Synagogues
Judaism's
Pervasive Joy
we seek to define ourselves in this
ew year, it has become increasing-
ly apparent that it really doesn't matter
what we call ourselves — that is the
movements to which we show our alle-
giance. Rather, what matters most is
how we act and how we live.
Judaism has always placed deed
before creed. More than anything else
that reality not only will ensure our
future, but also will help us thrive as a
Jewish community.
Yes, I am a Reform Jew. That is the
movement in which I was raised. And,
yes, I studied to be a rabbi at Hebrew
Union College, the Reform rabbinical
school.
But what I have learned most as a
rabbi is that it truly does not matter
what you call yourself. The names, the
titles only divide us and seem to indi-
cate what we won't do, what we won't
allow, who doesn't belong with us.
Today more than ever, what matters
most is that our Judaism is open, wel-
A
coming, inclusive — and that
bring a Vedanta instructor there
it does so in a way that pro-
to teach?
vides substance and depth to
Judaism, in order to thrive,
what we believe.
has to move with the times.
How many Jews and their
This is precisely what the rab-
families feel disenchanted
bis did nearly 2,600 years ago
today with our faith? Some
after the destruction of the
may sense that the Jewish
First Temple. They recognized
community behaves like an
that if we only could offer sacri-
Rabbi Michael
exclusive club — it is all
fices in Jerusalem at the
Moskowitz
about whom you know and
Temple, and we no longer had a
Special to the
how connected you can be. In
Temple, then in order to sur-
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sensing that, they know that
vive, we would have to create a
they do not belong.
different kind of sacrifice.
What about those who feel that they
And so they created our prayers,
are not accepted, or a spouse is not
what they called the sacrifice of the
welcomed? Maybe they married some-
heart. With that freedom, we were
one not Jewish, and although they hope given the blessing of being able to pray
to have a Jewish home, they still sense
anywhere.
that this community will not fully
Suddenly, we understood the power
acknowledge them.
in sanctifying time, rather than space;
Or maybe it is the Jew seeking some-
in seeing the moments in our lives as
thing spiritual, an individual on a per-
holy, as sacred, rather than the physi-
sonal journey hoping to return to his or cal place where we might have been.
her roots. Yet if our religion provides a
This is just one of the thousands of
spiritual connection, why is it that our
innovations the rabbis created. The
sanctuaries often have more seats
rabbis maneuvered a crisis into an
empty than full during services while
opportunity and made being progres-
the yoga studios are packed when they
sive a blessing. Such must be the way
we live and create our lives.
For Judaism to blossom, as is truly
its potential, we need to continue this
model of our ancestors. The rabbis
understood the needs of their time, of
their people.
Talk to most Jews today, and we can
sense our population's needs as well.
We want to feel something. We want
connections. We want to be welcomed
and loved.
Our blessing is that we are able to do
this, not by watering down our faith,
but with complete integrity, welcoming
in the intermarried, embracing the dis-
enchanted, educating the adult and
child together in the most supportive of
ways — and doing it all, not with a
heaviness of heart or sense of manda-
tory obligation. Doing it all with the
pervasive joy that is inherent to our
faith.
This is more than a goal. This is our
mission.
ages. With a newfound creativi-
ty and spirituality, rabbis, can-
tors and educators are commit-
back) to religion for an anchor, a
ted to helping people of all ages
rootedness that cannot otherwise
find a Judaism that is alive and
be achieved with our busy sched-
immediately meaningful to our
ules, our cellular phones and our
lives — helping us celebrate
teleconferencing.
our greatest moments, and sup-
Now, more than ever,
Rabbi
porting us in difficult times.
Conservative Judaism is ideally sit-
Eric Yanoff
The discovery of such beauty
uated to provide the comfort and
Special to the
in
our culture and tradition is a
strength of such groundedness.
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lifelong
journey — and we wel-
With an eye to modernity, the
come
all
in our beloved commu-
Conservative movement is in an
nity
to
join
in
this
exciting
adventure!
exciting era of re-invention — but with
Especially in Detroit, the Conservative
our firm and comfortable grasp on tradi-
movement is a nation-wide model for
tion, we are providing a haven from that
cooperation among community institu-
same breakneck pace of life in today's
tions,
particularly in the area of education
world. Conservative communities are help-
initiatives.
The Conservative synagogues
ing people re-connect — not only with
have
come
together on a variety of proj-
one another in the warm, welcoming envi-
ects,
including
a newly extended scholars-
ronments of synagogues, schools, camps,
in-residence
program,
a community
adult education and other venues — but
Selichot
program
before
Rosh Hashanah,
also across the generations. We connect
and
a
joint
Conservative
Judaism
Institute
both in the present and throughout time.
This link to one another in today's world for those whom we can welcome into our
communities as Jews-by-choice.
community, when coupled with the link to
This coming together is overwhelmingly
millennia of wisdom, tradition and her-
powerful;
as we read in Proverbs: Errov
itage, is the unique gift of Conservative
Am
Hadrat
Moloch — "In the power of
Judaism.
great
numbers
in our community coming
The coming year will be a banner year
together,
we
achieve
the splendor of royal-
for Conservative Judaism in the Detroit
ty. 77
community, in our re-energized emphasis
In particular, 5766 will be a year of
on community education for people of all
great promise and energy for the
Conservative movement as we will mark a
transfer of leadership in our flagship edu-
cational institution, the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America.
Chancellor Ismar Schorsch has ably led
the movement over the last two decades,
but whenever there is new leadership in a
movement, we find an opportunity to take
a fresh look at our most basic beliefs, to
see anew where innovation is needed, to
re-direct our vision according to these
beliefs and to articulate a vision for the
future.
We will see that the central tenet of
Conservative Judaism will remain the mis-
sion of /Val }Israel (People of Israel) —
the belief that in Judaism, our affiliation
to the whole of our people and our history
is greater than any one individual. What
better sense of belonging and community
could exist than this inspiring and endur-
ing message?
As we seek comfort, inspiration and
energy in the uniquely American brand of
Conservative Judaism — a style that
blends tradition with modernity, familiarity
with advancement — I pray that in the
coming year we may all find our anchor,
our sense of rootedness in our various
communities. L'shanah tovah ►
Conservative Movement Re-Invented
Cince moving to this area just over a
year ago, I find myself re-invigorated
and inspired by two seemingly opposite
stories among members of the Detroit
Jewish community:
The first: "My family has lived here for-
ever, and my kids are fifth-generation
Shaarey Zedek."
And the second: "We're new to the area
(or just returning after a long time away).
We're just looking for a nice community to
grow up with."
The first comment amazes me because,
coming from the much more transient
East Coast, I am awed by that longevity,
those intergenerational ties to this com-
munity. And the second comment ener-
gizes me because I see the potential of
new connections taking root, forming
bonds that, one day, may become frfth-
generation community memberships.
Nowadays, around the globe, people are
less rooted. As a society, we move around
more easily; kids seek the coasts, and
some come back for family later — but
the long-distance, ever-transient family is
a relatively new and difficult reality.
Technology accelerates our lives, simul-
taneously bringing us closer in contact
and harder to pin down. Amidst all of this
chaos, I see people turning (or turning
142
Michael Moskowitz is a rabbi at
Congregation Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield.
Eric Yanoff is a rabbi at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek of Oakland County.
September 29 2005 al