The Union for Reform Judaism’s 72 Biennial a memorable experience

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Rhode Islanders join 5,000 Jews for five days of connecting, camaraderie and community

Attendees included community members from Temple Beth-El, Temple Habonim and Temple Sinai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAN DIEGO, CA: On December 12, 2013, nearly 5,000 Jews gathered in San Diego for the Union for Reform Judaism’s 72 Biennial, a conference that lasted through December 16. While the event involved important discussions, bold decisions and drastic changes, the attendees still managed to have the time of their lives. Rabbi Andrew Klein, of Temple Habonim in Barrington, highly enjoyed his time at the conference: “I studied with some of the greatest teachers of our time, I reconnected with colleagues … and I met new people from all over North America.” Despite enormous challenges facing the Reform movement, – Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the URJ, compared them to giant waves that “will enable us to go faster and further than ever before” if we ride them with skill – the mood at the conference was hopeful and the attitude positive.

While the Biennial addressed various concerns Reform synagogues are encountering, the main issue on hand was diminishing attendance. Conference attendees discussed possible ways to encourage young Jewish professionals to become members. Yes, synagogues can enhance their programming and offer outstanding incentives, but that won’t help if the target audience is unaware about what it is missing. Jacobs announced that the URJ had sold half its Manhattan office space to invest $1 million in attracting young people. Strategies, such as engaging youth through developing Reform summer camps and expanding the National Federation of Temple Youth, are in place to reinvigorate the movement. Lindsay Tarnof, Youth Advisor and member of Temple Habonim, appreciated the focus on youth engagement and education at the conference.

During the biennial, Jacobs pointed out that Reform Jews were able to reverse the movement’s decline in the 1930s by adapting to the circumstances and repositioning Reform Judaism to accept traditional Jewish practice and Zionism. Who’s to say that the same approach can’t be used again? Not the Biennial organizers, who had invited leaders outside the movement to brainstorm ideas. Reform Jews paid attention to what a Conservative rabbi, an Orthodox rabbi and a professor of education had to say on the matter. The only movement missing was Chabad-Lubavitch, a source of frustration for many conference attendees, who find that they are forced to compete with Chabad’s free or more affordable worship options. On a positive note, the consensus reached at the Biennial was that young people are eager to join an evolving movement, not one that is unchanging and inflexible.

An overhaul is needed not only for the image of the movement, but also for the organization that represents it. In addition to downsizing the headquarters, Steve Sacks, the chairman of URJ’s board, suggested a more transparent and affordable dues payment. Outside funding and partnerships will become catalysts to raising revenue. The theory is already put into practice. The Ruderman Family Foundation is donating $600,000 over the next three years to make Reform synagogues friendly to people with disabilities. Also, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is committing $900,000 over the next five years to bring PJ Library to those communities that would benefit from a monthly delivery of free Jewish books. These initiatives will add to the ones already in place – funding from the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Marcus Foundation and the Crown Family Philanthropies will continue to strengthen the movement. To reinforce the focus on the new generation, most of URJ’s youth-programming professionals are moving to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Manhattan.

Another hot topic of conversation at the Biennial was the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. In addition to Torah Study and introspection, Jerry Katz, a Temple Habonim member, chose to attend sessions that focused on “geopolitical issues concerning Israel.” Many arguments were heard toward inclusion of Israelis in the Reform movement and Israel’s welcome to American Jews. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said via satellite, “While the Wall may be in Israel, it belongs to all of you.” Jacobs reiterated the point, “The bonds that link Israel and the Diaspora are mutually strengthening, and must grow even deeper.”Jacobs took his advocacy for equality at the Kotel even further, arguing for the need to demand equality “in rabbinical courts, under the bridal canopy, at funerals, in conversions, in the founding and funding of our congregations.”

In the spirit of the movement’s renaissance, Jacobs encouraged the attendees to show “audacious hospitality” by welcoming intermarried couples and non-practicing Jews. Continuing with the theme of diversity and inclusion, the sessions enlightened attendees about the plight of foreign Jews in need of shelter. John Catania, Temple Beth-El Brotherhood President, shares that the session he found especially interesting “was The Jewish Communities in Crisis, focusing on Iranian Jews struggling to leave their homeland seeking religious freedom.”

In addition to educating attendees about the importance of embracing differences, URJ demonstrated that those who stand for equality are celebrated. Anat Hoffman, Israel Religious Action Center Executive Director and Women of the Wall Chairwoman, received the Women for Reform Judaism’s Jane Evans Social Justice Award for her activism and support of religious pluralism and women’s rights in Israel. Adam Mastoon, a Temple Habonim member and a photographer from Barrington, was impressed by the diversity represented at the Biennial and by the movement’s inclusion of atypical Jews.

Buchdahl led an innovative Shabbat service that included dancing, prose reading and “Storahtelling” in addition to the usual singing. Linda Silverman Levine, educator at Temple Habonim, calls the Friday service “the most powerful, emotional, spiritual service I will ever participate in.” She emphasizes, “Never have I been so moved in worship.” Leslie Lorber, President of Temple Habonim, echoes that sentiment, “I was moved to tears.” Such daring Shabbat illustrates the movement’s transformation from what it was just fifty years ago. Buchdal’s guitar strumming, the audience’s head bobbing and Jacobs’ purple tallis, swaying to music, do bring to mind the age of the hippies rather than the Germanic Reform Judaism of the last century.

Describing his exit from Shabbat Services, Alan Moskoff, a Vice President of Men of Reform Judaism, says, “As we reached the escalator, we could hear other groups singing as they had arrived at our destination, and you could see and hear a sea of people on the first floor singing. A truly magical moment. I could imagine myself in another place many years ago.” Leslie Katz, of Temple Habonim, also shares that the most meaningful part of her “whole Biennial experience was the worship.”

Morning services, including Yoga Shalom: A Shacharit Embodiment of Prayer, a visual service sans prayerbook and an Israeli pop music and poetry service, solidified the urge to embrace novelty (or rather to return to the audience’s youth?). The Reform movement seems to have figured out how to maintain the interest of its core believers and the strategy is working. Now that hippies have transformed into hipsters, maybe the children of these attendees will be just as drawn to the new and improved ways of Reform Judaism?