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z

ocal Reform rabbis say a new
national Statement of
Principles will make virtually
no difference in the way their
congregations are run. The document
describes the modern Reform Judaism
their congregations already practice
and it doesn't mandate changing that
practice, the five pulpit rabbis said.
In a typical reaction, Rabbi Daniel
B. Syme of Temple Beth El, said: "We
are already doing many things in the
platform.
He said the essence of the docu-
ment is to suggest the movement be
more open to ritual and observance
than it was historically. But, he noted,
many Beth El congregants made that
shift in recent years.
"The platform in and of itself is not
a profound document," said Rabbi
Dannel Schwartz of Temple Shir
Shalom, "and does not have a major
effect on the way people think about
Reform Judaism." Noting that his con-
gregants include many intermarried
couples and converts who have already
made thoughtful decisions about just
how observant they will be, he said the
platform is unlikely to affect them
except as "something to talk about.
The statement was adopted a month
ago by the Central Conference of
American Rabbis in Pittsburgh, where
the movement's first national platform
had been crafted in 1885. The emerging
Reform movement of that time rejected
many of the traditional outward signs
and practices of Judaism, such as wear-
ing kippot (skullcaps) or laying tefillin
(strapping on phylacteries) for prayers.
Subsequent platforms, including
one adopted 23 years ago, largely -
maintained that approach. In the last
two years, however, a drafting corn-
mittee worked on a new statement.
The version circulated last fall drew
wide comment for its apparent insis-
tence on much greater ritual.
Ultimately, however, the CCAR
meeting backed away from the most
stringent terms of the draft. The rabbis
settled on language that encourages
congregants to understand the practices,
while leaving them free to choose exact-
ly which mitzvot are most significant to
them and how they will observe them.

) )

As a member of the CCAR Executive
Board, Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg of
Congregation Shir Tikvah, was closely
involved in the drafting process.
He said he was ultimately very
much in favor of the proposed state-
ment, explaining that "part of the evo-
lution of any movement is to move
back toward the center, and personally
that's where I want to be."
He described his 290-family syna-
gogue as being "on the cutting edge of
changes toward tradition for {the last]
15 years, already observing such "tra-
ditional aspects of Judaism as tashlich
(casting away of sins), selichot (service
asking forgiveness) wearing kippot
(skullcaps), tallitot (prayer shawls) and
davening (praying) and chanting."
Rabbi Mark Goldfarb of Temple
Beth El in Flint said the document's
inclusion of Reform Judaism's open
doors was significant. In addition to the <
historic commitment to the equality of
women and men in Jewish life, the doc-
ument describes welcoming those of all
sexual orientations as well as converts
and the intermarried, as long as they try
to create a Jewish home. He said his
congregation would be interested in the
new statements of ritual for life-cycle
events, such as puberty and menopause.
Goldfarb said the freedom of
choice that is at the heart of Reform
Judaism requires an educated choice,
by affirming personal autonomy
based on understanding. Describing
the document as "descriptive as
opposed to prescriptive," he said it
depicts the movement as "You're
right, and you're right."
Sleutelberg agrees, explaining that
choices are acceptable. He said state-
ments such as, "I don't practice anything;
I guess I'm Reform," make him cringe.
He wants his members to be able to say,
Reform, so I can decide whether or
not to wear tefillin or keep kosher."
In the short term, the rabbis say
they have ro become more familiar with
the 1,500-word document. After that,
they said, they expect the document to
inspire and encourage discussion among
congregants as they share its insights
through temple bulletins, in adult edu-
cation and from the bima (sanctuary
stage where service is conducted). I I

The fiill text of the new plasorm is avail-
able on the Web at: umnaccarnetorg

(

(248) 540-5550

