The Way Forward

from the pages of Kadima, the newsletter of Congregation Adas Emuno:

From the desk of …                    

 Rabbi Barry Schwartz

    

THE WAY FORWARD:


CREATING TRANSFORMATIONAL

JEWISH EXPERIENCES

What is the way forward for those of us who care about the future of the American Jewish community?

I’ll admit that in my last column (The Jew and the Pew) I was quite negative. Recall that I was reacting to the major new study of the American Jewish community by the Pew Research Center showed an alarming abandonment of Judaism and the Jewish people. I wrote that we should “be brave enough to admit that this portrait is devastating. We are in free fall….”

But you would never know it in San Diego last month (mid-December) at the biannual convention of the Reform movement. I was with some 5000 Reform Jews, and the spirit was something to behold. The theme of the gathering was “”Meet-Pray-Learn” and that is exactly what we did, with gusto.

I promised to write about some positive lessons in subsequent columns, so let me reflect on the Biennial experience to talk about what is right with our community rather than what is wrong.

Let’s start with engaging our youth, and talk about one small step that can be a difference maker. A modest proposal, not a panacea… but one within that is realistic and attainable for the majority of American Jewish families.

One of the most moving aspects of the convention was the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of high school age youth. How is it that these young people are so connected? I asked… and the common denominator seems to be, interestingly enough… a great Jewish summer camp experience. Specifically, these youth pointed to the Reform movement camps like Camp Eisner in Great Barrington and Camp Harlam in the Poconos. It seems that a memorable summer camp experience is the gateway to involvement in Jewish youth group (NFTY). NFTY leads to Hillel. Hillel leads to study abroad in Israel. Israel leads to young leadership roles and a lasting connection to the Jewish community. For so many of the young adults I talked to, it all starts with an exceptional Jewish experience as a teen. Jewish summer camp seems to be the ticket. Dollar for dollar it may be the best investment in the Jewish future you can make for your children or grandchildren. And to compete with all the summer alternatives, the Reform movement recently opened an elite Jewish sports camp and just announced the opening of a select Jewish science camp.

So how about an unforgettable Jewish summer for our children? Why not a community-wide “Junior Birthright” program that offers a month at camp as a prelude to a week in Israel? We need to invest in experiences that are memorable and transformational. It’s one small step for a Jewish family; one giant leap for the Jewish people.

I Gotta' Love You Rosh Hashanah

Courtesy of Taglit-Birthright Israel, here's a marvelous music video called, "I Gotta' Love You Rosh Hashanah" starring birthright alumna Michelle Citrin as Rosh Hashanah Girl  http://michellecitrin.com, Music by Michelle Citrin and William Levin, Video Edited by Simon Weaver, Created and Directed by William Levin  http://jewishrobot.com:









Download the song, lyrics and more at  http://rhgirl.com.


For more information about Taglit-Birthright Israel, see our previous post, Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel Program, and http://www.kesherbirthright.org.

Meet the New President of Adas Emuno

As part of an ongoing series, we'll be introducing you to the Officers and Trustees of Congregation Adas Emuno here on our blog, so that you can get to know a little more about our congregational leadership, and who we are as a Temple in the tradition of Reform Judaism.  And who better to begin with than our new President, Alan Spector.

Alan Spector, our new Adas Emuno President, was born and raised in New York City, in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx.  He graduated from the University of Maryland, earning a dual degree in Biology and Psychology with honors.   With his strong interest in science and people, he furthered his education by attending Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine, gaining his DMD degree.   He came back to, of all places, the Bronx, for a general practice residency at Montefiore Hospital, located in his childhood hometown.  Alan states, “my life is a bit like the old sitcom…  Welcome Back Kotter,” as he had returned to practice Family and Cosmetic Dentistry on Doctor’s Row right down the street from Montefiore.  Alan is an active member of the Bronx County and First District Dental Societies.


Sheila, his wife, and Alan became Leonians in 1983, a few months after their first child was born, and sent their 3 children to the Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia, where Alan, with his sense of involvement, became the “class mom” for each of his kids at various grade levels.  He was also the den leader for Ryan’s Cub Scout group.


The Spectors believe that instilling Jewish values in their children goes beyond the sanctuary.  They were fortunate enough to be able to send their children to Jewish-based sleepaway camps and teen tours, where Ryan, Kyley, and Jaimee met other youths from various locations throughout the country sharing the common bond of being Jewish.  All 3 of their young adults have been to Israel on the Birthright program, a free 10 day trip to Israel [see the previous post on this blog, Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel Program].  Sheila and Alan are involved in hosting parlor meetings for Birthright Israel, where groups of about 20 parents of college-aged children gather to share their experiences of being the parents of returnees from this trip.  Of course, fundraising is also a part of this so that this program can continue, and the Spectors are proud to say that “it still does.”


 All 3 of Alan’s children became a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Adas Emuno, each with different clergy presiding over their children’s service.  Alan feels that while we have been blessed with wonderful clergy throughout the years, Adas Emuno has continued to thrive due to the strength of our membership and congregational family.  Alan becomes internally upset when he hears that members of our Temple family (often after their child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah) no longer wish to be a part of our congregation.  As newly-elected President, he wants this to be a thing of the past:  Once a member of a family, always a member!


Besides the cliché that “a family who prays together, stays together,” Alan would like to hear from any and all members of the congregation as to how your extended family socializes and continues to thrive, how we can all work together on behalf of Congregation Adas Emuno.

Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel Program for Winter/Spring

Registration begins in September, and you can get on the Early Update List today, just click here.

From their website:

Your adventure. Your birthright. Our gift.
Taglit-Birthright Israel is a unique partnership between the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish communities (North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel)

To date, over 200,000 young adults from around the world have taken advantage of a Taglit-Birthright Israel sponsored trip opportunity.

The Taglit-Birthright Israel gift covers roundtrip airfare plus ten days of accommodations/meals and unique programming in Israel. Any Jewish young adult in the 18-26 age range who has never before visited Israel on a peer-group program is eligible to apply for the gift.

URJ Kesher Israel is an official provider of Taglit-Birthright Israel funded trips. As a team, we believe that our Taglit-Birthright Israel trips offer an exceptional opportunity to experience Israel’s land, culture, and people on an intimate and meaningful level.

There is much more information available from their website: http://www.kesherbirthright.org. Please take a look!