I write this from the 119th CCAR convention in Cincinnati, Ohio (CCAR is the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the main organization of Reform Movement rabbis). Our conference theme is “Challenges of Moral Leadership.” There are over 550 Reform rabbis here at the convention. It is one of the largest rabbinic gatherings in history. We have spent the week learning, discussing, and sharing ideas about the current state of American culture and society, Israel, the future of Judaism. We are focused particularly on the role of Reform Judaism and its rabbis in facing the challenges of our day. I will post separate entries during this week summarizing individual sessions that were particularly good. For now, however, I simply review the overall themes of the conference.
Actions speak louder than words and conference activities have revealed three messages on moral and rabbinic leadership. First, gender, race, and matters of personal identity are still a primary area that requires our courageous moral leadership. The Conference and HUC-JIR honored Rabbis Sally Priesand, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and Amy Eilberg, the first women ordained by the Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative seminaries. The entrance of women into the rabbinate has revolutionized Jewish life worldwide. We learned from Rabbi Priesand, her colleagues and classmates about how far we’ve come and how far we have still to go. Rabbi Priesand reminded us that a few courageous individuals made all the difference in her groundbreaking ordination. She especially thanked HUC’s chancellor emeritus Gottschalk, the rabbi who ordained her in 1972 over the objections of many influential faculty members. Rabbi Sasso taught us that strong family relationships and personal happiness are vital to a leader’s ability to take courageous steps. She spoke movingly of her husband and the personal happiness they shared throughout her years as a student and rabbi. Rabbi Eilberg showed us that courageous moral leaders are still subject to forces beyond their control. Her travel plans were scrapped as a snow storm closed the Minneapolis airport.
Actions speak louder than words and conference activities have revealed three messages on moral and rabbinic leadership. First, gender, race, and matters of personal identity are still a primary area that requires our courageous moral leadership. The Conference and HUC-JIR honored Rabbis Sally Priesand, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and Amy Eilberg, the first women ordained by the Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative seminaries. The entrance of women into the rabbinate has revolutionized Jewish life worldwide. We learned from Rabbi Priesand, her colleagues and classmates about how far we’ve come and how far we have still to go. Rabbi Priesand reminded us that a few courageous individuals made all the difference in her groundbreaking ordination. She especially thanked HUC’s chancellor emeritus Gottschalk, the rabbi who ordained her in 1972 over the objections of many influential faculty members. Rabbi Sasso taught us that strong family relationships and personal happiness are vital to a leader’s ability to take courageous steps. She spoke movingly of her husband and the personal happiness they shared throughout her years as a student and rabbi. Rabbi Eilberg showed us that courageous moral leaders are still subject to forces beyond their control. Her travel plans were scrapped as a snow storm closed the Minneapolis airport.
The second message from the convention is that effective moral leadership requires crossing boundaries while maintaining one's root in an organizational base. Two of our keynote speakers came from institutions outside the Reform movement, David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee and Dr. Arnold Eisen, chancellor of JTS (see Blog entry from Nov. 7, 2007 "Count the Stars" for more on Dr. Eisen). Harris explained five major challenges facing Jews, two of which require crossing boundaries. Harris urged us to overcome Jewish infighting – secular versus religious, observant versus progressive, Republican versus Democrat, etc. He also pushed us to reach across the sea and draw closer to Israel. Chancellor Eisen spoke about the unique window of opportunity we have for cooperation between the Reform and Conservative movements. In the same speech, he reminded us of the essential differences between us and the necessity of those distinctions.
Third, the convention urges us to remember that leaders must demonstrate integrity in their lives and their jobs in order to succeed. In studying about Abraham Lincoln with Dr. Doris Kearns Goodwin, the specter of today’s moral failures and weak-willed politicians hung heavy in the room. She spoke of the personal and political genius of Lincoln. He drew people close to him and forgave their shortcomings and insults. He wanted the best for America, for his family, and for himself and he used his humor, intellect, and high personal integrity to those ends. The message was clear: we must do the same.
The Jewish community and all Americans face serious challenges on almost every front. From the economy to the elections to the future of Jewish identity in America, our workload is heavy. However, we have unique opportunities. This is a time of great possibility and solutions. Log in and read some of the assessments and solutions to the specific issues presented throughout the conference. Add your voice through this blog. What are the greatest challenges we face in the Jewish American community today? What do we most need from our leaders now?
The Jewish community and all Americans face serious challenges on almost every front. From the economy to the elections to the future of Jewish identity in America, our workload is heavy. However, we have unique opportunities. This is a time of great possibility and solutions. Log in and read some of the assessments and solutions to the specific issues presented throughout the conference. Add your voice through this blog. What are the greatest challenges we face in the Jewish American community today? What do we most need from our leaders now?
We need to find common ground with the Jewish affiliations and with the non-affiliated. Israel aa the center of Jewish culture and spirituality is such a place as long as our emphasis is on the culture and the religion. I find the country, politically, to be a source of irritation and anger witn which I often disagree, as we all often disagree with our own government here. Support for Israel should mean the people (civilization, culture) and not the political country. Bob G.
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