From the Executive Vice-President of United Synagogue

by Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein

You are reading the inaugural issue of a magazine create by Conservative Jews for Conservative Jews. This new magazine represents a timely opportunity for the Conservative movement to consider its common vision, common bonds, and common goals. This endeavor also represents a new opportunity to forge stronger links and create a stronger movement.

Each congregation and organization of the Conservative movement has its own special needs, goals, and priorities. But we also are connected by the ideals and goals that we share. If we are to build a stronger Conservative movement we must expand beyond the parochial to move toward our shared vision. We must learn new ways of bringing our shared dream and our common goals into fruition without neglecting individual or organizational interests and traditions.

Individual organizations’ needs and priorities must be met. At the same time, being part of a movement implies assuming some responsibility for the welfare of the whole, even if that means sacrificing a measure of self-interest. At times, being part of a movement requires that we focus more on policies that are global and actions that will help us reach common goals. In creating a movement, our own strength, power, interests, and prerogatives must be balanced with the common good to ensure that the movement is strong enough to carry out its mandate. The Conservative movement never will reach its potential until we think beyond the parochial.

We can see how the understandable human tendency not to look beyond our own parochial needs plays out in a variety of situations. In each case, it is clear to an objective outsider that there could have been a better way. When they hire clergy or other personnel, congregations often look for the least expensive candidate rather than the one who is the best, or who is best suited for the position. Sometimes the negotiation turns unpleasant, as the congregation puts pressure on a candidate to work for a few dollars less than she or he desires. Although congregations certainly must function within their fiscal means, it is important that we consider how salaries and contract negotiations affect potential candidates’ determination to enter Jewish professions. It is in the movement’s best interest that young men and women considering careers as rabbis, cantors, educators, synagogue executives, and youth workers know that they will be fairly compensated, highly valued, and sensitively treated. It is essential that those already in synagogue careers feel appreciated if the Conservative movement is to retain high-quality clergy and other professionals. That is how we can attract the best professionals available. Indeed, the price for attracting and retaining the people who can enrich our movement may require some stretching, but it is well worth the cost.

When I speak with search committees, I often am asked why it is important to seek candidates from our movement’s professional organizations. Why should they go to the Rabbinical Assembly, the Cantors Assembly, the Jewish Educators Assembly, the North American Association of Synagogue Executives, and the Jewish Youth Directors Association for new staffers. I tell that that we are blessed to have associations that set standards for the clergy and synagogue professionals who serve our congregations. We are blessed with associations that help to raise the quality of service to our congregations and their congregants. If we do not support their rules, guidelines, and efforts, we diminish their ability to lead us and to strengthen Conservative Judaism. If we do not discipline ourselves to use the best resources our movement can offer, we will weaken them and deprive Conservative Judaism of a necessary infrastructure. What would our movement be without them?

Clergy and synagogue professionals, for their part, want to serve communities that allow them to live a rich Jewish life. They look for areas with day schools, kosher butchers, great educational institutions, and more. What kind of movement do we build, however, when synagogue professionals and clergy do not recognize the need for self-sacrifice to help ensure that the whole movement will flourish? If we want to have a stronger movement, we as professionals must balance self-interest and our own comfort with the urgent need to serve Conserthey are. If those communities are denied clergy and synagogue leadership from our movement, where will they be forced to turn? Is that in our movement’s best interest? We must make the commitment to our common goals a priority or we will never realize our potential.

I know how hard it is to balance individual needs with the common good, but if we do not work toward that balance we will never flourish. Through a willingness to stretch beyond our own interests, however, we can create a world in which Conservative Judaism will enrich the lives of Conservative congregants for generations to come.