Editor's Letter
A Movement In Crisis
T
.movement over time gravitate to the Orthodox community on
he Conservative movement on campus must reach
out to students who share its religious philosophy if it campus. "Students lament that the Conservative minyan lacks
a strong sense of community:' he says.
has any hope of retaining them after graduation.
That should send shock waves through a movement des-
Students raised Conservative w'on't automatically embrace the
perate for re-calibrating its position between the growing and
movement on campus, where too many other allures await.
easier-to-define Reform and Orthodox movements. Growth of
You would think the movement would ingratiate itself with
the Orthodox movement is one of the great success stories of
Jewish students grounded in
American Judaism, which has been humbled by rising inter-
Conservative beliefs. it doesn't, says
marriage, deepening assimilation and strident apathy. Reform
Rabbi Jason Miller, a 2004 graduate of
Judaism, meanwhile, has leapfrogged over Conservative
the movement's Jewish Theological
Seminary in New York and now associate Judaism as the dOrninant movement.
Conservative Judaism has been a steppingstone for young
director of the University of Michigan
Jews choosing a more committed Jewish life within the
Hillel in Ann Arbor.
I was absorbed by a recent essay of his Orthodox community. And it has followed the Reform move-
ment's successful pursuit of interfaith and gay Jews. But Rabbi
posted on Shma.com , a Web site of
Miller is right: Conservative Judaism cannot stand pat as the
Robert A. Sklar Jewish Family & Life!
college experience contributes to a staggering loss of future
Working
from
the
premise
that
older
Editor
Conservative leaders.
teenagers and 20-somethings tend
He.suggests more Conservative Judaism role models on
toward the extremes, he argues that Conservative Judaism
campus to raise the energy and excitement — and to create a
"prides itself on striking a balance somewhere between the
strong Conservative community. Synagogues must tell high
extremes, harmonizing the tradition with modernity"
school students in concrete,
The movement in general and its synagogues in particular
engaging terms, not abstrac-
are guilty of overlooking this highly impressionable and cru-
tions, why a committed
cial post-high school deniographic. If you don't grab young -
Conservative life can thrive
people when they are shaping their life's course, you'll find it
on campus. Rabbis must tap
harder .to do so when they are ready to settle down. The
into the language of young
explosive attraction of Reform Judaism and Orthodox
people to keep connections:
Judaism among young adults has further challenged the
e-mail, Web sites, blogs and
Conservative movement and heightened its need to change.
podcasts.
"In the Conservative movement, where so much is invested
"On college campuses
in these young people before college, it is a mistake not to
where scholarship and pro-
nurture that commitment beyond high school," writes Rabbi
Miller, 29, in his probing essay, "Is Their Conservative Judaism gressivism are privileged:'
Rabbi Miller says, "one
on Campus?"
would think that
It's an essay every Conservative rabbi and leader should
Conservative Judaism would
ponder.
Rabbi Jason Miller: Where is
be the popular choice
In the essay, Rabbi Miller repeats the familiar theme that
the Conservative movement's
among Jewish students,
the movement must engage congregants "from the time they
campus outreach?
especially those who grew
leave for college until the time they enroll their own children
up in the movement."
in the shul's nursery school." While applying to rabbinical
Why it is not is the most profound question confronting the
school, he acknowledged the initiatives of Koach On Campus,
movement today. Finding the answer and correcting the prob-
the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism's college out-
reach project, but he vowed as a rabbi to go beyond care pack- lem are vital.
The Conservative movement's leadership together must
ages on major holidays and annual visits to state campuses.
market the message on campus that there is, as Rabbi Miller
Certainly, many Conservative congregations, including sev-
says, "much in Conservative Judaism to be excited about:'
eral in Metro Detroit, know the urgency of connecting with
"Our Conservative movement's future greatly depends
recent college graduates. Special programming includes sepa-
upon it," he says.
rate prayer services, young adult social events, networking for
It sure does. ❑
young professionals, and reduced membership dues and fees.
"While these programs are all beneficial:' Rabbi Miller says,
"more must be done on campus before these young people
graduate because it is on campus where Conservative Judaism
is hurting the most."
Has Conservative Judaism lost its way
Indeed.
between Reform and Orthodox Judaism?
Even the name "Conservative" can be a turnoff. As an
example, Rabbi Miller cites declining Conservative niinyan
What precisely is lacking that keeps the
participation at U-M. That "stigma" prompted a. minyan name
movement from resonating on campus?
change to Dor Chadash — Hebrew for New Generation. But
U)
the rabbi is astute enough to know that a new name may
E-mail: letters@thejewishnews.com.
pique new interest but won't solve the underlying problem.
In an especially revealing passage, Rabbi Miller explains
0
a.
how many observant students reared in the Conservative
.
DEREK LAM
FOR
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March 9 • 2006
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