We’ve had discussions in the past, arguing about that Conservative Judaism is or isn’t. Like so much in life, it seems that everyone has a slightly different take on this question.
I periodically get emails from JTS about various political and academic affairs at the seminary, and I often hit the “delete” button without reading these emails, but today was different. My eye was caught by the following:
In his speech, Eisen delivered something the movement has been agitating for while watching its numbers decline and its position as the largest American denomination eclipsed by the Reform movement: a definition.
As is his inclination as a sociologist, Eisen offered no grand statements of theology but rather the comparatively simple suggestion that Conservative Judaism define itself by what Conservative Jews do.
“We are those Jews committed to full and authentic engagement with the Jewish people and the Jewish tradition, heart and soul and mind, as well as full engagement with the society and culture of which we are a part, again heart and soul and mind,” Eisen said.
For the most part, that definition is more aspirational than descriptive. Conservative Jews largely don’t live such lives, a point driven home in remarks the following evening by the United Synagogue’s excecutive vice president, Rabbi Jerome Epstein.
In a forceful address that surprised movement insiders for its directness, Epstein said Conservative Judaism was quite clear in its principles — it was Conservative Jews who were not living up to them.
“We don’t need more definitions of Conservative Judaism in order to make Conservative Judaism come alive,” Epstein said. “What we stand for is abundantly clear. What we do need is commitment on the part of Conservative Jews to live the definition. We have been too timid in declaring our vision.”
 Later in the article, Raymond Goldstein, United Synagogue’s international president, “said he was doing his part to increase the level of Jewish practice in the movement by requiring those he named to leadership positions to commit to keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath, among other requirements. One appointee, he said, had been forced to make his kitchen kosher before accepting the post.”
For my part, I find it a bit shocking that anyone would aspire to a leadership position in Conservative Judaism who has to be “forced” to kasher their kitchen, and live by the minimal standards of Halachah.
This article reminds me of the Nike slogan “Just Do It” – we don’t need to keep arguing about what Conversative Judaism is, we just need to live it!
Tags: Conservative Judaism, observance, USCJ