Christmas or Hanukah?

Too often, intermarried

couples put off any decisions

regarding religion. And quite

often, the decision they

make is no decision at all.

That may work today, but

what about later? What

about the rich Jewish tradi-

tions that can provide you

with a sense of belonging, of

comfort in times of need and

of identity for your

children? Think about it,

and when you're ready,

give us a call.

Make the connection...
We're here for you.

INTERFAITH

CONNECTION

1400-3914816

76

in at least 20 hours a week as volunteer
coordinator of the program.
Twenty years ago in Boston she
embarked on what has become a
lifelong exploration into the body of
Jewish knowledge. During the first
session of a class on Jewish folklore,
Nancy introduced herself, then said, "I
am starting my Jewish education today."
"It was really profound," she
recalls. "When I first started learning
I felt I [had] encountered a support
group of my very own... There were
people on my wave length who
understood my point of view and my
feelings about things. It's very
comforting if you're one of those
people who worries about what God
wants of me, why are there these
contradictions in life."
One of the contradictions Nancy
faced as she continued her studies was
that as learners advanced in their
capability to handle text more deeply,
the opportunities for study dwindled.
"There is a pyramid structure," she
explains. The more serious you get,
the fewer and fewer people there are in
any one synagogue who are interested
and able to participate. There is no
longer the critical mass [in any one shul]
to hold such classes.
That realization propelled Nancy
to invite Rabbi Aaron Bergman of
Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel
Moses and Rabbi Elliot Pachter of
Congregation B'nai Moshe, where
she chaired adult education, to create
a syllabus to fill that niche. The plan
was that they would teach at one
another's congregations. "People are
so compartmentalized," Nancy says.
"We wanted to bring people
together.
And bring them together she has.
Since its inception three years ago,
Eilu v' Eilu now includes as sponsors
not only the two original synagogues,
but Hillel Day School; Congregations
Adat Shalom, Shaarey Zedek and

Beth Shalom; and the Women's
League for Conservative Judaism-
Michigan Branch.
Nancy, who, for 2 1 /2 years was
Midrasha's director of community
education, is thrilled with the results
so far.
"When you get to this level of
seriousness in terms of engagement,"
she says, "you find yourself in a room
with people who are self-defined in that
they are learning for learning's own sake.
They may not share your level of
kashrut, or daven where you do, or have
your political ideals, but if you share an
idea of studying Torah lishma, for its
own sake, then you are in sync with
them in a major way. You can form
bonds of friendship with people whom
you might never had had the chance to
meet.
And her innovative programming is
attracting adults with various levels of
learning experience. For instance, a
session on the Jewish angles in
"Seinfeld" attracted 200 people. Her
Drivetime Torah Tapes appeal to those
unable to attend sessions in person.
Another motive behind Eilu v'Eilu's
mission to educate congregants of
Conservative synagogues is to reinforce
what it means to be a Conservative Jew.
One of the top priorities," Nancy
says, "is that lifelong learning is of
paramount importance and that Jewish
education is not just a pediatric exercise,
but is something that every Jew should
do his or her entire life."
Ellen Labes began attending Eilu
v'Eilu's Latte & Learning classes in
the fall of 1998, and she hasn't missed
one since. "These courses have given
me a whole new perspective on how
our Jewish traditions touch every
corner of our lives. I never learned
these things as a kid. In truth, it takes
an adult perspective to experience
these courses. It starts my week out
in the best way."

continued on page 78

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