USCJ eNews: The United Synagogue Electronic Bulletin
In This Issue:
Law Committee Decision - As the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards decides the halakhic status of gay men and lesbians, the United Synagogue offers education on the issue. There are links available on our homepage, at the top of the bulletin board.
- Read a story on the issue
Shabbat Hazak - On January 6 – that’s 16 Tevet – synagogues across the movement will celebrate the achievements of members of Hazak, the group for people 55 and older. To learn more about the program and about Shabbat Hazak, call Dr. Morton Siegel at 212 533-7800, ext. 2234, or email him at siegel@uscj.org.
Help Fix the World in February - Tzohar Biloxi, United Synagogue’s program to help clean up the hurricane damage in Biloxi, Mississippi, one ruined house at a time, will send a group of volunteers there from February 18 to February 21. The program is spearheaded by our New Jersey region; everyone, from all over the continent, is welcome to join us. We will arrive on Sunday and work until Tuesday; on Wednesday we will tour the storm-struck area. We’ll stay at a hotel and meet members of Congregation Beth Israel, which is affiliated with United Synagogue. For more information call Dr. Richard Lederman, the head of our public policy and social action committee, at 301 230-0801, or email him at lederman@uscj.org.
Project Etgar - Our education department and the Melton Research Center of the Jewish Theological Seminary offer the movement’s congregational schools Project Etgar, a modular curriculum for middle school students. The application is due January 12.
Koach Kallah - The 2007 Koach Kallah is set for February 22 to February 25 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Students from across North America will gather for a Shabbat full of ruach, study, music, davvening, and lots of fun. Rabbi Pamela Barmash, the director of Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern studies at Washington University in St. Louis, will be scholar-in-residence. For more information, go to www.koach.org or email koach@uscj.org.
Sulam - Sulam, the training program that helps new synagogue leaders climb the ladder of Jewish knowledge and practice, will be held twice in 2007. Mark your calendars and plan to join us –March 8-11 in Newark, New Jersey, or March 15-18 in Toronto, Ontario.
Imun - Imun, the week-long retreat where newly emerging lay leaders can hone their synagogue skills, including layning and writing and delivering a dvar Torah, will meet at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires from July 8 to July 16.
USY Looks Ahead to Summer - United Synagogue Youth has begun to accept registrations for its 2007 summer programs. USY’s summer programs provide the very best in staff, security, transportation, lodging, and sightseeing, and participants come back home with a strengthened sense of themselves and of their identity as Conservative Jews. USY programs include Classic USY on Wheels; USY on Wheels, Mission: Mitzvah; USY on Wheels, East; Outdoor Adventure, Pacific Northwest; Summer in the City; Israel Adventure; Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage, Israel Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar; Spain/Israel Pilgrimage; and Etgar! Outdoor Adventure, Israel.
USY High in Israel - USY High in Israel, a joint project with Ramah Israel Programs, is now accepting applications. Participants spend two months living and learning in Israel, using the country as their classroom, and earn high school credit while doing so.
Next Year in Israel - Registration has begun for 2007 at Nativ, USY’s College/Leadership Program in Israel. Participants spend the year between high school and college in Israel. Half of that time they work on a kibbutz or volunteer in a development town; the other half is spent living in Jerusalem, studying at Hebrew University or the Conservative Yeshiva. Throughout the Nativ program, students engage in special religious and leadership training experiences.
Lighting Lights - As we enter the Chanukah season, COEJL, the Jewish agency that is our partner in helping to make the world more green, asks that we use special light bulbs to help conserve precious natural resources.
Some of our regions held conventions in November. Here are some photographs from some of those regional conventions.
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Connecticut Valley - At Connecticut Valley’s regional convention, United Synagogue’s international president, Dr. Ray Goldstein, at left, and our director of congregational services, Rabbi Paul Drazen, joins the region’s executive director, Miriam Benson, its new president, Steve Golub, and its immediate past president, Jim Pickerstein. |
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Great Lakes and Rivers - International Vice President Richard Skolnik presents the gavel to Jeff Basin, newly elected president of the Great Lakes and Rivers region. Jeff is flanked by members of the new executive committee – from left, Steve Weisberg, Lois Davidson, Sheila Catz, Judy Kornblith, Richard Skolnick, Jeff Bassin, Wendy Schwartz, Sidney Steinberger, Babs Miller, and Robert Cohen. Marilyn Feinberg is also on the executive committee. |
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Northern California - Northern California’s president, Margie Pomerantz, stands between regional executive director Jay Weiner, left, and Alan Rothstein, the region’s immediate past president. |
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New England - The region’s immediate past president, Dr. Martin Newman, left, presents a United Synagogue tallit to new regional president Bruce Creditor. |
Learning at and about our Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center - The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is immensely proud of its Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center, Conservative Jews’ home in the homeland.
- View a poster about the center
The Conservative Yeshiva at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center offers three online learning opportunities. Rabbi Mordecai Silverstein, senior teacher of midrash and Talmud, writes a Haftarah commentary every week. Yeshiva cofounder and mishnaand Talmud teacher Dr. Josh Kulp produces the online Mishna Yomit (Daily Mishna) study program for United Synagogue. The Yeshiva’s rosh yeshiva, faculty members, and students all contribute to the Divre Torah page on the Yeshiva’s website.
And if you are planning a trip to Israel, be sure to look to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center for travel help, learning and volunteer opportunities, help in planning bar and bat mitzvah services and celebrations, accommodations, and more. Learn more about the center's programs and services.
United Synagogue’s Conservative Yeshiva Year Program - The Conservative Yeshiva at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center offers Jews of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to study classic Jewish texts in a vibrant, open-minded, egalitarian community. Study can be full-time or part-time, on a short or long-term basis; some scholarships are available. For more information and an application, email Yeshiva@uscj.org, call 011-972-2-622-3116, or go to their website.
King Tut - When our Mid-Atlantic region decided to try to get all local Conservative Jewish organizations to cosponsor a trip in March to the sellout King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, obviously they had a very good idea. All 750 tickets were sold in three weeks.
Convention Update - Our international biennial convention is just a year away, and preparations are ramping up. This convention will be held over Shabbat, letting us experience the beauty and wonder and joy of that day together. To learn more about the convention, which will be held from November 29 to December 3, 2007, in Orlando, Florida, take a look at our convention e-newsletter. As our plans develop, we’ll keep you posted.
Israel Commission Update - Our new Israel Commission is now up and running; so far more than 260 congregations have sent us the names and email address of their Israel Affairs committee chairs. If your synagogue has not yet done so, please be sure to appoint someone to this important position, and send the information to Rabbi Paul Freedman.
The commission is looking forward to working with every one of our member congregations on a trip to Israel. If your congregation is planning such a trip, or is even just thinking about thinking about it, please email Rabbi Paul Freedman.
Chanukah’s almost here! Our Book Services suggests two books by Dr. Ron Wolfson that can help you celebrate the Holiday of Lights with your family:
Dr. Ron Wolfson shares lots of innovative and fun ideas for Chanukah in Hanukkah — The Family Guide. The book tells the story of the holiday and its offerings range from songs and prayers to latke recipes and craft ideas. $18.95
Dr. Wolfson’s Art of Jew Living – Hanukkah features families telling their own holiday stories and helping their readers figure out to celebrate in ways that are both traditional and just right for them. $16.95
For adults – now in paperback In Mindful Jewish Living: Compassionate Practice, Jonathan P. Slater applies Jewish sources – including the Talmud, midrash, liturgy, and chasidic texts – to mindfulness and meditation. $15.95
- Take advantage of free Internet hosting services to affiliated synagogues, USY chapters and afternoon/day schools
- Get suggestions for building a Jewishhome library; great ideas for gift giving as well!
USY Convention - So far more than 1,300 people are expected at the 56th annual USY international convention, which is set for December 24 through 28 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. During those five days USYers will talk and think about social action projects, summer program reunions, educational programs, and more. This year’s theme will revolve around the Jewish calendar; as always fun and fellowship are on the agenda. For more information, visit www.usy.org/ic or email us at usyconvention@uscj.org.
SSDSA Meeting - The Solomon Schechter Day School Association’s lay and professional leaders meet for the group’s biennial conference in Boca Raton, Florida, from December 10 through December 12. The conference theme will be Commitment, Covenant and Community; the conference will include a discussion on recruiting and supporting new heads of school. At the conference, at the Boca Raton Renaissance Hotel, participants will have the chance to network and learn fromeach other as they look at the challenges that face Schechter day schools. For more information about SSDSA, go to its website, www.ssdsa.org.
- More information about the conference
Save the Date - Mark your calendars, update your PDAs, fill in your datebooks. United Synagogue’s next biennial convention will be held from Thursday, Nov. 29 - Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, at the new Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. We look forward to seeing you there. The convention will be chaired by Carole Korowitz and co-chaired by Rochelle Baltuch.
- Read the Convention e-Newsletter for more information
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rapaport House
155 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
212.533.7800, ext. 2601
info@uscj.org
