Frequently Asked Questions about the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rapaport House
155 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010-6802
(212) 533-7800

What is The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism?

The United Synagogue, founded in 1913, is the association of Conservative congregations in North America, today consisting of 760 affiliated synagogues and over one-and-a-half-million members.

What are the objectives of The United Synagogue?

The objectives of The United Synagogue are set forth in the preamble to its Constitution as follows: "The advancement of the cause of Judaism in America and the maintenance of Jewish tradition in its historic continuity; to assert and establish loyalty to the Torah in its historic exposition; to further the observance of Sabbath and the Dietary Laws; to preserve in the Service the reference to Israel's past and the hopes for her restoration; to maintain the traditional character of the liturgy, with Hebrew as the language of prayer; to foster Jewish religious schools, in the curricula of which the study of the Hebrew language and literature shall be given a prominent place..."

When and where did the Conservative Movement originate?

The Conservative Movement originated in Germany in the middle of the nineteenth century and centered around the Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau, founded in 1854 and directed during its first two decades by Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875).

What prompted the creation of the Conservative Movement?

Protest against the excesses of the Reform Movement of that day was the immediate cause which brought the Conservative Movement into being. However, the founders of the Movement were not interested merely in preserving Judaism in the precise form in which they received it from their immediate fathers. They knew that a living organism cannot remain static, and that change, leading to growth or decay, is inevitable. Hence, they sought to guide Jewish life in a manner that would allow for necessary changes without destroying or impairing the essential tradition and the historical continuity of Judaism.

Is there a body for the creation of Conservative Jewish law?

The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly is the Conservative Movement's authority on Jewish law. The United Synagogue has both lay and rabbinic representatives on this body.

Are there rules that relate specifically to congregations?

Recognizing the responsibility of the congregations to teach Judaism by example as well as by precept, and moved by the desire to guide congregations in standards of conduct which exemplify and reflect Jewish traditions and values, The United Synagogue many years ago established its Standards for Congregational Practice, which are reviewed annually and amended at biennial conventions, as needs dictate.

How is The United Synagogue itself structured?

The United Synagogue is a grass-roots organization, with the base consisting of its 760 Conservative synagogues, whose delegates elect the central officers and board of directors in odd-numbered years at the biennial convention. Congregations are grouped within geographic regions in which they elect their own regional officers and directors. The regions are the vehicle through which congregations can become directly involved in the work of the organization. Regional offices provide services and direction in all of the areas listed below.

What are some of the services The United Synagogue renders to its affiliated congregations?

• Department of Education establishes standards for congregational elementary and high schools, and the Solomon Schechter Day Schools (which now number 65); publishes curricula, curricular materials, and books; develops educational policy statements; supervises regional education commissions; offers consultative and field service to affiliated congregations; sponsors teacher in-service programs and lay conferences; publishes occasional educational pieces and periodicals.
• Department of Youth Activities offers numerous programs which communicate the Conservative Jewish experience to our youth. Among these are United Synagogue Youth and Kadima, with over 400 USY chapters, 350 Kadima chapters and some 25,000 members. USY programs include USY Israel Pilgrimage (6 weeks in summer), USY on Wheels (6 1/2-week summer bus trips), Nativ (11-month Israel experience, with full accreditation at Hebrew University for first-year college students), and USY High (2-month high school program in Israel). Educational source material and program material is produced in a variety of formats.
• Department of Regional and Extension Activities coordinates and enhances the work of the geographic regions, and provides leadership training and resources to enable them to operate more effectively. Important program materials are developed for regions and for use by congregations. Meetings of the Council of Regional Presidents project policies and programs for all affiliates from a regional perspective.
• Department of Leadership Development provides direct service to congregations through local consultation, Board of Trustee Leadership Seminars, and the SULAM CHALLENGE program to train vice-presidents to be effective presidents; and offers ongoing assistance by telephone and mail.
• Program Department prepares and supplies program materials for use by congregations in the observance of various Jewish and secular holidays as well as special events in the life of the congregation; maintains a circulating library of programs and brochures; serves as a clearinghouse for resource literature and statistics; and offers administrative guidance to congregations. The Department publishes Program Suggestions for Congregations.
• United Synagogue Book Service produces and distributes the publications of the United Synagogue (including materials from the Department of Education and the Youth Department) and the Rabbinical Assembly. It also distributes selected items of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Women's League for Conservative Judaism and the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. This Department is the United Synagogue's major publishing arm. A free catalogue is available upon request.
• Commission on Social Action and Public Policy serves as a social action resource and evolves policies and programming relating to domestic affairs and world Jewry. The Legal Affairs Committee publishes a semi-annual newsletter providing guidance to congregations on changes in the law as well as issues of concern.
• KOACH oversees development of programs for Conservative college-age youth on campus and supervises production of educational materials geared to this group; sponsors trips and conventions for students; provides program material to congregations.
• Department of Information Technology was created to bring the power of the personal computer to the synagogue. In addition to the host of internal operations the department provides, which assist our congregations indirectly, its two primary projects have proven most effective in providing direct service to our affiliated synagogues. They are free Internet hosting services and the Congregational Database Project (contains pertinent information that can be shared anonymously). The Department can also offer guidance and act as a liaison to the congregational leadership and/or a computer consultant acting on behalf of the individual congregation in the area of purchasing hardware and software.
• Congregational Standards formulates standards and guides and assists in the resolution of controversies among affiliated organizations or between staff personnel and affiliates through mediation and binding arbitration.
• United Synagogue Review serves as the major vehicle of communication for the Conservative Movement and is the official organizational publication. It is produced by the Public Affairs Department, which is generally responsible for strengthening the image of The United Synagogue and which coordinates the quarterly mailings, publishes and disseminates both publicity material and organizational policy statements, and produces the United Synagogue Art/Engagement Calendar in cooperation with the Department of Leadership Development.
• Department of Services to Affiliated Congregations assists in the placement of rabbis, cantors, educators (for Solomon Schechter Day Schools and afternoon congregational schools), synagogue administrators, youth directors, and teachers; creates and implements special programs for small and/or geographically remote congregations; coordinates IMUN Program, a training institute for lay religious leadership.
• Israel Affairs and Aliyah Committee fosters congregational interest in programs relating to this area of concern; supports Masorti programs in Israel; furthers interest in aliyah to Israel; encourages support of the Foundation for Masorti Judaism; and assists congregations and regions in developing Israel programs.
• Center for Conservative Judaism in Jerusalem, the United Synagogue headquarters in Israel, serves as both a year-round educational center for permanent residents, olim and overseas visitors, and as the base for our many Israel Experience programs.

How can I get involved?

We in The United Synagogue have always sought the input of our membership. If you have suggestions, or wish to become more active in our work, please contact your regional office or write to The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Rapaport House, 155 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010; (212) 533-7800.

Arms of the Conservative Movement:

• Cantors Assembly
• Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
• Jewish Educators Assembly
• Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• Jewish Youth Directors Association
• MERCAZ
• North American Assn. of Synagogue Executives
• Rabbinical Assembly
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
• Women's League for Conservative Judaism
• World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues