Last week I had the privilege of attending the Rabbinical Assembly convention in Las Vegas. It was a wonderful to learn with and from so many colleagues and friends. The theme was “Conservative Judaism: ‘Out of the Box'” and I am pleased to say I came home from the conference reenergized and hopeful on many levels.
There is no question that the Conservative Movement of 2011 has its challenges. Our numbers are shrinking and the relevance of denominational affiliation (particularly among younger Jews) is regularly called into question. In one session, Chancellor Arnold Eisen of the Jewish Theological Seminary explained that current sociological research shows a profound ambivalence about being Jewish in the first place. Dr. Eisen also referenced Robert Putnam’s newest work, Amazing Grace, which found the fastest rising category of religious affiliation in America today to be “none,” and concluded that young people are extremely comfortable switching both within and between religious traditions. These findings all pose a great challenge to all denominations and synagogues.
Yet despite all of this, other workshops and lectures throughout the conference brought forth evidence that the vast majority of people are searching for meaning and purpose in their lives. They want to know that Judaism has something to say to them as individuals. The challenge for synagogues and denominations is to answer this question on both an individual and a communal level. We must provide opportunities for individuals to connect to Judaism wherever they are on their Jewish journey, and we must do so in a way that demonstrates the critical importance of belonging to a sacred community.
Reflecting during the trip home, I realized that the common thread throughout the conference was the understanding that the Conservative Movement stands at a crossroads. We have many questions to answer:
Read those questions again. They are the very same questions that we, as one of the newest congregations in the Conservative movement, are beginning to address as we look to build a vibrant and sacred community on the Jersey Shore.
What are your thoughts on these questions? I am looking forward to hearing from you!
To check out some of the sessions from the convention go to: www.rabbinicalassembly.org
And to read a recent op-ed on the future of our movement, check out: www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/14/3086405/op-ed-dont-believe-gloomy-forecasts-on-conservative-judaism