Opening address
by Rabbi Harold Kushner

Vendor Alert!
It is less than a year away and we are already gearing up for a wonderful convention. This year the USCJ will be in Boston. We are anticipating a good group of attendees from all over the country and local folk coming in to shop as well. If you have a favorite vendor and would love to see them at convention give us their name and we’ll see that they are invited.

Contact: Jo-Anne Tucker Zemlak
at either 301-230-0801 x 2
or online at Zemlak@uscj.org.

Framework for Excellence
When you are from the USCJ Department of Education, a truly special moment at Convention occurs when the Framework for Excellence Certificates are awarded. If your school has come into Framework since our last Biennial, we are hoping that you mark the date on your calendar and plan to be there in person to receive your plaque. If your school hasn’t come into Framework just yet, why not use the month before Convention as your date for submitting all of your Framework documentation for approval?

To learn more about what your school needs to do to be named a Framework for Excellence School, contact Wendy Light at either light@uscj.org
or 215-869-1830.

USCJ Vendor Program
For your synagogue’s convenience, the International Biennial Convention will have an array of businesses and professionals available for consultation on a wide variety of congregational needs during Convention.  In addition to Judaica available for synagogue or personal purchase, there will be representatives from companies offering products and services including synagogue furniture, art and design, architecture, memorial boards, computer, insurance, finance, fundraising and capital strategic planning.

There will be two workshops on the theme of Spirituality.  Rabbi Amy Eilberg of the Yedidya Center will teach on Spiritual Direction, exploring how to dedicate a regular period of time to the exploration of the divine presence in one’s life.    Rabbi Daniel Ornstein of Ohav Shalom, Albany, NY, will show how to incorporate Hasidic texts into our services to add dimension and raise the level of philosophical dialogue. 

The Social Action and Public Policy Institute will educate participants on the major policy issues that concern the Jewish community.  Attendees will also learn how to mobilize congregants to be activists for social justice as part of their synagogue's activities.

A congregation's building reflects a three-fold purpose: worship, study and gathering. There are many questions that need to be addressed when a congregation is preparing to build or renovate. Synagogue Construction and Renovation, presented by Maurice Finegold, AIA, will address issues to be considered in creating sacred space.

Synaplex  is a flexible format of cultural, educational, spiritual, and social events offering expanded opportunities to learn, gather, pray, and enjoy synagogue together. Come learn about this exciting program and how to introduce it to your congregation.

Marketing Your Congregation / Membership Recruiting and Retention
Learn how to excite your existing members and attract new members to your congregation's services, programs, and religious school.

Plan to attend this stimulating and informative gathering for:

SOLOMON SCHECHTER AWARDS - The 2005 Edition!
Every two years, the prestigious Solomon Schechter Awards are presented at the USCJ International Biennial Convention to recognize excellence in congregational programming and to help spotlight "models" that may be emulated by other synagogues of USCJ.

The Awards are presented in diverse categories, recognizing that all aspects of synagogue life require hard work, commitment, and creativity. Categories range from Education, to Worship and Ritual, to Judaica, Fine Art and others. Entries are judged by a panel of experts in their field.

Won't you consider sharing your successful programs with your fellow Conservative synagogues, and then bask in the limelight of well-deserved recognition for your efforts? The participation of many congregations helps us to learn where the Movement is -- and should be -- headed.

Please remember that a special volume, describing all winning entries in detail, will be disseminated to all affiliated congregations (as well displayed on the USCJ website) so that others may benefit from these programs. In addition, winning entries will be prominently displayed at Convention 2005 as a prime example of what our synagogues are capable of achieving.

Applications will be available in January. Please check your synagogue mail.

Last month we met Richard Skolnik of the Marketing Committee and Dr. Ray Goldstein for the Underwriting Committee. Now we are pleased to introduce the co-chairs of the host region (New England), Beth Moskowitz and Elizabeth Pressman. They are working to make this convention one filled with excitement, learning, and lots  of RUACH! From showcasing homegrown talent to providing special programs for spouses, both Beth and Elizabeth are working with their committee to assure that everyone attending  the International Biennial Convention will leave Boston not only  with newly acquired knowledge and newly acquired friends, but also with a newly acquired awareness of the Boston Conservative Jewish Community.

Beth Moskowitz is a Past President of Temple Aliyah in Needham, MA. She is the Immediate Past President of the Women’s Division for The Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP, Boston’s Federation).  She currently serves as a Board Member of CJP and National Women’s Philanthropy (UJC).  Presently she is a Trustee of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston and Hebrew College in Newton, MA.  Beth is the Co-President for the Bureau of Jewish Education for Greater Boston while co-chairing the Adult Learning /Me’ah Steering Committee for CJP. 

She has been actively involved with Jews in need overseas in Israel, Argentina, Cuba and the Ukraine.  She is an avid learner, a Me’ah Graduate, and continues to study at the Me’ah Graduate Institute and Kol Isha.

Beth, her husband Michael, and their three children, Vikki, Marissa, and Jeremy, reside in Needham, MA, and look forward to welcoming the convention delegates to Boston.

Elizabeth Pressman is a Past President of Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA, of USCJ New England Region, and of the Board of Camp Ramah in New England.  She is a Vice-President of USCJ and represents USCJ on the National Ramah Commission.  She is also the Publicity Chair for USCJ’s Project Reconnect.  Elizabeth was originally from Hartford, CT.  She and her husband were active members of the Emanuel Synagogue (now in West Hartford) where she went to Hebrew School.  Elizabeth was very active in LTF (Leadership, Training Fellowship) and was a member of USY.  She also spent summers at Camp Ramah in CT as a camper and then a counselor. 

Elizabeth is a graduate of Columbia University and has a Masters from the Heller School at Brandeis University.  Professionally, she is in health care administration, working for the past 23 years for the MA Medicaid/MassHealth program.  Elizabeth is currently the Director of the Primary Provider Network.   Her husband Bob is an attorney, primarily engaged in civil rights litigation.  They have three children, Aaron, a finance journalist, Jeremy, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCONN, and Rachel, an attorney in New York.  They have five grandchildren.  In her spare time, Elizabeth plays tennis, reads, and plays with her grandchildren.

For additional information please e-mail Convention@uscj.org