whom we both identify and stand as Jews and as Americans, as we do with all of our communities.

"'What affects one of us, affects us all, “commented Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of both USCJ and The Rabbinical Assembly. “This attack on peaceful Jewish worship, despite our community’s vigilance, creates fear, frustration, anger, and sorrow. Our prayers are with the families of Beth Israel and we will continue to have the Colleyville community, including its law enforcement, in our thoughts. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution,” concluded Rabbi Blumenthal.

"We are sincerely grateful for all the first responders, members of local law enforcement, and the FBI as they negotiate a resolution to the ongoing crisis. We are also thankful for the Texas Department of Public Safety, as well as our partners at the Secure Community Network (SCN), who have been monitoring this situation carefully.

"As rabbis, cantors, and Jewish communal leaders, we stand firmly with the Texas Jewish community and must ensure that Jews are able to worship freely, safely, and never in fear. We pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict and especially for the safety of those trapped inside the synagogue, as well as all those engaged at the scene.

"We are reminded of tradition’s Hashkiveinu prayer, recited each evening, which takes on new meaning in times of crisis such as these:

  "'Cause us to lie down, God, in peace, and raise us up again, our Sovereign, for life.

Spread over us Your tabernacle of peace,

And guide us with Your good counsel.

Save us for Your name's sake.

Shield us from every enemy, plague, sword, famine, and sorrow.

Remove the adversary from before and behind us.

Shelter us in the shadow of Your wings,

Guard our going out and our coming in, and grant us life and peace, now and always.

"Praised are You, God, who spreads Your tabernacle of peace over us,

And over all Your people Israel and over Jerusalem.'"

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  About the Rabbinical Assembly

The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. Since its founding in 1901, the Assembly has been the creative force shaping the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement, and is committed to building and strengthening the totality of Jewish life. The Assembly publishes learned texts, prayer books, and works of Jewish interest; and it administers the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards for the Conservative movement. It also serves the professional and personal needs of its membership through publications, conferences, and benefit programs, and it coordinates the Joint Placement Commission of the Conservative movement. Rabbis of the Assembly serve congregations throughout the world, and also work as educators, officers of communal service organizations, and college, hospital, and military chaplains. More information at www.rabbinicalassembly.org. 

  About USCJ

Founded in 1913, USCJ is the network of nearly 600 Conservative Jewish communities across North America. “Seek Meaning Together” is our underlying philosophy as we represent the values and beliefs of an authentic and dynamic Judaism in North America (US, Canada, Caribbean, Cuba and Mexico), South America and Israel. Our work strengthens kehillot (Jewish communities inside and outside the walls of a synagogue) by providing visionary leadership training, creating opportunities for Jews of all ages to learn and grow, sharing essential resources, and seeding innovative ideas. More information at www.uscj.org.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/the-rabbinical-assembly-and-united-synagogue-of-conservative-judaism-respond-to-attack-at-colleyville-tx-synagogue via IFTTT