711A77.17
1,071777
1
H
appy, Ecstatic, Can't say enough good
stuff...that's Sandy Weiss, who LOVES
Gittleman Construction and the work they do. Her
enthusiasm began 12 years ago when she and
husband Norm embarked upon a major remodel of
their home.
MOVEMENT
The minute we met Scott (Gittleman), I felt
comfortable," recalled Sandy.
So comfortable that the couple left everything—
new floors to new walls to new rooms—up to
Gittleman and his team who in 10 months of
renovations, never once failed to deliver.
"He promised I'd get my bedroom back in four
months, and in four months, I got my bedroom
back," Sandy said. "He kept every promise."
That's why when the Weiss's recently needed a speedy response for a flooded basement, they
immediately called Gittleman. "He tries to do everything he can to accommodate you."
Basement now redone, Sandy doesn't think she'll need Gittleman again, but the grandmother of two
can't help but shower motherly praise on the amiable contractor. "He's absolutely wonderful."
Next time you need care and consideration besides a job done on time and within budget, you can
get it all from Gittleman.
JUST ASK NORM AND SANDY WEISS.
GG CONSTRUCTION
GITTLEMAN
inc
28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334
248.538.5400
www.gittleman.net
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World
from page 25
Jewish law, and embracing modernity
despite successes in education, many
and a modern approach to religious
Jews raised in the Conservative move-
observance. Its legal scholars have in
ment are "often off at Orthodox shuls."
some instances hued strictly to tradition-
Much of the substance "in our shuls is
al interpretations of the legal code and in geared towards 'entry-level' Jews and not
others adapted it to current thinking.
advanced' Jews," Rabbi Ismar Schorsch
The movement, for example, has said
said on March 6, according to a spokes-
that driving on Sabbath, prohibited
woman for the Rabbinical Assembly.
according to a strict halachic reading, is
And while these "advanced" Jews remain
permissible in order to attend worship
intellectually Conservative, they have
services. On the other hand, it voted in
trouble finding satisfaction at Conserva-
1992 not to ordain openly gay
tive shuls, he said.
rabbis and officiating at same-sex
Yudof said the Conservative
marriages, although those posi-
movement suffers from a prob-
tions are being debated.
lem that the other denomina-
With its numbers in decline
tions do not face. "We do such
and its population aging, some
a good job of inculcating the
observers outside the Conserva-
values of the Conservative
tive fold have predicted the
movement in our young peo-
movement's ultimate demise.
ple through our organizational
Rabbi Rank
And while Conservative leaders
youth groups, that frequently
strongly dispute such dire prog-
they return to homes and syna-
nostications, there seems to be a
gogue communities that don't
growing consensus among them that the support the values they have come to
stream needs a serious shot in the arm if embrace," she said.
it hopes to thrive alongside its revitalized
Perhaps this is what Rabbi Schorsch
Reform and Orthodox counterparts.
was referring to when he spoke of a sig-
"I see that this is a call to action rather nificant "disconnect" between Jewish
than a cause for alarm," said Judy Yudof, education in the movement — which he
international president of the United
said was vibrant and strong — and its
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the
synagogues. He suggested remedies for
movement's congregational arm. "Con-
revitalizing this realm of Jewish life.
servative Judaism resonates, I feel, with a
Among them, he stressed the need to
majority of Jews. We just haven't been
reaffirm the validity of halachic bound-
very good marketers for our message."
aries. He also cited both Chabad and
According to the National Jewish
Reform in saying that the American
Population Survey 2000 - 01, only 33
Jewish community is hungry for charis-
percent of 4.3 million affiliated Ameri-
matic leadership and ideas.
can Jews identified as Conservative. That
Jonathan Sarna, a professor of Jewish
represented a drop of 10 percentage
history at Brandeis University in
points over the past decade — a period
Waltham, Mass., who delivered a plena-
during which Reform and Orthodox
ry address at the convention, said
ranks swelled. This finding represented
Conservative Judaism, which once was
the first time since the inception of such
supposed to be an inclusive tent repre-
surveys in 1971 that Reform Jews out-
senting most Jews to the right of
numbered Conservative Jews.
Reform, has become narrower and more
Further, the report found, nearly half
constricted in recent decades, leading to
of all adult Jews who were raised Con-
its shrinking appeal.
servative no longer consider themselves
"In religion, a centrist movement, if it
to be so. But leaders insist it's not all
seeks to remain healthy and grow, needs
downhill for the movement. They cite
constantly to widen its circle of adher-
an increasing number of day schools and ents," Sarna said in his address.
day-school students as a sign of strength.
Sarna cited break-off movements such
In addition, a large New Jersey syna-
as Reconstructionism and the havurah
gogue recently decided to appoint a
movement as evidence of Conservative's
woman to its senior rabbinic position,
narrowing appeal. He also mentioned
the first time a woman has held a job at
the explosion of nondenominational
a Conservative shul with more than 500
minyanim — many founded and run by
families. Leaders called the move
people from the Conservative movement
"groundbreaking."
— that in recent years have begun to
Indeed, said Rabbi Rank, "the statis-
attract young Jews in droves.
tics only tell partial truths."
Sarna, though, said the movement
could take heart from the resurgence
Still, in an address that spurred much
discussion at the assembly's convention
of Reform and Orthodox Judaism,
in Houston, the leader of the Conserva-
both of which were able to effect large
tive movement's flagship Jewish Theo-
turnarounds after years of declining
logical Seminary in New York said that
vitality. ❑