COLLOQUIUM '99
EXPLORES THE STRUGGLE
TO FIND A NEW
JEWISH IDENTITY
"BEYOND TRADITION;'
OCTOBER 7TH-10TH.
What is the answer to the question
of Jewish survival?
This issue dominates current discus-
sion within the Jewish world. Many Jews
are returning to traditional religion.
Even the Reform movement has reject-
ed the radical thrust of its earlier years
and is going back to traditional prac-
tice. Is this return to tradition an appro-
priate direction for non-traditional
Jews? Can a traditional life style be the
answer for liberal Jews who no longer
believe in the premises of the old reli-
gion?
The Great Debate.
An intense debate is taking place in the
Jewish world between those who want
to return to tradition and those who
still want to pursue bold creative alter-
natives. This debate is raging in non-
traditional Jewish movements. Reform,
Reconstructionist and Renewal Jews are
arguing the question. Zionists and
Israelis are debating the issue. Which
path is the best path for providing a
meaningful Judaism for non-traditional
Jews? Which one is the best guarantee
for Jewish survival? These and other
questions will be discussed in depth at
Colloquium '99.
Provocative Questions.
Did the Enlightenment undermine Jewish faith and lead to
assimilation? Have the Reform and
Reconstructionist movements betrayed
their
founding vision? What happened
Featured Speakers
to the secular vision of the Zionist
Shulamit Aloni
movement? Is the Torah the "glue" that
Israeli Political Leader
keeps the Jewish people together? How
Ze' ev Chafets
do we establish an appropriate balance
Israeli Journalist
between tradition and innovation,
Joseph Chuman
between continuity and creativity,
Columbia University
between what we know to be true and
Dan Cohn-Sherbok
what ancient writings declare to be the
University of Wales
"truth"?
Marcia Falk
Jewish Liturgist/California
Three Stimulating Days.
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
Scholars and leaders from many coun-
Boulder Renewal
tries will explore this subject in depth at
Congregation/Colorado
Colloquium '99, October 7th- I 0th at
Rabbi Daniel Friedman
the Pivnick Center for Humanistic
Congregation Beth Or/Chicago
Judaism at the Birmingham Temple.
Emanuel Goldsmith
Colloquium '99 is sponsored by the
Queens College/New York
International Institute for Secular
Jack Jacobs
Humanistic Judaism, the educational
City University of New York
arm of the Secular Humanistic Jewish
Yaakov Malkin
movement, training rabbis and leaders
College for Pluralistic
for congregational and community
Judaism/Jerusalem
work. For information about registration
Rabbi Sherwin Wine
and hotel accommodations, call 248-
International Institute
476-9532, or visit our web site at
www shj .org.
For More Information and Registration Call (248) 476-9532
COLLOQUIUM '99
E-MAIL:
IISHJ@speedlink.net or visit us on the internet at www.shj.org
International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism with the support of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.