A Conservative Compact of Jewish Commitment

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The Prophet, Isaiah, challenged the people of his time. He was a man with hope, vision, and goals of transforming humanity. But, he was continually disappointed in their response. He was pained by the corruption he saw. He shed tears because of human failure. The world was going in the wrong direction and his pleas for change were tauntingly rejected.

Finally, in an attempt to create a revolution and inspire a change in behavior, he challenged the people of Israel to take responsibility for human transformation. He urged them to become an “Or Lagoyim”, a “light unto the nations.” Isaiah saw the darkness that blanketed the world and immobilized humanity. He also knew that the darkness would not evaporate by itself; for darkness is the absence of light. And, so, he challenged Israel to become that light and show the way for the rest of the world.

Today, the task of Israel to be an Or Lagoyim remains important. But, I believe Conservative Judaism now has a more pressing challenge. Jewish values can enrich humanity. But, to do so they must be lived by Jews.

No matter which population study one examines, one notes the large number of Conservative Jews who do not live the life or values we teach. That is the present reality. Because our open ideology welcomes Jews without placing guilt upon them for non-observance, we have attracted and embraced a growing membership. Yet, membership growth, alone, does not reflect our vision or our mission. For, we are a Movement dedicated to the conservation of Jewish living through Jewish transformation. We have, however, not given this mission the attention it deserves. And so large numbers of Conservative Jews are not yet living Conservative Judaism. We can no longer look the other way! We must do more than give lip service to the task of inspiring the growing Jewish commitment of our members.

As Isaiah challenged our ancestors to become an Or Lagoyim, – A light unto the nations – I want to urge Conservative Jews to become an Or LaYehudim – a light unto the Jews. Today, we must become the beacon to inspire Conservative Jews to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

If we are going to take this mission seriously, then we, as a Movement of congregations, must refocus our energy to transform Conservative Jews. Our vision of inspiring commitment to Jewish living must become the centerpiece of a new Conservative Congregation Agenda to become an Or LaYehudim – A light unto the Jews. In many cases, that may mean reorienting our priorities.

Conservative Judaism is filled with promise – promise that has never been realized. We properly focus our financial and human resources on our youth. Yet, without the simultaneous creation of a living and dynamic Conservative Jewish community in which they will comfortably associate, there can be no real substance to Conservative Jewish life. For when the youth who take what we teach seriously mature, they often enter congregations void of the Jewish values or practices that we taught them. They abandon what they learned and emulate the apathy of veteran members or they choose to practice what they have been taught – usually not in a Conservative synagogue.

Although there are those who may consider this problem unique, I am struck by the similarities between the biblical society in which Ezra and Nehemiah lived and our own. The people of Israel had assimilated. Most of the Jews had no memory of the vibrant Jewish life of their ancestors. Jewish living was not on their agenda. Neither Ezra nor Nehemiah were satisfied with the status quo. They wanted to reinvigorate the community – they wanted to infuse it with Jewish life. What did they do? Ezra began to teach. He instituted the regular reading of the Torah so that every Jew could learn. But, learning had to be translated into action; Jewish living. Thus, they motivated and stimulated the people of Israel to pledge to begin a process of recommitment.

Although we are sometimes intimidated by segments of the Jewish community accusing us of cheapening Judaism when we do not expect total adherence to all of the commandments, it might be beneficial to learn from our ancestors 2,400 years ago. Their pledge was not a total commitment to Jewish living. Instead, while acknowledging that living the entirety of Halacha was the ideal, they began their re-dedication by pledging to observe a limited number of core mitzvot in a compact of commitment: Shabbat observance, inmarriage, keeping the Sabbatical year and paying a tax to provide upkeep for the Temple. This became the foundation on which that society re-built Jewish life. Today, I call upon Conservative Jews to join with me in creating a 21st Century foundation for Jewish living through our own Conservative Compact of Jewish Commitment so that each of us can be an Or LaYehudim.

In the past, I spoke about the Eight Expectations of the Ideal Conservative Jew. I believe that those eight expectations must continue as an important agenda for Conservative Jewish Living. Without lowering our expectations, however, we must change our strategy and begin at a different point – because the masses of Conservative Jews are at a different point. If we don’t begin, we will deprive this generation of the richness of Jewish life that was and is the Conservative Jewish Promise. Unless we join together to inspire Jewish growth, the potential of our congregational strength is wasted. The establishment of a new Conservative Jewish Compact of concrete behaviors cannot be seen as the definition of Conservative Jewish practice, but, rather a unified effort to create a springboard for further Jewish growth. Our compact of commitment will serve as the modest beginning – but the firm foundation for the ladder of Jewish life on which we can climb.

First, in our Compact of Commitment to grow as a Jew, we must pledge to act as Jews, to improve the world and enrich the lives of God’s Children. Judaism teaches our unique obligation to respond to that which is not yet as God wants it to be. We witness human pain, suffering, and corruption. The world’s resources are abused. That we are charged to respond in a prescribed way is Judaism’s contribution to Society. Talk is not sufficient. As Jews, we must act. Giving Tzedakah through our synagogues and Federation is important. But, we must also train our members to give personal Tzedakah directly to the hungry and the homeless. When we encounter someone who isin need, we are enjoined to respond directly; to open our wallet and help. Rather than sending the needy to an agency, we must do what we can – directly and immediately.

Tzedakah is only one solution to the crises we face. Our personal acts of Gemilut Hesed: visiting the sick, consoling the mourner, tutoring the illiterate, bringing joy to the shut-in can make a difference in the world. It is easy to respond when we are emotionally moved or when we are personally involved. The challenge as a Jew, however, is to respond to needs simply because we are commanded to. As Conservative Jews, let us pledge to take on the commitment of personal Tikkun Olam by – as a minimum – giving Tzedakah to one person or doing one act of Gemilut Hesed each day.

Second, in our Compact of Commitment to grow as a Jew, let us pledge to live the Jewish calendar. For most Jewish calendar observances, there are positive and negative commands. Both are equally vital. Each mitzvah is essential. But, for most Jews, Saturday is just a day off and not Shabbat. Sukkot is merely another day in the year. To create a Jewish religious renaissance, let us change this and begin to focus on a limited number of positive commandments to putthese special days on each Jew’s agenda. Let us pledge to light candles, make Kiddush and have a special meal as we usher in Shabbat each week and for each of the major Festivals. While this is far from the totality of desired behavior, let us assume the responsibility of urging these first steps. Commitment to the new Conservative Jewish Compact can help to create a new Jewish religious renaissance.

Third, in our Compact of Commitment to grow as a Jew, let us make a pledge to eat as a Jew. Although the totality of the mitzvot regarding Jewish eating is important, we must begin our religious renaissance somewhere. We can start by avoiding those foods that the Torah forbids us to eat. By avoiding shellfish and pork products, we begin to make a statement that we are Jews. Your rabbi can give you a list of other products that are forbidden.

But, eating as a Jew means more than observing the rules of Kashrut. Let us commit ourselves to begin each meal with the motzi. By reciting this ten-word prayer, we acknowledge that our food is a gift from God and we remember that we are Jews. By making the commitment to eat as a Jew, we bind ourselves to the Jewish people and God and help create a Jewish religious renaissance.

Fourth, in our Compact of Commitment to grow as a Jew, let us pledge to learn as a Jew. Conservative Judaism is steeped in the ideology that Jewish learning is vital. Our texts teach values that we must learn in order to live as Jews and in the image of God. But, the texts are impotent unless we learn them. We are fortunate in our Movement that there are wonderful teachers and a wide spectrum of classes. Synagogues and other Jewish institutions provide many learning opportunities. As a minimum, however, let us commit ourselves to read a chapter of the Tanakh each day through Perek Yomi which will begin its second cycle in April. Or, beginning this spring, let us, as Conservative Jews, participate in Mishnah Yomit and – study Mishnah each day. By learning, we can create our own Jewish religious renaissance.

Fifth, in our Compact of Commitment to ensure Jewish growth, let us pledge to perpetuate Jewish life. Make a commitment to raise a Jewish family. Each of us has a contribution to make in sharing the message that Jewish family life is important. Each week as we light candles and make Kiddush, consciously share this hope with a child, grandchild, a relative or friend. Let them know that what they do makes a difference to us. As the number of Jews who choose to intermarry increases, there are those who – in despair – say that the battle is lost. The rising level of intermarriage requires new outreach strategies to inspire those who have chosen to love and commit their lives to non-Jews to raise Jewish families. And, we must be in front – creating those strategies – because only in our success will we motivate those who intermarry to create a rich Jewish home life. But, at the same time, we must never become “neutral” or “accepting” of intermarriage as the norm. We must struggle to create a communal expectation of inmarriage or meaningful conversion in order to perpetuate Jewish living.

The message is a difficult one to deliver. But, as Conservative Jews, we are in the best position to create a balance between a totally closed approach which rejects the intermarried along with the intermarriage, and a totally open approach which has no expectation of inmarriage. Our pledge must be the perpetuation of Jewish family life.

Sixth, in our Compact of Commitment to grow as a Jew, make a pledge to build a bridge to Israel. The Mitzvah of Aliyah is important. Make a visit to Israel a priority. But, even if you’re not going to Israel, set aside some money each week to help someone else visit or live there. The conscious and concrete act of providing funding to help Jews visit Israel and supporting those who live there has been a traditional Jewish value. If each Conservative Jew would put money in an Israel Tzedakah box each week and allocate it to help those who live in Israel or those who want to visit, the impact would be powerful. Our renewed commitment to Israel can be no less vital than the pledge of our ancestors in the time of Nehemiah.

The articulation of this new Compact is easy. The challenge is in its implementation. Masses of congregants will become part of this compact only if we are dedicated to motivating and urging them. To succeed, congregational leadership must be an Or LaYehudim and sell the vision to Conservative Jews. The goal must be to captivate rather than castigate. To do that we must unify around the vision and create a new spirit between professional and volunteer; between clergy and lay. Until we see each other as partners focusing on a common agenda – rather than adversaries –, we will not inspire congregants to take the initial steps towards Jewish transformation.

Based upon previous training and experience it is natural to view issues from different perspectives. Usually we gloss over differences, yet our chances of ultimate success would be much greater if we actually confronted our differences in an attempt to resolve them and seek common ground through consensus.

Creating commitment to the new Conservative Compact requires harnessed energy. Opposing approaches – competing plans – even if they are each fully appropriate, will dissipate our strength. The challenge is to harness energy which can only come with collaboration. Without this partnership, we ensure our ineffectiveness. We can no longer permit adversarial relationships to cripple congregational progress. We must find the means to work together to implement our sacred vision. The model of personal interest must be replaced with shared commitment to the essential goal of individual Jewish transformation. Rather than focusing on shortcomings of others or our disagreements with them, let us put differences aside in favor of turning ourdream into reality.

Our society is different than Isaiah’s. And, so, a different challenge is called for. Our mission today is to become an Or LaYehudim - A Light to the Jews. We must become the beacon to inspire Conservative Jews to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. This must b ecome our primary focus. The goal must not be to lower expectations;but rather to create the “bandwagon effect” of commitment to Jewish living – in which we are all involved and growing. The new Conservative Jewish compact may not be the answer. But, it is an answer. The Conservative Movement must begin to take its mission of being “A light unto the Jews” seriously. Teaching facts and ideas is important – but it is not sufficient. The mere acquisition of skills is not the end. Learning must be translated into growth; into action. Without a catalyst, however, it is hard to modify daily behavior patterns or habits. Conservative Congregations must become that catalyst.

Our Movement is filled with promise. We are poised for success. Let us join together and become an Or LaYehudim by influencing congregants’ transformation in our renaissance of Jewish life through commitment to a new Conservative Movement Compact. That new commitment will be the foundation of our new success.