Conservative Judaism outreach
Encyclopedia
Conservative Judaism outreach refers to those organization
al and education
al efforts by the Conservative Judaism
and Masorti
Jewish denominations
meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism
and to synagogue
attendance.
The movement's most notable outreach efforts include:
and its affiliates and namesakes: Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
, Camp Ramah in California
, Camp Ramah in New England
, Camp Ramah in Canada
, Ramah Darom
, Camp Ramah in the Poconos
, Camp Ramah (Wisconsin)
.
s, mostly using the "Solomon Schechter
" name: Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan
, Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
, Metro Schechter Academy
and others as well as schools such as Chicagoland Jewish High School
, United Synagogue Day School
, Hillel Day School
and others.
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
al and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al efforts by the Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
and Masorti
Masorti
The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
Jewish denominations
Jewish denominations
Jewish religious movements , sometimes called "denominations" or "branches", include different groups which have developed among Jews from ancient times and especially in the modern era among Ashkenazi Jews living in anglophone countries...
meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and to synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
attendance.
The movement's most notable outreach efforts include:
Youth movements
- KadimaKadima (youth group)Kadima is a youth group affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism , specifically aimed at Jewish preteens living in North America in Grades 6-8...
, a youth groupYouth groupYouth group may refer to:* Youth Group, an Australian band* Youth club, a social and activities club for young people* Youth ministry, an age-specific type of religious ministry...
affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative JudaismUnited Synagogue of Conservative JudaismThe United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
(USCJ), specifically aimed at Jewish preteens living in North America in Grades 6-8. - United Synagogue YouthUnited Synagogue YouthUnited Synagogue Youth is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. USY operates in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The goal of the movement is to bring Jewish teenagers closer to Judaism and Israel through learning and social interaction...
(USY)is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative JudaismUnited Synagogue of Conservative JudaismThe United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
or USCJ with members from the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
dedicated to creating a fun, educational environment where Jewish teenagers can connect in hopes of meeting other Jewish teens in a comfortable atmosphere, combating assimilation, supporting IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and giving and performing charityTzedakahTzedakah or Ṣ'daqah in Classical Hebrew is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on the Hebrew word meaning righteousness, fairness or justice...
. The organization is open to all Jewish teenagers. While synagogue membership is not a requirement, most affiliate with the Conservative movementConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
.
Summer camps
There are a number of summer camps under the Conservative Judaism banner, the most important being Camp RamahCamp Ramah
Camp Ramah is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. Ramah camps serve kosher food and are Shabbat-observant.-History:...
and its affiliates and namesakes: Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires in Wingdale, New York, is one of nine overnight summer camps and three day camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement of Judaism and the National Ramah Commission. It is accredited by the American Camp Association...
, Camp Ramah in California
Camp Ramah in California
Camp Ramah in California is a Jewish summer camp located in Ojai, California.The camp is affiliated with the Conservative Movement and observes the laws of Judaism, Shabbat, and the laws of Kashrut.-History:...
, Camp Ramah in New England
Camp Ramah in New England
--24.185.169.242 17:40, 27 November 2011 --24.185.169.242 17:40, 27 November 2011 Camp Ramah in New England , located in Palmer, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest Ramah summer camps, organized by the Jewish Conservative Movement...
, Camp Ramah in Canada
Camp Ramah in Canada
Camp Ramah in Canada, is a Jewish summer camp located in the community of Utterson in the town of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.The Max and Beatrice Wolfe Campus is located on Skeleton Lake, a two and a half hour drive from Toronto...
, Ramah Darom
Ramah Darom
Camp Ramah Darom is a Jewish summer camp located in Clayton, Georgia, in the mountains of north Georgia. Affiliated with the Camp Ramah network in North America, it opened in 1997. The camp is affiliated with the National Ramah Commission, the national parent organization that oversees all Ramah...
, Camp Ramah in the Poconos
Camp Ramah in the Poconos
Camp Ramah in the Poconos is a summer camp affiliated with the National Ramah Commission. Opened in 1950, it is located in the Pocono Mountains of Wayne County, Pennsylvania....
, Camp Ramah (Wisconsin)
Camp Ramah (Wisconsin)
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is a Jewish summer camp based in Conover, Wisconsin, on Upper Lake Buckatabon. The Wisconsin camp was the first of the Ramah camps, established in 1947 by Rabbi Ralph Simon, under the direction of Conservative educator Henry Goldberg, with nearly 100 campers...
.
Day schools
The Conservative movement has established a number of significant Jewish day schoolJewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
s, mostly using the "Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter was a Moldavian-born Romanian and English rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and architect of the American Conservative Jewish...
" name: Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan
Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan
The Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan is a K-8 Jewish day school located in Manhattan, New York City. It is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association.It is one of the very few non-Orthodox Jewish day schools in New York City.-History:...
, Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
Golda Och Academy is a private Jewish day school that offers primary and religious education for Jewish children from pre-K through 12th grade. Until June 2011 the school was called Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union...
, Metro Schechter Academy
Metro Schechter Academy
Metropolitan Schechter High School was a Conservative coeducational college preparatory school in Teaneck, New Jersey that was the result of the combination of the Solomon Schechter High School of New York in Manhattan and the Schechter Regional High School in Teaneck...
and others as well as schools such as Chicagoland Jewish High School
Chicagoland Jewish High School
Chicagoland Jewish High School is a secondary school located in Deerfield, Illinois.- Curriculum :CJHS offers a dual curriculum of general studies and Judaic studies. It is affiliated with the Solomon Schechter Day School Association , and its student body includes students from all streams of...
, United Synagogue Day School
United Synagogue Day School
United Synagogue Day School is a private elementary and middle school Jewish day school in Toronto, Ontario....
, Hillel Day School
Hillel Day School
Hillel Day School is a private, Jewish day school in Farmington Hills, Michigan which was founded in 1958. It provides both secular and Judaic studies instruction for students from preschool through eighth grade...
and others.
Outreach to LGBT Jews
- Keshet RabbisKeshet RabbisKeshet-Rabbis is an organization of Conservative/Masorti rabbis which holds that LGBT Jews should be embraced as full, open members of all Conservative/Masorti congregations and institutions...
is an organization of ConservativeConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
/MasortiMasortiThe Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
rabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s which holds that LGBTLGBTLGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
Jews should be embraced as full, open members of all Conservative/Masorti congregations and institutions. Based on its understanding of Jewish sources and Jewish values, it asserts that gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual and transgenderTransgenderTransgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
Jews may fully participate in community life and achieve positions of professional and lay leadership.
See also
- Reform Judaism outreachReform Judaism outreachReform Judaism outreach refers to those organizational and educational efforts by the Reform Judaism, Progressive Judaism and Liberal Judaism Jewish denominations meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism and to...
- Orthodox Jewish outreach
- Baal teshuva movementBaal teshuva movementThe Baal Teshuva movement is description of the return of secular Jews to religious Judaism. The term "baal teshuva" is a term from the Talmud literally meaning "master of repentance". The term is used to refer to a worldwide phenomenon among the Jewish people...
- Conversion to JudaismConversion to JudaismConversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
- Repentance in JudaismRepentance in JudaismRepentance in Judaism known as teshuva , is the way of atoning for sin in Judaism.According to Gates of Repentance, a standard work of Jewish ethics written by Rabbenu Yonah of Gerona, if someone commits a sin, a forbidden act, he can be forgiven for that sin if he performs teshuva, which...