This past Monday night the chancellor of the Conservative. Movement, Dr. Arnold Eisen, visited Congregation Ohev Shalom
in Richboro, PA in honor of Rabbi Eliott Perlstein's 36th year at the
temple. There was a delicious catered meal to honor donors to the
Jewish Theological Seminary. Following diner the chancellor spoke
lovingly and movingly about the bright future of the Conservative Movement in North America. As the titular head of 600 synagogues, a
dozen Ramah Camps, and a slew of other organizations, he has a unique
perspective on our country's quickly changing Jewish community. One
positive trend he noted is that hundreds of thousands of American Jews
flock to conservative synagogues every week in order to add meaning to
their lives due to our spiritually uplifting services, family focused
communities, and passionate Torah educators.
Yesterday before
teaching our weekly Talmud class, I was honored to be part of the Bet
Din (rabbinic court) which met to convert a woman to Judaism. I asked
her why she chose a conservative synagogue over the reform and Chabad.
She replied that while the other synagogues were very eager to have her
join them, she wanted to be part of a community where the observance of
mitzvot is valued, but that she couldn't see herself living an orthodox
lifestyle. She is so excited to be called to the Torah this Shabbat for an Aliyah by her new Hebrew name. She has pledged to continue to increase her Shabbat observance, her Torah studies and to increase her observance of kashrut.
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