To save cash, Yoffie raises possibility of merging Reform, Conservative shuls http://jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/yoffie-proposes-mergers-with-cash-strapped-conservative-shuls/ Reacting to an increasingly perilous economic outlook, the leader of the Reform movement proposed that some of the movement's synagogues could consider merging with Conservative congregations as a cost-saving measure. en-us bharris@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-12-17T;19:54:01-05:00 Comment by charles jackson charles.jackson.nyc@gmail.com A real proposal - merge the duplicative offices, staffs, mailing lists, fund-raising and spending efforts of the two movements. The administrative efforts of maintaining two “brands”, each of which is a force for spending more money on fewer users or members would be the real way to save. A real proposal - merge the duplicative offices, staffs, mailing lists, fund-raising and spending efforts of the two movements. The administrative efforts of maintaining two “brands”, each of which is a force for spending more money on fewer users or members would be the real way to save.

]]> 2009-11-08T;20:17:00-05:00 Comment by pushkina frankl@bigpond.net.au Here in Sydney, Australia, we have three non-orthodox congregations under one roof: classical reform (the original from the shul’s 1938 founding), egalitarian masorti (Conservative which came second in the 1990s) and jewish renewal the most recent, product of the past 10 years).  All other official congregations in the city except one other classical reform are orthodox, most having chabad rabbis on their bimahs.  Our three rabbis were all trained at HUC; the senior rabbi is a dual member of the CCAR and the RA; our para-rabbinical staff were/are all trained either by renewal folks or by themselves, from the renewal point of view. We have no one who was trained at the JTA and who can speak about/ to Conservative issues with any sort of real deep knowledge of the movement. As a result, folks here in the masorti congregation have no real experience with the conservative/masorti movement and how it really differs from orthodoxy and the reform/progressive movements.  indeed, after a key member of the congregation ceased attending, most folks followed her to a local chabad shul. i find the arrangement troubling; there is/should be more to a shul than just pragmatic approaches to resource management. for example, i still have no idea as to how the Hebrew school is taught and withing which movement it stands.  as it is already, most shul members are clueless about what each movement believes regarding Torah, Jewish history, miztvot, values, etc.; with this arrangement it becomes harder to teach folks about the movements, the hows and whys of how they came into existence and should remain independent. i believe that the continued “corporatization” of contemporary judaism (i.e. the concept that an MBA is better suited to run a tzedakah based institution; that ‘professionals’ are better able to run things), the focus on pragmatic issues as opposed to truly spiritual matters alienates almost anyone touched by the non-orthodox movements.  people become ‘born again jews’ because they crave true spiritual leadership at shul: accountants they can see in offices. i find it most disconcerting. Here in Sydney, Australia, we have three non-orthodox congregations under one roof: classical reform (the original from the shul’s 1938 founding), egalitarian masorti (Conservative which came second in the 1990s) and jewish renewal the most recent, product of the past 10 years).  All other official congregations in the city except one other classical reform are orthodox, most having chabad rabbis on their bimahs.  Our three rabbis were all trained at HUC; the senior rabbi is a dual member of the CCAR and the RA; our para-rabbinical staff were/are all trained either by renewal folks or by themselves, from the renewal point of view. We have no one who was trained at the JTA and who can speak about/ to Conservative issues with any sort of real deep knowledge of the movement.

As a result, folks here in the masorti congregation have no real experience with the conservative/masorti movement and how it really differs from orthodoxy and the reform/progressive movements.  indeed, after a key member of the congregation ceased attending, most folks followed her to a local chabad shul.

i find the arrangement troubling; there is/should be more to a shul than just pragmatic approaches to resource management. for example, i still have no idea as to how the Hebrew school is taught and withing which movement it stands.  as it is already, most shul members are clueless about what each movement believes regarding Torah, Jewish history, miztvot, values, etc.; with this arrangement it becomes harder to teach folks about the movements, the hows and whys of how they came into existence and should remain independent.

i believe that the continued “corporatization” of contemporary judaism (i.e. the concept that an MBA is better suited to run a tzedakah based institution; that ‘professionals’ are better able to run things), the focus on pragmatic issues as opposed to truly spiritual matters alienates almost anyone touched by the non-orthodox movements.  people become ‘born again jews’ because they crave true spiritual leadership at shul: accountants they can see in offices.

i find it most disconcerting.

]]> 2009-11-08T;20:17:00-05:00 Comment by Edward Ordman edward@ordman.net I’ve lived in at least one city small enough that we couldn’t afford three separate buildings.  Some of the disputes were solved in ways that would seem odd to an outsider - e.g.  an agreement that people would “act respectfully, like in church” on Friday evenings, but feel free to move around during services on Saturday mornings.  If the people like each other and really want to work together and allow for each others’ feelings and preferences, it can be done. I’ve lived in at least one city small enough that we couldn’t afford three separate buildings.  Some of the disputes were solved in ways that would seem odd to an outsider - e.g.  an agreement that people would “act respectfully, like in church” on Friday evenings, but feel free to move around during services on Saturday mornings.  If the people like each other and really want to work together and allow for each others’ feelings and preferences, it can be done.

]]> 2009-11-08T;20:17:00-05:00 Comment by Avi ahein@email.com Bang. Another nail in the coffin of the Conservative movement. Not happening yet, but just wait.... Bang. Another nail in the coffin of the Conservative movement. Not happening yet, but just wait....

]]> 2009-11-08T;20:17:00-05:00