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June 8, 2001/Sivan 17, 5761, Vol. 53, No.36
Conservative movement maintains 'fluid' middle
BARRY COHEN
Editor
In the Valley, the lack of a core Jewish neighborhood, the expansion of the number of synagogues and the influx of newcomers from across the country have prompted Jewish leaders to assess how better to accommodate their congregants' desires and expectations, as well as attract those who are unaffiliated.
Jewish News recently covered how the Reform Movement in the Valley has responded to these challenges with "Reform looks back to move forward" (April 27).
Conservative synagogues face the challenge of attempting to maintain the middle road between the Reform movement, ideologically on the left, and the Orthodox, ideologically on the right.
When defining the middle road with regard to Conservative Judaism, lines are not always clear, said Rabbi Michael Wasserman of Beth El Congregation in Phoenix. The left and the right have sharper distinctions, while the middle is more fluid, he added, "and that is a strength."
Wasserman views Conservative Judaism as fulfilling a mission "to bring people together to be a bridge between tradition and progressive values."
Change at Beth El is "incremental and grassroots," remarked Wasserman. "(A congregation) evolves historically, like a living thing."
One example of change at Beth El has been new Friday-night programming designed to reach out to singles and young adults.
The worship service includes instrumental music. What makes this use of music significant is that normative Conservative Judaism observes the tradition of forbidding instrumental music, a practice dating to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 C.E.
Music has been added to certain Friday night programs to attract "those who are not yet comfortable in synagogue life," explained Wasserman. The effort is being made in cooperation with other synagogues, but the details of the programming are yet to be defined, he added.
This musical change has not affected regular worship services at Beth El, which still observe the long-standing practice of using non-instrumental music with prayer, said Wasserman.
Rabbi Alan Bright of Beth Emeth Congregation of the Northwest Valley, in Sun City West, is critical of Conservative Judaism's attempts to respond to current challenges.
"There is no central body that puts down guidelines," said Bright.
"If you ask an average congregant, he does not know what he is supposed to do" about living the lifestyle of a Conservative Jew, he remarked. Conservatism has become "the great excuse to get out of doing anything."
Bright contrasted Conservative Judaism in the United States to its practice in England, where a chief rabbi announces guidelines of religious practice to inform the public. In the United States, no such continuity or consistency exists, said Bright.
Bright calls Conservative Judaism in the United States "a failed experiment," and predicts some of kind of merger with Reform Judaism in the next 25 years.
Rabbi Mark Bisman of Har Zion Congregation in Scottsdale said that during his 18 years serving the congregation, he has seen many positive changes in congregants' religious practice and attitudes.
The major worship service used to be Fridays at 8 p.m. The Friday service is now at 6 p.m., to allow families to share a traditional meal after services. The major Shabbat service is Saturday morning.
Another change at Har Zion concerns the process of hiring clergy. When Bisman was interviewed for his position, the synagogue was located at 59th Street and Lincoln Drive. "The housing surrounding the synagogue was not affordable," which forced the rabbi to ride on Shabbat, he said.
However, now that Har Zion is located at 6140 E. Thunderbird Road, it is possible to find affordable housing within walking distance, he said.
Bisman said Har Zion uses a number of mechanisms to achieve change: working with the congregants to determine strategic plans; setting up needs assessment exchanges between the board of directors, paid staff and congregants; and using congregational surveys.
"Traditions in Judaism by nature are slow to change," said Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Temple Beth Sholom in Chandler. When the time is appropriate, synagogues can tap into the body of traditions and use them to adapt to the times, she explained.
One example of change she has seen at Temple Beth Sholom that goes against Jewish tradition, however, is how intermarried couples have been accepted. It is a stereotype that Conservative Judaism is unwelcoming to intermarried couples, said Koppell.
"That is absolutely not the case in my synagogue," she said. The intermarried are part of the synagogue's culture, are active and taking their time to choose whether or not to convert to Judaism, she said.
Temple Beth Emeth of Scottsdale, because of its size and older age of its members, "has not changed much through the years," said Sandy Stein, one of the synagogue's charter members.
"We're a congregation of mature people, and we are small and friendly," she said.
Rabbi Ted Louis died last summer, and since the High Holidays, Cantor David Niles has served Temple Beth Emeth on Shabbat. Worship services during the summer occur on Saturday mornings, and lay participation is encouraged, Stein said.
Another significant change took place eight years ago, when the temple moved from rented church space to a permanent home in an office complex on Drinkwater Boulevard.
Conservative Judaism "is more of a coalition than a movement," said Wasserman.
This lack of centralized authority or strictly defined ideology will enable each congregation to continue to tailor changes to meet the needs of those who self-identify as Conservative Jews.
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