The Other Continent

by Norm Kurtz

The time had come for the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs to strengthen its ties with the Masorti kehillot (communities) in South America. Over the past several years, the FJMC had provided these kehillot with our publications as well as the video The Ties That Bind about the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin, all translated into Spanish. We also had arranged for a Torah scroll to be donated to a new kehillah, along with a substantial number of scrolls for mezzuzot and sets of tefillin. I had assumed that this was just a small part of what the North American Conservative movement contributed to our South American brethren. I was wrong.

I became even more determined to bring the group from FJMC to South America when I learned that this would be the first organized group of laypeople from the North American Conservative movement to visit congregations in Latin America. This was an opportunity to demonstrate my commitment to the notion of klal Yisrael, to bringing the Jewish people closer.

We traveled in Chile and Argentina from February 25 through March 5, 2008, visiting several kehillot in the Santiago and Buenos Aires metropolitan areas. A passionate and spiritual aura emanated from each congregation. The hospitality we were shown was incomparable. Our mutual curiosity about each other’s cultures stimulated wonderful conversation and the language barrier was overcome by our mutual desire to learn and share. We had the joy of experiencing tefillot Latin American style. Although the traditions were familiar (since many had an Ashkenazic heritage) and the melodies more or less those to which we were accustomed, the style of the services was strikingly different. These services were uplifting, fast-paced, and energizing. In each congregation an electric keyboard accompanied the davening and in each service the congregants sang with fervor and passion.

The communities are still developing a culture of volunteerism and viable lay leadership. They were open to our suggestions about how to involve lay leaders and were interested in learning more about how our congregations and their auxiliary organizations function.

What was most enlightening was the realization that the Masorti communities in Latin America face the same challenges threatening us in North America. The communities must cope with assimilation and the freedoms not available to past generations. As a result, involvement by teens and young adults in Jewish community life is decreasing while intermarriage is increasing. After attending university, children move away from smaller communities, heading toward big cities. Participation in Jewish cultural events and Jewish ritual is declining and the ability to attract capable clergy is becoming more and more difficult. Fundraising is a huge challenge. And the growth of Orthodox Judaism is posing a threat to the stability and growth of the Masorti communities.

It was disconcerting to learn how little the Conservative/Masorti movement does for these kehillot. We must do more to connect with fellow Latin American Masorti Jews. There is a vast array of opportunities for sharing and growing together. If we could connect Marom, the Masorti youth movement in Latin America, with our college kids in Koach and young marrieds, that could assure the future of the Masorti movement. As much as we can help AMLAT (Masorti Association of Latin America), there is much we can learn from the genuine and passionate involvement we found in these communities.

By staying distant, we are losing a very valuable opportunity. In the FJMC we teach “Together we can do so much more.” And so it is here. If we were to join with the Masorti communities of Latin America, we can do so much more.