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Step
By Step

Conservative movement
works to be more inclusive
to interfaith couples.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

N

ot much has changed
locally since United
Synagogue for
Conservative Judaism (USCJ)
in March 2017 passed a ruling
allowing non-Jewish spouses to
become members of its congre-
gations. This is mainly because
a large enough demographic of
interfaith families joining the
area’s Conservative synagogues
simply does not exist.
The ruling was the result
of a year-long commission
exploring ways to engage
intermarried couples. It
stated that USCJ, the network
of Conservative synagogues
across North America, sup-
ports every affiliated kehillah
(congregation) in developing its
own criteria for membership.
“USCJ, as a valued and
trusted partner, is committed
to assisting welcoming, vibrant,
and caring Jewish communi-
ties to fully engage the spiritual
gifts of all community mem-
bers. We celebrate the diversity
among and within our kehillot
and encourage the engage-
ment of all those who seek a
spiritual and communal home
in an authentic and dynamic
Jewish setting. We call on all of
our kehillot to open their doors

couples who are intermarried
wide to all who want to enter.”
(16 percent) and contains the
The Conservative movement
lowest percentage of married
at the same time also reaf-
couples in households age
firmed its prohibition on its
rabbis from marrying interfaith 35-49 who are intermarried (18
percent) and had the highest
couples.
conversion rate (33 percent)
According to rabbis here —
as well as a 2005 Detroit Jewish and the lowest percentage
of Jewish children age 0-17
population study updated in
being raised in intermarried
2010 confirming the rate of
households (6 percent). There
intermarriage as small and
holding steady — the interfaith were no statistics focusing on
how intermarriage played out
families affiliated with the
amongst Conservative
Conservative move-
Jews.
ment in Detroit for
Rabbi Steven
years are welcomed
Rubenstein at
and have been treated
Beth Ahm of West
no differently than the
Bloomfield said there
rest of their congre-
are only a handful of
gants outside of a few
interfaith families at
ritual prohibitions,
his congregation and,
such as being counted
Rabbi Steven
while some may come
in a minyan and saying
Rubenstein
to usher at services,
prayers on the bimah.
none are seeking out
The study found 76
leadership positions.
percent of married couples
“This is simply not a major
are in-married; 8 percent are
issue for us,” Rubenstein said.
conversionary in-married; and
“We know this is playing out
16 percent are intermarried.
all over the country; but, as a
About 50 percent of children
age 0-17 in intermarried house- whole, Detroit has a lower per-
centage of interfaith families,
holds are being raised Jewish.
and of the families who do fit
In comparison with dozens
this demographic, they know
of other Jewish communi-
they are welcome to all our ser-
ties, Detroit ranked the fourth
vices and programming, from
lowest percentage of married

men’s club to sisterhood
to book club to other
educational opportuni-
ties.”
When it comes to
the issue of conversion,
Rubenstein points to the
views of Conservative
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove,
Randy and Leah Gawel
who believes the
Conservative movement
community in Detroit, couples
needs to rethink its approach
like Randy and Leah Gawel of
to potential Jews by Choice
Novi think that it is a “myth”
while staying in the parameters that Conservative synagogues
of Jewish law.
are not welcoming to interfaith
“Conversion is a legitimate
couples and families.
process,” Rubenstein said. “We
Married for 21 years and rais-
have to actively help those who ing two teen-aged children, the
are interested feel connected to Gawels have been members of
Jewish life and find their way to Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Jewish tradition in a language
in Southfield and now belong
that is different than the kind
to B’nai Israel Synagogue of
used in the past.”
West Bloomfield. Randy, who
What is at stake for
converted to Judaism five years
Conservative synagogues here
ago, said the recent USCJ rul-
and elsewhere is balancing the
ing makes sense and is a deci-
need to maintain and grow
sion that shows the movement
membership while not divert-
is trying to keep up with the
ing from the movement’s com-
times.
mitment to tradition. While
When the family belonged to
most interfaith couples and
CSZ, Gawel said he always felt
families have found a comfort
welcomed. Like other dedicat-
level at Reform temples or
ed parents of school-aged chil-
choosing post-affiliation con-
dren, he spent years volunteer-
nections such as The Well to
ing at synagogue programming,
stay connected to the Jewish
at religious school, Shabbat

continued on page 38

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February 8 • 2018

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