reversal' Rabbi Epstein says he
didn't believe two decades ago that
the Conservatiire movement "had
the resources to both promote in-
marriage and keruv" But with
intermarriage a reality, he says he
has "come to the conclusion that
whether we can or can't do both,
we must."
Rabbi Epstein believes the new
approach "goes beyond the idea of
keruv as welcoming the intermar-
ried;' but without transgressing
any key Conservative values.
"There are many things that are
permitted that we have not done
he hints. •
The initiative calls upon congre-
gations to actively encourage con-
version, particularly of non-Jews
already in Conservative families.
"The process we've traditionally
had, which makes it difficult to
convert, was probably valuable at a
particular time Rabbi Epstein
says. "While I'm not looking to
recruit people off the street, for
those who have already chosen to
be part of a relationship with a Jew,
we ought to be passionate and
compassionate toward them."
Rabbi Epstein believes keruv is
the biggest challenge facing Con-
servative Jewry. "Our success here _
will determine not only the destiny
of the movement but the destiny of
American Jewish life' he says.
The Conservatives are broaden-
ing their embrace of the intermar-
ried just two weeks after Reform
leader Rabbi Eric Yoffie proposed
at that movement's biennial that
Reform congregations ask non-
Jewish spouses to consider conver-
sion. Are the two approaches con-
verging? Not really, Rabbi Meyers
says.
"Maybe at the edges
Conservative is becoming more
Reform," he acknowledges, "but the
two movements are distinctive.
The Reform movement's position
is that each person and rabbi is
autonomous and does their own
thing, while we believe in Halachah
and mitzvot. We have a clear idea
of how people should behave."
"The Reform movement reaches
out" and makes intermarried
members feel comfortable, says
Rabbi Moshe Edelman, director of
congregational planning and lead-
ership development for the United
Synagogue. "We're saying, reach
out and gather in for the sake of
sanctity, of kedushah," or holiness.
December 1 •2005
MUSIC! ;
Rabbi Schorsch: retiring chancellor
"We're not looking for a comfort
zone."
Rabbi Edelman has been test-
marketing the keruv initiative to
groups within and outside the
Conservative movement, and says
it has gone through at least a dozen
versions.
The initiative offers "a sugges-
tion of approaches" rather than
dictating policy, Rabbi Epstein
says. "Its called al-haderech," or on
the path,"rather than 'this is it.'"
He expects that the new open-
ness will impact the movement's
,Camp Ramah and Solomon
Schechter day schools, both of
which place restrictions on chil-
dren of non-Jewish mothers.
Discussion of Rabbi Schorsch's
replacement, a hot topic among
movement leaders and rabbis, will
take place more circumspectly, in
corridors and private meetings
rather than plenary sessions. The
seminary's search committee is
still evaluating candidates.
The USCJ also will consider res-
olutions supporting immigration
reform, religious freedom in the .
workplace and food programs for
the poor, opposing family violence
and congratulating the United
Nations for its improved treatment
of Israel,
There also is a resolution -on
reproductive choice, a carefully
worded document that opposes
any civil laws that would prevent
an abortion that religious authori-
ties have determined is halachi-
cally warranted — that is, where
the mother's life and health are at
risk. ❑
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