Summer 2009

Columns

LETTERS

For CORY SCHNEIDER of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, It’s All In the Recipe

FJMC’s NORM KURTZ believes that Together We Can Do So Much More

DR. RAYMOND GOLDSTEIN says farewell to a friend and colleague at United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in Door L’ Door

ANN GOLDMAN, of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, sees The Community Organizer in All of Us

FJMC’s RABBI CHARLES SIMON considers An Ethical Dilemma: When Mitzvot Collide

As he completes his tenure at United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, RABBI JEROME EPSTEIN discusses Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

Articles

Why I Am A Conservative Jew
RABBI CAROL LEVITHAN sees the movement as both courageous and scholarly as it accepts what were once minority opinions as today’s standards

Toward a New Economy: Turning the World Right-Side Up
RABBI JILL JACOBS admonishes us to consider those less fortunate as we rebuild our financial world

The Bookshelf
RABBI NEIL GILLMAN reviews some classic books for your Shavuot reading

Ruths Reading Ruth
A wonderful and unique approach to a Tikkun Leil Shavuot is described by NINA SAMUELS

Help Build Our Community – Join us at United Synagogue’s 2009 Convention
The convention, set for December 6–10 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, will look at community and family

Including the Imahot: Two Approaches
Talmudic scholars RABBI DAVID GOLINKIN and RABBI ELIEZER DIAMOND present opposing views on including the matriarchs in the Amidah prayer

“I Wrap Myself in the Words of Torah”
BETH FINE fuses Jewish music and FJMC’s World Wide Wrap

Geffen Academy at the FJMC Convention
Attendees at the 2009 FJMC convention will be able to study with world-class scholars and gifted lay leaders

WomenSpeak - Va'ani Tefillati: The Women's Prayer Conference
LISA KOGEN describes an unequalled experience, a day-long conference organized by a remarkable coalition of Jewish women’s groups from Orthodox to secular

Refuat Hanefesh: Jews Helping Jews Overcome Substance Abuse
Abuse of alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, and sex are very much Jewish problems that can be mitigated somewhat when we look to God and spirituality, according to RABBI AMY BOLTON

The Conservative Movement's Leadership Retreat
BONNIE RIVA RAS describes an exciting and innovative weekend designed to help the Conservative movement build relationships for the future

Choosing to Be Jewish

Embraced by the People
For RABBI BRADLEY SHAVIT ARTSON, there is nothing as important as welcoming everyone into Jewish life with love and respect

Building a Jewish Memory Bank
As a Jew-by-choice, RABBI SUSAN LEIDER understands that creating community involves mentors and mavens

A Pintele Yid: Stories of Conversion
JOANNE PALMER introduces a few people – and an entire community – who have chosen to become Jews

Accepting Conversions
Why is it that in Israel it is so difficult for anyone other than the ultra-Orthodox to convert those anxious to become Jews, asks RABBI STEPHEN C. LERNER

Challenges From Within the Community
RABBI DANIEL KOHN is saddened by the welcome some Jews-by-choice receive from those who are Jews only by accident of birth

Masorti's Arms Are Wide Open
Despite opposition from the official Israeli rabbinate, the Masorti movement is reaching out to those who want to increase and strengthen the Jewish people, according to RABBI ANDREW SACKS

From the Conservative Yeshiva: Accepting Converts in Israel
RABBI SHLOMO ZACHAROW reviews the halachah and history of conversion