The Conservative Movement Identity Crisis

By Elise Loterman
York University

I remember it clearly; it was the first time I ever saw a girl wrap tefillin. I was at an International USY board weekend in New Jersey. I entered the davening room, scanned the few people that were already in the room and from afar noticed a female USYer putting on her tefillin. Shocked and appalled would be an understatement as to what I was feeling at that very moment. Girls do not wear tefillin, I thought. I had never seen, or even heard of, girls wearing tefillin before. I completed davening and immediately engaged her in conversation and learned her practice.

Other conversations throughout the weekend made me realize that women wearing tefillin is not the only instance where our "Conservative Jewish communities" differed. Growing up as I what I considered to be a Conservative Jew in a Conservative shul in Toronto, I assumed that "our version" of Conservative Judaism was the standard one. After that weekend some larger questions popped into my head, many of which I am still thinking about. These are important issues to raise now because I believe that it is essential to evaluate the present state of the Conservative Movement before we can speak about the future.

Is Conservative Judaism egalitarian? Is it non-egalitarian? Are musical instruments allowed on Shabbat or are they forbidden? What are the tzniut (modesty) rules in our movement? What is considered kosher according to Conservative rabbis? The answer to my questions, and the practices that stem from them, will be vastly different depending on which rabbi I speak to and what part of the continent I visit. For example, a Conservative shul in California near where I attend camp uses instruments in their Shabbat services, whereas where I live in Toronto, this practice would never be acceptable. How can both traditions be right?

These variances in ritual can either be seen as an extremely positive or an extremely negative phenomenon. I happen to think that this situation is not the greatest one for the Movement. People are often interested in organized religion because of the structure and meaning that it provides for them. However, when structure is compromised in order to make everyone happy, certain individuals might be content, but religion has completely disappeared from the picture.

In general, the Movement is in the midst of an identity crisis. Rabbinical and lay leaders from around the continent all want it to move in different directions. Many large issues are being debated. The present hot topic is the ordination of homosexual rabbis. Many rabbis are prepared to break away from the Movement over this issue. However, I am not sure how quickly the Movement as whole will come to a conclusion. These varying perspectives do, though, provide students with a great opportunity. Who will we join up with? What outlook will we take on the issues? How will we, as the leaders of tomorrow, be able to influence the current leaders of the Movement in this decision-making process? Of course, I do not know the answers, but at least there is room within the Movement for everyone to think about these issues and align themselves with a position that is right for them.

Elise Loterman is beginning her third year at York University in Toronto. She is double majoring in psychology and religious studies. She has always been heavily involved in the Conservative movement through USY and KOACH. Her favourite flavour of ice cream is chocolate chip cookie dough, eh?

[Posted 9/18/06]