Best Summer Ever for USCJ Yeshiva in Israel as Program Undergoes Major Transformation

According to Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, Director of the USCJ Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, the Yeshiva's Summer program used to be "small and quiet -- a minyan of people taking afternoon classes in Jewish texts." Two years later, a major transformation has occurred.

Following the addition of an intensive ulpan, offered five morning a week, as well as the addition of faculty members such as professor Pamela Barmash of Washington University, and Rabbi Joel Roth -- Rosh Yeshiva of the USCJ Conservative Yeshiva as well as Professor of Talmud at The Jewish Theological Seminary -- the program has burgeoned and is now "brimming with activity," in the words of Rabbi James Lebeau, director of the USCJ Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center, which houses the Yeshiva.

According to Rabbi Lebeau, "The Yeshiva has enjoyed its most successful summer ever, with 63 students registered for one or both sessions." Rabbi Lebeau adds that "The Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center is brimming with activity this summer because USY Pilgrimage uses space at both 2 Agron Street and Beit Rapaport, Project Oded uses Beit Rapaport, and the United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva uses both its own facilities as well as some rooms at Beit Rapoport." All of these buildings are located on the Fuchsberg campus.

Rabbi Goldfarb points out that this year's Summer Program Participants came not only from the United States (from 22 states, with the largest contingents hailing from Texas and Colorado) and Canada, but from England, France, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. Over half the students were over 40 years old, professional people who chose to spend their summer vacation learning Hebrew and studying texts in Jerusalem rather than going to the beach or touring Europe.

Students like Aaron Wolf, a professor of water management and conflict resolution in Oregon commented, "It's great to stop everything you usually do and just come and learn."

"It's days like this that one dreams about," declared Don Thomas, a retired pharmacist from Colorado, after classes with Professor Barmash and Rabbi Gail Diamond, the Yeshiva's assistant director.

Students included doctors, lawyers, professors, business people, civil servants, a number of teachers and a dozen students at various stages of college and graduate levels. Among the group were six couples and one mother/daughter team.

Outside classes, the Yeshiva's summer community flourished as well. A robust minyan convened every morning, with student leading the davening and the Torah readings. Students also hosted each other for Shabbat meals.

According to Rabbi Goldfarb, "The program offers both lay people and Jewish communal professionals the opportunity to substantially improve their Hebrew while being part of a commited community for Jewish learning and prayer. In addition, it allows people with little background in Jewish studies to get an introduction to both biblical and rabbninic texts."

Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein, Executive Vice-President of the United Synagogue, delivered a dvar Torah at the closing luncheon of the first summer session and dedicated a day of study to the memory of his mother on the first day of the second session. Notes Rababi Epstein, "The response to the Yeshiva this summer is a demonstration of the fact that Conservative Jews are recognizing the value of intensive Jewish study. Engaging with students from 18 to 73 who are devoting a part of the summer to learning Jewish texts, using a modern approach and in an egalitarian atmosphere, was personally inspiring. I know that this will be a springbnoard for continued growth.

Rabbi Lebeau points out that like the Conservative Yeshiva's regular program, the Summer Program is non-credit, Torah l'shma (study for its own sake), so there is no pressure of tests and papers. Says Rabbi Lebeau, "The students learn for the best reason of all; because they want to."

The Conservative Yeshiva, a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is currently accepting applications for Fall 2004 and Spring 2005. For more information and an application, contact 972-2-622-3116, Yeshiva@uscj.org, or visit online.