וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵךְ אֶל-הָעָם, וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר
The Lord said to Moses: Go to the people, and make them holy today and tomorrow. (Exodus 19:10)
Mahar Coalition מחר חברת
The Mahar Coalition, a group of concerned alumni, participants and future participants in the USCJ’s KOACH program, advocates for a better, more effective and satisfactory alternative to the current restructuring of KOACH, as suggested in section 4 and 5 of the proposed USCJ Strategic Plan. We believe that the drastic cuts to the KOACH program lack nuance and are blunt, ineffective and counterproductive. We speak for ourselves and for current high school students who are unaware of these potential changes to their college experience. To our knowledge, no college-aged people were consulted in the initial strategic plan draft, so we would like to take this opportunity to share our thoughts.
We understand and appreciate that USCJ is moving towards a value-added model. As KOACH students, we want both to contribute and to benefit from this system in cost-effective ways that are based on the particularities of the college experience. We hope to find locally- based ways to contribute to the greater Conservative movement. We look forward to establishing fruitful partnerships with local synagogues to offer our services as mentors for high school students on issues of college admission and emerging Jewish adulthood, as volunteer tutors, or as collaborators on social action projects. So, potential partnerships between synagogues and campuses, while a way for college students to contribute to the system, by no means diminishes the need to invest in the future of Conservative Judaism on the college campus. It is very unlikely that students, who tend to live in their school’s “bubble”, will go off-campus on a regular basis for services or other events. Students supported today will yield leadership and participants for USCJ institutions, both on college campuses and in other communities, in the future.
As soon-to-be young adults, we applaud and appreciate the increased effort in serving young adults. However, this effort does not warrant the reduction of college programming. As the Strategic Plan notes, “the North American Jewish community has made a much more substantial investment in Jewish life on the college campus than it has in the young adult post-college generation.” The college Judaism space is crowded precisely because it is so important. More than any other unifying activity, young Jews today go to college—almost 90% of them. Students, at the cusp of their adult lives, explore their values and what kind of life they want to lead. College students are concentrated on campuses, and, free of professional and familial responsibilities, they have the time to commit to serious thinking, study, and community participation. Any Jewish community that wants a future must have a presence on college campuses.
We believe that KOACH has the potential to fill several significant voids in the College Jewish community. In recent years and decades, a variety of ultra-Orthodox "kiruv" organizations have sprung up on dozens of campuses nationwide. Typically, these types of organizations dispatch a rabbi and his family to a campus, with the goal of bringing Jewish college students closer to their brand of Judaism.
Through home-style hospitality, classes that they pay students to take, free trips to Israel and one on one time, these rabbis and rebbetzins sometimes succeed in convincing students that these rabbis represent "real" Judaism, that as they go through their lives, the student should turn to them for guidance, community and lifecycle matters—and not to the liberal communities in which they grew up.
Our fear is that because of this flourish of kiruv, the future of American Judaism will look quite like the emerging situation in Israel and Europe: a majority secular population that turns to ultra-Orthodox rabbis when in need of something Jewish. We are committed to making Conservative Judaism a viable option for the 21st century and any alternative to this outcome is simply unacceptable. But unless we act today to stand up for our values on college campuses, this will be where we are headed.
KOACH also has the potential to offer an alternative to the social programming and social action focus of some Hillels. People accustomed to the passionate prayer and learning of Conservative Judaism feel that their patterns of observance, especially on issues of prayer and egalitarianism are not supported within some of these Hillels.
But some campuses are devoid of any Jewish programming. Jews in colleges in rural areas or campuses without a significant population of Jews feel neglected and forgotten by the Jewish community or are only served sporadically and superficially. For these students, the only viable solution is a national, short-term convention program to inspire and minister to these students and equip them with leadership and religious skills to cultivate Conservative Jewish life on their campuses. The KOACH Kallah should be continued to fill this need and serve students on small campuses. For students from more developed campuses and others, the KOACH Kallah provides a unique opportunity to engage in advanced Jewish learning from a uniquely Conservative perspective.
We would like to see KOACH transformed along the lines of the new USCJ: an organization that provides resources, expertise, grants, and opportunities for learning and spiritual development. As with the rest of USCJ, we want KOACH to focus on building communities and broad-based participation, not only the leadership development of the elite.
With this in mind, we offer the following as one potential model for what a new KOACH might look like:
• Continue the grants program as seed money for Conservative Jewish programming on strong and developing campuses. Strict evaluation and following up will ensure money is well-spent. Interns and facilitators should be volunteer or only paid expenses.
• The Kallah should be used as a way to fill a deep void in serving students on small campuses with minimal Jewish infrastructure. This is the only such program in the country and has an opportunity to make deep impact with relatively small expenditure.
• The KOACH Shabbat program should continue but should be a designated Shabbat weekend with programming implemented and tweaked on a per-campus basis by the local students, with the option of hosting a visiting scholar at their own expense.
With limited and focused investments, the Mahar Coalition looks forward to a brighter tomorrow where KOACH fills the voids on the Jewish college scene by serving students, particularly those on small campuses, through national programming, contributing back to the local community through campus-synagogue partnerships and pooling the resources of our movement to do something that no one congregation can do alone. Groups of college students are no less a kehilla than an established synagogue and deserve the full support of USCJ to ensure a vigorous and vibrant future.
Here's one example of how you can inform your local synagogue about the urgency of supporting KOACH. Alter this letter to your own circumstance and needs.
ReplyDeleteDear Rabbi,
Hello from the KOACH Kallah at Northwestern! We are currently in battle mode as we defend KOACH.
As you probably know, the USCJ has unveiled a new strategic plan which will be voted on this Thursday. Over the weekend, this plan was presented to us and the effects of it on the college and young adult population were made clear to us. The main points that have us up in arms are: the reduction in funding to KOACH which will preclude any further Kallot, the lack of emphasis in the plan on college students and young adults, the lack of consultation with the future of the community, and a focus on developing leaders as opposed to creating a future community.
The whole convention of 60+ students is concerned about this particular vision of the future and are offering our own. Although we are emphasizing different tactics and solutions, we are united in a common cause to elevate the importance of our vital age group.
Starting now and in the coming week, we will campaign for inclusion of our vision into the Strategic Plan. Hopefully you can echo our opinions to the powers that be to ensure that the Conservative Movement can build a stronger future for itself. I know how much the youth in our TI community and the greater Jewish community means to all of you, and I hope that we make you proud by what we are doing.
With your support we can expand the bright future kindled at this convention this weekend.
Best,
JR
My name is Elliott and I am currently serving as Koach board member on UMD's campus. I heard about you and your work from our president who attended Koach Kallah in Chicago this year, and I commend you all for what you are doing to ensure a place for Koach in the future of Conservative Judaism.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, however, I did have some concerns/critiques of the current Mahar open statement.
I believe talking about kiruv and referring to it as "ultra-orthodox" is a misleading generalization that lacks the nuance which we ourselves are striving for in responding to the USCJ's strategic plan. I think using that term distracts us with the question of who and what is ultra-orthodox, a question which we do not have the liberty to answer at the present moment. Although it only appears only twice in the statement, I think its usage needs to be reconsidered.
Furthermore, I have a problem with talking about how these kiruv organizations are active on these college campuses and how they present "real Judaism". I think whether this is factually true is irrelevant. I believe that Rabbis and other leaders within the Conservative movement might see this as engaging in a "blame game" and counterproductive to the larger question of why Conservative movement has been losing members and has become diminished in recent years (with Koach included).
These are my thoughts. I welcome any comments/critiques of what I have written here. Thank you all again for what you are doing!
Best,
Elliott
2.
I totally agree that the Conservative movement should be investing more effort in developing their youth movements. I don't, however, see any need for fundraising. Simply pare down the exorbitant six figure salaries so often payed to Conservative rabbis at the large shuls.
ReplyDeleteFrom: http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/cjc-waxman-f05.htm
Table 2: Synagogue Denominations (%)
1990 2001
Conservative 51 33.1
Orthodox 10 20.8
Reform 35 38.5
But given Conservative Judaism's inability to attract Jews, what exactly are we paying these rabbis for?
I am a junior at University of Maryland-College Park, and I am a member of KOACH.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a Conservative synagogue. I went to Hebrew School, I participated in Kadima and USY, and now I am heavily involved in KOACH (a former Gabbai). However, my path to sticking with Conservative Judaism was not an easy one. When I first came to University of Maryland, I lived in a regular dorm, about as far from Hillel as you can get. I went to Friday night services carrying my umbrella (it was pouring rain, but at least I made it!), and when I walked in to Hillel, I was stunned. Instead of being welcomed with open arms by the vibrant Conservative community I was used to from home, I was gawked at. The large Orthodox community overwhelmed me, and the sheer size and number of people at Hillel made me feel small and nervous. I finally made it inside, up the stairs, and to the KOACH services. Unfortunately, the crowd was still very overwhelming and, being a scared freshman, I didn’t meet anyone or find my community. I left Hillel very disappointed and disillusioned.
Soon after my disappointing experience at Hillel, I was approached by a campus Kiruv organization. The organization offered me home-cooked meals, intimidate discussions, a welcoming community and a family atmosphere that Hillel really lacked. I was hooked. I began attending classes regularly, participating in all of the Shabbat meals, and I found myself attracted to the life offered to me by the organization. I became more observant, attending services more, keeping Kashrut more, and keeping Shabbat more. All of these positive changes in my life left me feeling very alone and confused—how could I follow the life that I saw myself leading that would bring me to the community I wanted to be a member of without losing my status as an equal in services? I could not wrap my head around no longer being able to read Torah, sing loudly, or sit with my father during prayer. These were major stumbling blocks for me, and I began feeling more and more alienated from both communities.
Fortunately, an acquaintance happened to find out that I was Jewish, organized and looking to meet more people at Hillel. She asked me consider replacing her as Gabbai Sheini for the next KOACH board. After careful consideration, I accepted her offer. I have never made a better decision for myself in college. As soon as I joined KOACH board, the doors to Hillel and my own uniquely Conservative community opened up. Suddenly, I had a reason to talk to everyone, and everyone knew me. What used to feel like a building that I would never feel comfortable in suddenly became my second home. More importantly, all of my doubts about how I could be observant, have a community, and still maintain my egalitarian beliefs went away. There was a place for me on campus that allowed me to feel loved, protected, and like I belong while fostering my spiritual growth and observance. A place called KOACH.
KOACH truly changed my campus experience. I no longer find the lifestyle offered by the Kiruv organizations tempting, and I am able to reach out to newcomers and make Hillel seem smaller for them. I am happy with myself, with my observance and with the community I have found here. If KOACH were not here, me and my many other Kiruv-oriented KOACH friends would have never found our way back to our roots in Conservative Judaism. As the economic crisis hits USCJ ever-more-strongly, the only way to keep Conservative college students oriented with the movement is through KOACH. Nothing could be worse for the future growth of the Conservative movement than majorly decreasing support for KOACH, as an entire generation will be lost from the movement. Please consider my story and realize that it is not just mine—it is that of at least 10 other students at UMD alone, not to mention the rest of the country. KOACH matters, and we are the leaders of not only tomorrow, but also of today.
KOACH is a huge part of my life here at the University of Maryland, and has been since my very first week at school. I am a junior now, and co-president of the organization on campus, but I can still remember back to my first experience with KOACH. I was a freshman, and I was a mess. I was so homesick. Growing up, I had never participated in USY. I had never gone away to camp Ramah. And I had attended public school all my life. But every Saturday morning, whether it was raining or snowing or 100 degrees, I walked to shul with my dad. So, on my first Saturday as a college freshman, I did what I had been doing my entire life—I got up and began walking to the closest conservative service—the KOACH service at the UMD Hillel.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it was raining that day. And I was new to school, so I got lost on the way. And just for everyone’s information, my freshman dorm building was the farthest building from Hillel on Maryland’s campus.
By the time I got to Hillel, I was a complete mess. I was soaking wet from the rain, tired from my long, long, walk, and so sad because it was my first time walking to services without my dad.
But when I walked upstairs to the KOACH service, everyone was so friendly. They all introduced themselves and asked me questions about my time at school so far, and really went out of their way to tell me that they were glad I had decided to come to services that morning. The prayers were familiar and the tunes were cheerful, and for the first time since my parents had dropped me off at school, I felt like I belonged, like I wasn’t in this totally new and strange environment, but that I was just participating in my normal Saturday morning routine, just 300 miles south of where I was used to doing it.
Having KOACH there that day helped me to feel like I belonged, and cheered me up out of my homesick state. It comforted me to know that there was something familiar here at school, and that the people here were just as friendly as the ones at home. I don’t know what I would have done if there hadn’t been KOACH services that day. There are no reform services on Saturday mornings, and I don’t think I would have felt comfortable in the orthodox service because I am not used to having a mehitzah. I was so thankful that conservative KOACH services were an option that morning, and I hope that conservative services will always be an option in the future.
I understand that the economy is not good, and that there is not enough money to go around. But if you want something to continue into the future, you need to give the funding to the children. If all of the money goes to the post-college independent minyanim and the older generations, and none goes into college campuses, soon there will be no post-college independent minyanim to fund. If kids grow up attending USY events and camp Ramah, or even just attending Saturday morning services with their parents, and then go off to a college where there is no conservative Judaism to speak of, they will lose their interest and drive and passion for being Jewish. And then when they graduate from college, are they really going to go looking for a conservative Jewish organization when they have been out of touch for the past four years? Probably not. Which is why it is so, so important that KOACH not end on college campuses. College students decide so much of their lives in the four years during which they are in school. They choose their careers, they may choose their spouses, and they decide who they want to be when they start their “real lives”. Judaism needs to be an option on college campuses. It needs to have a presence so that students can choose to make it a part of their lives. USCJ needs to continue funding KOACH on college campuses to ensure the continuation of Conservative Judaism.
University of Maryland KOACH Official Statement- Part 1
ReplyDeleteWe, representatives of the University of Maryland- College Park KOACH, would like to see some important changes made to the USCJ’s strategic plan regarding the future of KOACH. We recognize the great deal of effort that Hayom Coaltion and USCJ put into creating the new plan, and we are very excited for many of the opportunities that the new plan will allow. However, we feel that the provisions involving reducing funding and support of KOACH are a grave mistake.
We recognize how extremely fortunate we are to be involved with KOACH at UMD. We have both Friday night and Saturday morning services weekly, and have a relatively large and active kehillah. Fortunately for our kehillah, we are strong enough to stand on our own. We have survived for the last two years without any major support from International KOACH, although our previous KOACH-funded rabbinical interns, Adam Baldachin and Dave Goldberg, were wonderful assets to our community. Since the rabbinical intern program was eliminated, we have benefited from KOACH Kallah and KOACH Shabbat. KOACH Kallah has been a life-changing, eye-opening spiritual experience that has brought renewed faith, observance, and energy to all of our members who have attended. KOACH Shabbat allows us to learn more about our movement from inspiring teachers and Rabbis who truly understand the nuances of being Conservative in college. In addition to helping individuals, these programs have been helpful in both establishing a stronger KOACH kehillah and strengthening our Jewish identities within a Conservative framework.
Not only do we benefit from having a vibrant KOACH at UMD, but we also benefit from the myriad Conservative congregations in the area, as we bring in speakers for occasional Pizza Parshas and Shabbat Lunch ‘n Learns. There are also many KOACH members who are actively involved in local Conservative synagogues as Hebrew School teachers and youth advisers. We are currently in the beginning stages of seeking a local Conservative Rabbi who would be willing to mentor us and represent our interests in the Maryland community. Currently, the Orthodox students are represented by a JLI Rabbi and Rebbetzin who are consistently available to answer questions, provide guidance, and represent the Orthodox community within Maryland’s Hillel. While we recognize that the USCJ does not have the resources to provide a similar service, we would appreciate any help that a local Rabbi would be willing to give us.
In addition to providing us with opportunities to get involved in the local Conservative kehillot, KOACH has provided us with a safe haven within Maryland Hillel. Our Hillel is very large and very crowded. It can be extremely overwhelming and intimidating, especially when one is a new student. KOACH has provided us with an intimate, friendly, welcoming kehillah that embraces all of the values that are most dear to us. We believe very strongly in maintaining the safe space for personal reflection, ideological discussion, and religious exploration that is a constant part of developing a strong Conservative identity in college.
University of Maryland KOACH Official Statement- Part 2
ReplyDeleteIn addition to having a vibrant Conservative kehillah, our KOACH has also attracted many students converting to Judaism. These Jews-by-choice do not feel comfortable in any other services offered at Hillel. We have welcomed them with open arms into our kehillah, and we love having discussions about our values and beliefs with them. These Jews-by-choice feel comfortable in our kehillah and feel more accepted here than they did in their previous faith’s communities.
While we currently have a very strong KOACH, not every school is this lucky. Many schools rely heavily on International KOACH’s support to have any programs and create even a small corner for a Conservative kehillah at their colleges. We recognize that for these colleges, funding from International KOACH is crucial to their continued existence. Also, programs such as KOACH Kallah may be the only opportunity for brainstorming and interaction with other Conservative peers that students at these universities have. It is of the utmost importance that International KOACH invest now and in the future by assisting these schools. Schools with large KOACH kehillot are strong enough to sustain themselves; schools without these resources will be decimated without sufficient support from International KOACH.
As the USCJ says in the strategic plan in Section 4.0, “USCJ should seed and nurture new kehillot and engage the next generation of kehilla leadership.” While we believe that this is a very admirable goal, reducing support for smaller KOACH kehillot will not engage the next generation of kehillah leadership. Instead, it will simply make them feel alienated and disconnected from the Conservative movement.
University of Maryland KOACH- Official Statement Part 3
ReplyDeleteAnother problematic assumption that is in the strategic plan is in Section 5.1-- “The current campus environment is heavily serviced by Hillel and numerous other well-funded and professionally staffed efforts.” Unfortunately, this assumption that Hillel is supporting KOACH is not true of all KOACH kehillot, including University of Maryland’s. Our Hillel only supports KOACH by paying expenses for High Holiday services, providing us with a small food budget each semester, and allowing us to reserve rooms in Hillel for events. This is not an example of being “heavily serviced,” and can in no way replace the support that International KOACH could provide. While we do not know the situation at all colleges, we feel that it is safe to say that most schools rely just as much, if not more, on KOACH as they do Hillel.
A final point of issue that we take with the strategic plan is the assumption, in Section 4.6, that the “graduates of Ramah, USY, and Nativ, many of who are studying in List College” are the leaders of KOACH kehillot. In our KOACH alone, we have many leaders who were not involved in Ramah, USY or Nativ, but still affiliate with the Conservative movement. It is exclusionary to assume that only people who participated in exclusively-Conservative programs are qualified or interested in being the present and future leaders of Conservative Kehillot. In addition, alumni of Solomon Schechter day schools are not mentioned as future leaders, effectively denying them the same opportunities provided to alumni of other Conservative programs. Lastly, we find the mention of only one college in the strategic plan to be excluding other schools that also have vibrant, committed KOACH kehillot. As the massive support for Mahar Coaltion has shown, there are committed KOACH leaders from many schools of many sizes in many states.
As a group of committed KOACH leaders, we feel that continued and even increased support for KOACH is the only way to ensure that the Conservative movement survives to the next generation. If the all-important bridge between high school-aged youth and post-college minyanim fades away, then an entire generation of energetic young adults will be lost. Therefore, it is with great pride that we, University of Maryland- College Park KOACH, fully support the ideas expressed by the Mahar Coaltion. While we may not need International KOACH to survive, we acknowledge and respect that most other schools do. Please, for the future of Conservative Judaism, reconsider your stance on future support for KOACH.
My name is Noah and I am currently a Sophomore at the University of Maryland and am currently serving on my schools KOACH board as religious VP.
ReplyDeleteI grew up attending a conservative synagogue in Maryland. I attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD and was very involved as a leader in BBYO. During my summers growing up, I attended Jewish sleep away camp, a Judaism Institute program, and Jewish international leadership conferences both here and abroad in Israel. I grew up in a home where Judaism was a central aspect of life. We kept kosher, celebrated Shabbat weekly, attended synagogue, and celebrated the Jewish holidays. I am half Israeli and I have spent almost half of my life in Israel. Until college, my life revolved around Judaism. It was only at the end of high school that I began to realize how important my Jewish heritage was to me. I realized it was important for me to go to a college that had a strong Jewish community where I would feel comfortable and be able to expand my Jewish identity.
I ended up spending my Freshman year at the College of Charleston (CofC) in South Carolina. Although I had applied to many other universities with bigger Jewish communities, I felt that for academic reasons CofC was a right fit and that the Jewish community and Hillel there would be enough for me. It was a completely new experience for me to be at a Southern school since my entire life I was living in a Jewish bubble and for the first time ever I was experiencing diversity and becoming friends with and interacting with non- Jews. I even met people who had never met a Jewish person in their entire lives. It was a different experience being Jewish at a school with not that many Jews but I am glad I had that experience to expand my horizons. I spent my year as an active member of Hillel, attending weekly programs and events. Since the Hillel did not offer Shabbat services, I would wake up every Saturday morning and walk to the Orthodox temple that was a fifteen minute walk away. I felt that in order to be satisfied Jewishly I needed to go to synagogue every Shabbos and be around a Jewish community, even if it wasn’t the conservative congregation I was used to at home. After being really involved in Hillel my first semester of college, I was elected as Religious chair on the Hillel’s student executive board. I saw that the Hillel needed a lot of work and I was hoping that by being on the executive board I would be able to help build the Jewish community. My job was to plan religious programming as well as plan Shabbat services every Friday. I spent my second semester of college spending extensive time planning services and having no students show up to my services. After a while this really started to bother me and I realized that I wasn’t all that happy at CofC since I was not happy with the Jewish life. All of the students at CofC came to Hillel for purely social reasons and the religious aspect of Judaism that I needed during my college experience was not there at all. I thought that I could help build up the Jewish community there however I realized that it was something greater than me.
Ultimately, I decided to transfer to the University of Maryland (UMD), where I knew there was a strong Jewish community I could be a part of and where I could be satisfied Jewishly. It is only my second semester at UMD and I am greatly involved in Hillel. I am religious VP of KOACH, on the board of our Jewish Student Union, on the Committee for Religious Life, and involved in our schools Israel culture group TERPAC. I attend KOACH services weekly on both Fridays and Saturday and am in and out of the Hillel building multiple times on a weekly basis attending meetings for all these clubs I am involved in. Clearly, Jewish life at UMD is a huge part of my life and I am also constantly looking for new ways to help out and get involved.
ReplyDeleteI also have recently decided to become a Jewish Studies major something that UMD has that many other schools don’t. I love Jewish learning and am always looking to expand my Jewish knowledge so it is great that I can do this through my major. I know that after college I want to work in Jewish education or work for some type of Jewish organization such as BBYO, Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Hillel, or even KOACH. I have a passion for Jewish people and life and I want to put my passion to a greater use after college by working for one of these wonderful organizations and inspire others.
Now that I am heavily involved in KOACH, I am realizing how important it is that there is a conservative presence for me on my college campus. What CofC lacked for me was Jewish religious life and what UMD has done for me was provide a positive Jewish experience, and in particular a conservative Jewish experience.
When I walked into Hillel for the first time at UMD on a Friday night, I was overwhelmed with what I saw because there were almost 500 students who all seemed to know each other while I was new and didn’t know anyone. The majority of the students were of Orthodox backgrounds and since I knew UMD had a heavy Orthodox population, I was worried I would be the only conservative Jew who wanted to come to Hillel services. No one was particularly friendly or introduced themselves to me and because of this I was nervous and worried that maybe UMD wouldn’t be a good place for me Jewishly because it was so cliquey. I remember going to eat at Hillel because I had a meal plan and sitting alone at a table because I didn’t know anyone while everyone was friends and knew each other. I hated coming into Hillel because it made me feel like I didn’t have friends and that’s an awful feeling for someone who transferred for the Jewish life. What did change this awful feeling was the fact that I went to KOACH services and found my niche in Hillel. At KOACH services and events I found a smaller group of Jews that seemed to be more like me. They were friendly and wanted to talk to me. It made the overwhelming mass of people that I was used to less overwhelming because I found a smaller group of people that I could relate to and identify with. I now feel comfortable walking into services knowing that I have people I can sit with. I can walk into Hillel on any day for lunch and have people to talk to. I now feel comfortable participating in services and speaking in front of people. Today, some of my closest friends at UMD are people I met through KOACH. None of these things would be possible for me if KOACH didn’t exist.
My Jewish identity is something that is so important to me and something I live my life by. I feel that it is so important to have a conservative presence on a college campus since we are both the future and the present of the conservative movement. I believe it is critical for the USCJ to realize how important my generation is and to give us more support. This is essential in order for us to develop our Jewish identities and sense of self, otherwise our presence in the conservative movement in the future will be absent. I hope that the USCJ will take my story into consideration and realize how vital we are as leaders of future Kehilot.
Shalom! It’s nice to read statements and comments from passionate, concerned Jews seeking solutions to the crisis of Jewish identity and knowledge in today’s campus world. I would love to dialogue with any readers of this forum about the issues raised therein.
ReplyDeleteAs a card-carrying “kiruv” rabbi (ultra-Orthodox? I’m gonna need a definition on that one…I prefer ultra-cool :-)), I'm obviously coming at this discussion from a vastly distinct perspective, though it is one that is tangentially referenced and proffered as a point of contrast in the statement. Perhaps, then, I can bring an insider’s view to what is frequently spoken or written about by others (read: the “flourishing kiruv movement”) in a detached and somewhat defensive manner.
In a nutshell, I would define our approach as one in which we work to balance a profound love and acceptance of every person with a desire to educate and challenge pre-conceived notions of Jewish knowledge. We would like to help students forge a Jewish identity borne of wisdom, rather than of social convention or inertia.
Obviously, just as those reading this board do, we cherish deeply held beliefs and are prepared to wage intellectual battle to defend them. Our goal for any student is to impart to him or her the beauty and majesty of Torah in the way that we believe the classical sources expound it. We effort to do so with an underlying sense of love and respect, and although we (if there can be a monolithic “we”) are far from perfect, this is certainly our intention at all times.
Assuredly, some people prefer not to expose themselves to these perspectives or not to be challenged by this unfamiliar Jewish approach; that is their total prerogative as free-choosing human beings, and obviously our programming is not designed for those individuals. However, I believe that the tools we do employ for those who are interested are eminently defensible from an intellectual standpoint, and I think at least somewhat effective from a practical one.
Again, I invite readers of all persuasions to engage in a dialogue regarding these or any other ideas, either publicly on this forum or privately, at rabbik@jterps.com. How I wish anyone with any concerns or objections would express them honestly and openly, so that we could address them appropriately and find common ground! Thanks for reading and best wishes!
Rabbi Ari Koretzky
MJX/Meor Maryland
301-403-8823
rabbik@jterps.com
Hi my name is Abby and I am a Junior at the University of Maryland. I am currently serving on my school’s KOACH board as Social Programming VP.
ReplyDeleteI am a product of the Conservative movement, and have been very involved in the Conservative movement throughout my life. I went to public school, but I attended religious school at my Conservative synagogue, Temple Emanu-El, in Providence, Rhode Island. In high school, I continued my education at the Harry Elkin Midrasha (Hebrew High School) and worked at my synagogue’s religious school. I was also extremely active in my shul’s Kadima and USY chapters. In 11th grade, I went on Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY), a semester of high school in Israel through Ramah. On that program, my love for Israel and my love for Judaism deepened. After an amazing and life changing experience on TRY, I still longed for more Jewish learning and to be back in Israel, so after I graduated high school I went on Nativ. While on Nativ, I became more observant, I started to keep Shabbat, and Judaism became an even bigger part of my life. I have also spent 5 summers working at Camp Ramah in New England, an amazing summer experience for both campers and staff.
Before I went on Nativ, I felt as though I would be fine at a small school with a very small Jewish life. However, after Nativ, the small school in Massachusetts that I had chosen to attend was no longer a good match for me. I was not happy with the lack of a Jewish community. There was a Hillel, but they were inactive, and despite my best efforts to change that, no one listened to me or wanted to put in the effort needed. I soon became discouraged, and after spending a year there, I chose to transfer to University of Maryland. I chose UMD for, among other things, its large Jewish community, and I could not be happier about my decision.
When I first walked into Hillel for my first Friday night at UMD, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the lobby. Even though I knew some people, the large group in the lobby made me feel as though I knew no one. Once I got into the KOACH small room on the second floor of Hillel, I felt less overwhelmed, and quickly felt welcomed into the KOACH community. During my first year at UMD I attended Friday night services every week. I quickly made many friends and soon found my own community within the greater KOACH community. Through the friends I met, I became more and more involved with KOACH. This past semester, I joined UMD KOACH’s board.
KOACH is the bridge between high school and the post-college leaders of the Conservative movement. Without KOACH, many people may fall through the cracks and soon become disconnected from their Conservative roots. I know that if it were not for KOACH, I might have lost touch with my Judaism due to a lack of a community. KOACH gave me the Jewish community I craved, and it also opened more doors for me. It allowed me to come out of my shell and further my Jewish learning. It is through KOACH that I have made many of my good friends, and it is through KOACH that I have become more of a leader. USCJ, please reconsider your decision to cut the funding for KOACH.
Part 1:
ReplyDeleteShalom,
My name is Judy Gerstenblith and I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I belong to Chizuk Amuno Congregation, I went to Krieger Schechter from preschool through eighth grade, I went to Beth Tfiloh High School, I was a camper at Ramah in New England for seven years, I went on Ramah Israel Seminar, and I have been a counselor at Ramah for two summers. I currently attend the University of Maryland, College Park, where I am a sophomore psychology major and Jewish Studies minor.
As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I am pleased to see that the USCJ has provided the public with a forum for expressing our beliefs. Since you “welcome [our] comments,” I would like to address some important aspects of the draft strategic plan. While I cannot comment on everything, I will do my best to pick the most crucial parts, as I see fit.
First, I agree that there should be a “New United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.” I think the claims made about the current challenges facing Conservative Judaism are completely accurate. These include:
1) “Conservative congregations face financial stress, declining and aging membership, a narrow leadership base, weak denominational commitment, and a loss of meaning for many younger people” (Draft Strategic Plan 6).
2) “The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has lost ground” (Draft Strategic Plan 7).
3) “The USCJ can, and must, play a pivotal role in realizing the potential of Conservative congregations and overcoming these challenges” (Draft Strategic Plan 7).
I think that recognizing these challenges, being open about them, and sharing them with the rest of the Conservative Movement are all critical steps in the process of finding ways to work through these challenges. Thank you for being open about them.
Part 2:
ReplyDeleteSecond, I support the change in language from “synagogue” or “congregation” to “kehillah”. (I always believe in using Hebrew as much as possible!) But even more importantly, I think you are right in that this change is “more than semantic” (Draft Strategic Plan 8). I look forward to seeing how this change in language translates into practicality, and I hope that it will accomplish what the strategic plan has in mind.
Third, I recognize that we are in the midst of an economic crisis. We are all low on money. Budgets must be reduced, funds must be cut, and money must be reallocated. It appears, however, that the order of importance, according to the draft strategic plan, is:
1) Existing kehillot
2) The educational system
3) The next generation of kehilla leadership
It is here, with the focus of the little money that USCJ has to be spent first on existing kehillot, and last on the next generation of kehilla leadership, that I find troubling. I agree that “a strong and vibrant religious center for North American Jewry requires strong and vibrant Conservative congregations,” but when our money is low, we must carefully consider our priorities (Draft Strategic Plan 5). Young college-age students, more than the population of the majority of existing kehillot, engage in deep intellectual, ideological, and philosophical thought. We are constantly questioning. We are passionate, committed, and interested- about beliefs that engage us, about movements that cater to us, about people that identify with us.
“The next generation of kehilla leadership” refers to many people (Draft Strategic Plan 9). However, as a member of University of Maryland’s KOACH, I would like to focus on the impact of KOACH on myself, on this campus, and on kehillot in general.
As I mentioned above, I grew up in a Conservative shul, I went to Schechter and Ramah, and I went to Beth Tfiloh, a community high school affiliated with a Modern Orthodox shul. I have friends and family that identify with many different movements of Judaism. I also have friends and family that purposefully choose not to identify. I, myself, often question the purpose of labeling.
Regardless of whether I identify as a Conservative Jew, regardless of whether I affiliate with the Conservative Movement, regardless of whether I am a staunch supporter of all Conservative ideology, I still see KOACH as a necessary and vital kehilla on my college campus. For me, KOACH has been just that- a kehilla in which I have established meaningful friendships, shared meals over Jewish philosophy, literature, and ideology, and immersed myself in the programming that is meant to bring this kehilla together. With the support that the USCJ has continued to provide for KOACH, despite its dwindling funds over the past few years, our KOACH kehilla here at Maryland is thriving. In my time at Maryland so far, I see firsthand the impact that KOACH has had on my fellow peers. Coming to weekly services, reading Torah, leading parts of the service, engaging in programs, and creating my own community were unquestionable activities for me. I have always been active in similar activities at home and at camp. But for many of my peers, many of whom did not participate in USY, Nativ, or Schechter, KOACH has been their sole connection to Conservative Judaism with people their own age. Without KOACH, many of my friends would most-likely view the Conservative Movement as a movement of the past- a dying movement. Therefore, I believe it is essential for the USCJ Strategic Planning Committee to be able to recognize the importance of KOACH on college students. Maybe you have only heard negative feedback about KOACH (because “bad” speaks louder than “good”), but I know that for me and my peers, being a part of KOACH has been an incredible, life-changing experience. If the USCJ votes affirmatively for the plan as it currently stands, I do not believe KOACH will be able to make the same impact that it has on myself and my peers.
Part 3:
ReplyDeleteAt the University of Maryland, KOACH is a kehilla. We are a kehilla that holds weekly services both Friday night and Shabbat morning, sponsors monthly Shabbat lunch-n’-learns, onegs, havdalah and desserts, schedules social programming such as hamantaschen baking, chocolate seders, and movie nights, and engages in serious intellectual conversations on a regular basis. Within our Hillel, a vibrant, large, and often overwhelming space, KOACH provides an intimate kehilla for all Jews that “embraces all of the values…most dear to us” (UMD’s Statement to the USCJ). Our kehilla is strong, and fortunately, “we are strong enough to stand our own” (UMD’s Statement to the USCJ). That being said, leaving the strategic plan as is, here is what we would primarily be missing:
1) The KOACH Kallah
2) KOACH Shabbat
3) National connection to Jews on other campuses
All three of these factors are critical to the University of Maryland, and we view them as essential to our programming and identity on campus.
I am writing on behalf of a movement that is greater than myself. I am writing on behalf of a movement that is greater than University of Maryland’s KOACH. I am writing on behalf of college students around the country who do not attend the University of Maryland. I am writing on behalf of students who attend the KOACH Kallah because that is their only annual exposure to serious Torah learning. I am writing on behalf of the students who would have loved to attend the KOACH Kallah, but who couldn’t afford to do so because of this economic crisis. We have a wealth of opportunity here, and if you were present at this year’s KOACH Kallah hosted by Northwestern University, you would have witnessed that. You would have felt the kavanah that emanated our davening. You would have experienced the thirst in our eyes for community, kehilla. You would have experienced the richness of our questions and conversations.
And perhaps even more significant, we feel that as college students, and as KOACH affiliates, we believe that we are not only “the next generation of kehilla leadership,” but we are also the current generation of kehilla leadership (Draft Strategic Plan 9). We are a kehilla, and we are the leaders of that kehilla. But even more so, we possess a shared relationship with other kehillot. We benefit from the “myriad Conservative congregations in the area,” and in turn, “we are actively involved in local Conservative synagogues as Hebrew School teachers and youth advisors” (UMD’s Statement to the USCJ). We, the members of KOACH, are certainly important for the future of the Conservative Movement. But we are also important now, in the present, as we all look to restructure the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Fourth, I would like to seriously question a section that seems to not have received comprehensive input when it was written. Section 5.1 claims that “the current campus environment is heavily serviced by Hillel and numerous other well-funded and professionally staffed efforts” (Draft Strategic Plan 14). Of course, I can only speak for the University of Maryland Hillel, but I can tell you personally that we certainly are not “heavily serviced by Hillel.” Additionally, where are these “numerous other well-funded and professionally staffed efforts”? If they exist, I do not know about them.
I think it is frustrating, to say the least, that the authors of the USCJ Strategic Planning Committee did not use a representative sample when conducting research on college campuses. The “eleven months of research, consultations, and analysis…” were either not enough, or the research was not well designed (Draft Strategic Plan 4). I hope that in the future, the USCJ will use better samples, with higher validity and reliability, before making statements like the one quoted from section 5.1.
Part 4:
ReplyDeleteFifth, I want to thank the USCJ for making an open statement that they “cannot abandon Conservative Jewish college students” (Draft Strategic Plan 14). While you are not planning on “abandon[ing]“ us per say, you are effectively cutting enough of our funding that the impact you will make will most-likely not be statistically significant.
Sixth, I agree 101% that the USCJ “needs a more effective vehicle than the current Koach program” (Draft Strategic Plan 14). I agree; KOACH is not the best program that it can be. It has the potential for so much more. So let’s talk. Let’s engage in a conversation about how to make KOACH better. Let’s discuss what we can do, with the limited funds that we have, to improve KOACH on ALL college campuses. I think this is a key point: just because the current KOACH program is not outstanding, just because it is not 100% successful, does not mean that we should basically eliminate the program. This means that we should engage in conversation and implementation of changes to the program. And that conversation should be between USCJ and college students. It should not be a one-sided conversation. It cannot be a one-sided conversation in order for the changes to be effective.
Here are a few of my preliminary suggestions:
1) Retain the KOACH Kallah, but find ways to reduce funds (ex: students can stay in dorms rather than hotels, students can participate in a low cost social event rather than a high cost one, etc.)
2) Retain the KOACH Shabbat program, but find ways to reduce funds (ex: rabbinical interns can stay in student apartments rather than hotels, food can be paid for by the individual Hillels rather than by KOACH)
3) Set up an alliance between every school that has KOACH and a Rabbi from the closest Conservative shul. Even if the Rabbi cannot be present at the school on a regular basis, the Rabbi would still act as that school’s KOACH “liaison” or “mentor” (this is a cheap way for KOACH students to still have guidance and a convenient, halachik source)
4) Set up events that engage multiple KOACH kehillot from the same areas (ex: GW, AU, Delaware, Hopkins, UMBC, Goucher, Towson, UMD, etc. can do KOACH-based programming together. KOACH can and should provide the funds for this type of programming)
5) If convenience allows (such as New York schools, BU, Brandeis, etc.), send a Conservative Rabbi to the school on a weekly basis to engage the students in serious, Jewish learning
These are just a few suggestions, and I would love the opportunity to continue this conversation in greater depth.
Part 5:
ReplyDeleteBefore I close, I also want to briefly mention that I fully support the Fuchsberg Center, and I believe that participants of the Conservative Yeshiva fall under the category of “the next generation of kehilla leadership” (Draft Strategic Plan 9). As such, I believe that in addition to programs like KOACH, the Conservative Yeshiva should be one of the USCJ’s top priorities, not the last. Without an institution that takes learning seriously and participates in studying Torah from an authentically Conservative approach, we have almost no legitimacy as a movement that prides itself on our commitment to halacha.
In conclusion, I hope that the USCJ Strategic Planning Committee reads this post as an attempt to help you to help us. As a college student active in the KOACH community, I cannot support the plan as it currently stands. We, college students, are serious. We are not merely writing to you in order to just make a fuss or get publicity. We really, truly believe that our voices need to be heard before this plan can be passed. We are only doing this because we believe in Conservative Judaism, we have seen the impact that it has had on us and on our peers, and we know that it can continue to have a similar and even greater impact in the future…but only if we take the correct approach.
Judaism has never been a religion about answers. It has always been about questions. Consequently, I am not writing this statement to propose an answer (or answers) to the many challenges that the Conservative Movement currently faces. I am writing it to pose questions, and to further open up this tremendous discussion that has ensued.
If nothing else, I want to applaud the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for raising many crucial points about the current state of Conservative Judaism. It is about time that we bring these conversations to the forefront of the public. Thank you for your time, your energy, and your commitment to hearing, and more importantly, to listening, to my voice.