RELIGION • Dear Chuck& Di, How sweet of you to invite us for the weekend. But Tom and I just can't (cave. We spotted some great modular furniture at the Hiffside Winter Safe. Its Techline. And it's all priced 35% off. You know how I am when it comes to bargains. I'm sure you understand. Rabbi Groner Critiques, Praises Reform Judaism SUSAN GRANT Staff Writer THE HILLSIDE WINTER SALE The one great event you can't afford to miss. 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But he believes the Reform movement has changed Judaism for the better, Rabbi Groner told more than 200 Conservative and Reform Jews during a Jan. 13 speech at Temple Beth El. As president of the Rab- binical Assembly, the rab- binical body of the Conser- vative movement, Rabbi Groner isn't used to speak- ing about Reform Judaism, especially at a temple. The speech was part of a two- week program sponsored by Temple Beth El's and Con- gregation Shaarey Zedek's brotherhoods called "Two Rabbis, Two Views." On Sunday, Rabbi Daniel Polish of Temple Beth El spoke on Conservative Judaism at Shaarey Zedek. Rabbi Polish asked Rabbi Groner to speak at the tem- ple shortly after he accepted an invitation to speak to Shaarey Zedek's brother- hood. "I thought is was important for the Jewish community, and for our congregation, to recognize the unity and commonalty we have with them and they have with us and what br- ings us together," Rabbi Polish said. Rabbi Groner agrees the movements have common bonds and that Reform Judaism is responsible for many of the changes adopted by Conservative Jews in- cluding the acceptance of women participating in ser- vices, the introduction of weekly sermons and the em- phasis of Jewish values rather than Jewish texts. When 19th century Ger- man Jews decided they could be Jews and still live in the secular world, they created a new option for Jews, Rabbi Groner said. Orthodox teaching demanded Jews must separate themselves from the secular world, while Jews who wanted to fully participate in the secular life felt they had to become Christians to do so. With the introduction of Reform Judaism, "Jews were able to become full par- ticipants in the country in which they lived," Rabbi Groner said. The Reform movement made other contributions to Judaism such as emphasiz- ing ethical teaching rather than rituals and decreeing that individuals have a right and obligation to think for themselves and not base decisions on the Jewish community. After correcting a few ear- ly mistakes, including a strain of anti-Zionism, the Reform movement has since moved closer to traditional Rabbi Irwin Groner Judaism by embracing more mixed marriages," Rabbi holidays such as Purim and Groner said. "We need to Simchat Torah and return- find a way to open the lines ing rituals to the service, - of communication. Other- Rabbi Groner said. wise we will lose children "But are there any limits and we lose families. At a to liberalism and in- time when we are working to dividualism?" Rabbi Groner rescue Soviets, we should asked. "Individualism and also be interested in rescu- liberalism need to have ing our children and grand- limits set by a tradition children." whose laws are 3,000 years Rabbi Groner also ques- old." tions the wisdom of accep- He criticized the way ting gay and lesbian Jews Reform leaders accept inter- into the rabbinate as the faith marriages, especially Reform leadership did in the introduction of 1990. While he firmly be- patrilineal descent instead lieves discrimination of the traditional use of ma- against gays should stop, trilineal descent to deter- "gay and lesbian rabbis can mine who is a Jew. not be a role model for Jew- ish families," he said. "The status of the mother "We're confusing the issue is a practice long followed in of civil rights with the title Judaism since the 5th cen- of rabbi which is a mark of tury B.C.E. With patrilineal descent we will have a whole esteem." While he doesn't think generation of children who Conservative and Reform call themselves Jews who Jews will ever agree on will not really be Jews," Rabbi Groner said. "The every issue, Rabbi Groner believes the Reform move- motive is praiseworthy, but ment has enriched Conser- the end result is not." vative Judaism. He conclud- The Conservative move- ed by vowing that Conser- ment, taking a lesson from vative and Reform Jews, es- Reform Judaism, is trying to pecially on a rabbinical find other ways to reach out level, will continue to talk to interfaith couples, Rabbi about the issues facing Groner said. "We are aware modern Jews. of the human dimension of 4 I 4 ❑ Polish Urges Stronger Conservative Identity SUSAN GRANT Staff Writer W hile both the Or- thodox and Reform movements have a strong sense of identifica- tion, Conservative Judaism is still searching for its iden- tity, said Rabbi Polish of Temple Beth El. "The question is what does Conservative Judaism stand for," said Rabbi Polish, speaking about the Conser- vative movement to more than 200 Conservative and Reform Jews Jan. 20 at Con- gregation Shaarey Zedek. The speech was a two-part program sponsored by Shaarey Zedek's and Temple Beth El's brotherhoods. On Jan. 13, Rabbi Irwin Groner spoke about Reform Judaism at the temple. "We know what Or- 4