200 Teens at Temple Conclave Examine
Relationship of Judaism to Contemporary Life
Editor's Note: Rabbi Ranter was the lyzing and discussing Judaism in
dean of the summer camp program
described In this article. The summer terms of historical experience and
conclave was sponsored by Temple
personal commitment.
Beth El, and the youth leaders from
Temple Beth El who headed the pro-
gram planning committee were Joan
Merdler, chairman, and 13111 Rug and
Eric Halpern, co-chairmen.
• • •
By MORTON M. KANTER
Associate Rabbi, Temple Beth El
Can Jews survive in a meaning-
ful way without Judaism? Rabbis,
philosophers and sociologists an-
xiously seek an answer to this
question. Dissatisfied with the
quality of synagogue and Jewish
community life, Jewish leadership
is looking for signs of positive
Judaism among the young.
The recentiy conc:uded annual
Michigan State Temple Youth
Summer Conclave, Camp Walden,
Cheboygan, offered significant
proof that Judaism will survive.
More than 200 high school students
from Reform congregations in
RABBI MORTON KANTER
Michigan and Northern Indiana
attended the five-day camp. Study,
worship, good times and camarad-
erie between rabbis, temple pro-
fessionals and young people knit-
ted the group together and offered
significant opportunities for ana-
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There were daily keynote ad-
dresses on the topics of family,
dating and sex; marijuana and
narcotics; racial justice; and
peace. Rabbi Elliott D. Rosen-
stock, South Bend, examined the
traditional Jewish attitudes
toward our personal lives and
asked whether or not we could
still accept: that sex expresses
itself in marriage and the fam-
ily, that sexuality in life is to be
lived in accordance with Torah
and Halakha.
Rabbi Frederick Eisenberg,
Grand Rapids, asked challenging
questions about racial justice.
Rabbi Philip Frankel, Lansing,
explored the problems of mari-
juana and narcotics in their cur-
rent sociological setting. He de-
tailed the extent of the "habit"—
and differing attitudes about rea-
sons and uses and the result of the
"habit" on personality, mind and
body. He spoke about legal aspects
of drug use and historical Jewish
attitudes toward drugs and Jew-
ish views about body, soul and
mind.
Rabbi David Hachen, regional
director of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, devoted
his keynote to peace and reminded
the young people that the real
question is where does Judaism
really stand on such issues as
conscientious objection to war and
selective conscientious objection.
Furthermore, he questioned what
is needed to bring an end to the
wars in Vietnam and the Middle
East.
Rabbi Ernst Conrad, Birming-
ham, aided by Irving I. Katz, ex-
ecutive secretary of Temple Beth
El, conducted the MSTY Torah
Corps. Participation in the corps
involves an intensive study of a
classic Jewish subject.
Througout the conclave, the
volunteer staff of more than 20
rabbis, cantors, educators and
administrators aided by Mrs.
George Stutz and Mrs. Sidney
Katzman, volunteer advisors to
MSTY for more than 10 years,
led the keynote topic discus-
sions and advised workshops in
drama, Hebrew song and dance
and religious services. Each
adult informally mixed with
conclavers for the 16-hour con-
clave day.
The endless formal and informal
discussions, the "bull" and "rap"
sessions have shown that for
young people, being Jewish in our
time usually means an individual
response to Judaism which is iden-
tifiable as a religion, tradition,
history, a set of values or an edu-
cation.
How much Judaism there is in
the next generation's Jewishness
depends on each person's exper-
ience, parents and education.
Sometimes Jewishness is a neg-
ative response to Judaism. Some-
times it manifests itself as a state
of anxiety; sometimes as extra-
ordinary zeal to do good. The stu-
dents who have found their identi-
ty view Judaism as a great treas-
ure of wisdom, faith, compassion
and understanding that is rele-
vant to the contemporary issues
discussed at the conclave.
Joins Interfaith Agency
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (JTA)—
Jewish participation in a perma-
nent South Jersey Religious Lead-
ers Conference has been ratified
by Jewish Federation of Camden
County, one of the parent bodies.
Bernard Dublin, federation execu-
tive director, has been named to
the conference executive commit-
tee.
Officials said the initial meet-
ing was based on an expression
"of concern for the problems of
poverty within the area and the
social and other issues arising
from this and other conditions."
Small Federations Meet
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
8—Friday, September 4, 1970
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