has spoken recently with the heads of
numbers of religiously observant or
the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish
committed Jews."
Theological Seminary of America to dis-
Conservative synagogues, she said,
cuss how the groups can work more
require more background knowledge of
closely, and that all acknowledged the
Hebrew and liturgy than Reform ones,
need for change.
although in recent years, Reform syna-
"Neither debated the fact that the
gogues have incorporated more Hebrew
arms are speaking at each other, rather
and more traditional rituals.
than with each other, and they seemed
"I've watched people leave because
interested in how we might be able to
one member of a couple doesn't have
work more collaboratively," said Yudof,
that level, and go to where there's less
who is from Minneapolis.
Hebrew, i.e., to Reform," Bildner said.
JTS is not part of the convention, but
However, others are more optimistic
its chancellor, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch,
about the Conservative movement.
and some of its leadership will attend.
In addition to the Balkanization of the
movement's national institutions, there
Growing Vigor ---
is a disconnect, Yudof said, between
Riv-Ellen Prell, an American studies
individual members and the larger
professor at University of Minnesota
movement. "There's a tendency to with-
who has studied the Conservative
draw into the political life of one's own
movement, said one can see the "vital-
community and not have global view of
ity of the Conservative movement in
the movement," she said.
the growth of day schools and in the
Two Conservative institutions — the
ongoing and growing popularity of the
Women's League for Conservative
Ramah movement, whose camps are
Judaism and the Federation of Jewish
oversubscribed."
Men's Clubs — are not participating.
In a recent study done with other
Leaders of those groups cited the high
researchers, Prell also found that the
costs of the convention.
educational expectations for bar/bat
Organizers say the price reflects the
mitzvah, as well as commitment to
high cost of kosher catering — the regis- study following bar/bat mitzvah, has
tration fee includes three meals per day
grown in recent years in the
— and is higher than usual because the
Conservative movement.
convention is in Washington.
Rabbi Joel Meyers, executive vice pres-
ident of the Rabbinical Assembly, said,
"Reform is probably the largest of the
1,500 Delegates
movements and probably will remain so
Approximately 1,500 people are expect-
for awhile." But he said while Reform
ed for the convention — a number
may be attracting Jews on the "margins"
organizers say is about what they had
of the Conservative movement, studies
expected, although there had been initial have shown that "people opt for the
concerns about turnout being lower. .
Conservative movement."
Some in the field say it is getting more
"It's not a default," he said.
difficult to recruit members to their syn-
"Members of the Conservative move-
agogues.
ment know they're Conservative and
Elisa Spungen Bildner, who calls her-
want to be Conservative. There's a
self a "very committed" Conservative
very positive dynamic at work in the
Jew and is a co-founder of the
Conservative movement in the sense
Foundation for Jewish Camping, said
that people are knowledgeable — they
the "competition is fierce" for potential
want to be and they're proud to be."
synagogue members. "It's much easier
One of her goals, Yudof said, is to
not to be a Conservative Jew," Bildner
inspire and encourage more
said. "Coupled with so many intermar-
Conservative Jews to become knowl-
riages and the acceptance of the inter-
edgeable and observant. "When
married by the Reform movement, it
someone says they don't keep kosher
makes the Conservative movement's job
or are not shomer Shabbos," or Sabbath
tough."
observant, "we say to them politely,
Bildner, who belongs to Congregation
`Not yet,' "
Shomrei Emunah in Montclair, N.J.,
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice
said she recently spoke for two hours
president of the United Synagogue,
with the synagogue's membership chair
echoed Yudof. "I want to encourage
about the challenges. "I look at
people to" observe rituals "not because
Conservative Judaism as a way to be
they have to, but because we've con-
egalitarian and also observant, which
vinced them it will add to their lives,"
Orthodoxy does not allow me to do.
he said.
That's what propels me."
"If we can do that, we don't have to
But around her, she sees "declining
worry about numbers." Cl

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