The Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit
invites the community to participate in
,
ty and Judaism," said Howard
Friedman, program chair. "Every
year we've seen a greater interest in
these kinds of programs, and we've
responded."
At the same time, he said, the
event's standing as a premier singles
event has grown.
"The conference has become
—more of an attraction for Jewish sin-
gles, which is wonderful; it's the best
possible setting for Jewish people to
meet," Friedman said. UJA officials
estimate that a little more than half
of the 3,000 participants were sin-
gle.
A shift toward
core values.
In a keynote speech that could
serve as a summary of the conven-
tion's underlying theme, Rabbi
Donniel Hartman, associate director
of the Shalom Hartman Institute of
Jerusalem, called on delegates to
find new ways to identify with
Judaism and Jewish tradition.
"I am not in love with my
Judaism because of the hatred of
others; I need to find my own con-
nection, a connection that gives me
meaning," he said.
He urged the audience to create a
covenant of meaning. If you're
looking for God and you're looking
for spirituality and you don't find it
in your synagogue, don't leave; join
your rabbi and your ritual commit-
tee and change your shul. It's in
your power to demand something
more of Judaism."
But in another example of the
intriguing juxtaposition of styles
that characterized the conference, he
was followed by comedienne Rita
Rudner, who described her own
Jewish past in comic terms —
including her family's membership
in "the Beth Israel Temple and Yacht
Club. It was a very fancy temple; we
used to read from the Torah in
French."
The best-attended session on
Sunday — as UJA officials predicted
— was a singles event featuring
Jeffrey Zaslow, syndicated advice
columnist, who offered advice on
"the art and science of ending your
status as a Jewish single."
But there were a host of smaller
"
workshops on meatier spiritual top-
ics, including an overcrowded ses-
sion with writer and talk show host
Dennis Prager on finding the holy in
the mundane.
UJA officials tried to downplay
interest in the pluralism controversy,
but sessions on the subject were
among the best-attended at the con-
ference. But unlike other venues,
there was little rancor.
"The religious pluralism issue in
Israel is a major driving force for
many people here," said Alan
Gallatin, a New York tax consultant
and Young Leadership veteran.
"Many people here are anxious to
learn what is being said about it and
what the different viewpoints are."
Avrum Burg, top executive of the
Jewish Agency, told participants at
one session that, "I am not at all
sure the (pluralism) issue is solvable
in our generation. But part of the
solution is to start asking questions
together."
Interest in Israel was strong, but
different than at past conferences. A
session on "Children of Giants," fea-
turing the offspring of some of
Israel's pioneers, was packed to the
rafters.
For the first time, the UJA con-
vention included large numbers of
Israelis as part of the Partnership
2000 program. That, several UJA
officials said, added to the more per-
sonal character of the Israel pro-
gramming.
"There is a sense that people want
something beyond the political
aspect of support for Israel, which
perhaps we emphasized too much in
the past," said a Young Leadership
official. "This time there was a
deliberate attempt to heighten the
personal connection." ❑
Clarification
Sammie Moshenberg, director of
Washington operations for
National Council of Jewish
Women, spoke at the local NCJW
offices on Tuesday, March 24. She
will not be speaking April 7.
In a photograph in the March 20
issue, Hannah Kowalsky, shown
with her grandfather Larry, was
inaccurately identified. We regret
the error.
I A CONVERSATION I
WITH
Bob Naftaly & Bob Aronson
President
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
"What will be
the priorities for the
21st Century?"
Wednesday, April 1
7:30 p.m.
Max M. Fisher
Federation Building
6735 Telegraph
Bloomfield Hills
•
v„.
Jewish Air
Community
Counc
il The Public Affairs Voice of the
Detroit Jewish Community
For information on this program
please call the Jewish Community Council office
(248) 642-5393
This program is co-sponsored
by the DETROIT JEWISE NEWS
'TN •
3/27
1998
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