These letters are in response to ‘The Conservative Movement at a Crossroads’ (Editorial, Aug. 21)
The Washington Jewish Week editorial board’s recent piece on the Conservative movement is based on a false binary between “social justice” and “self-preservation.” If the only way to practice self-preservation was to deny that justice is an authentic Jewish value and assert that the world-as-it-is is “good enough,” I cannot be the only one who would hesitate to sign up. Commendably, the Judge of all the Earth (Genesis 18:25) and mountains of rabbinic interpretation demand we not choose; “social justice” and “self-preservation” are both foundational values.
Presumably, the “recent announcement … to elevate social justice as a central priority” refers to the recent hire of the Conservative movement’s first director of social justice and public policy, tasked, among other things, with creating a public policy center for the Conservative/Masorti movement, something the Orthodox and Reform movements have had for a long time. This hire represents the culmination of a years-long process, which included fundraising and a lot of strategic thought.
Far from a “branding exercise,” “lifeline,” or “political slogan,” the goal is to forge an authentic vision of justice that reflects our movement’s values. It has always been the strength of the Conservative movement that we need not choose between the callings of our Jewish tradition and the modern world. To be Jewish is to understand that God demands both that we preserve ourselves and care for others.
Rabbi Michael Safra
B’nai Israel Congregation, Rockville
Vice Chair, Commission on Social Justice for the Conservative Movement
The idea of the Conservative movement elevating social justice “as a central priority” as a panacea for declining membership is a terrible idea and is likely to make our problems worse.
In the eyes of many, “social justice” is really a phrase for liberal politics. Elevating social justice as a pillar of the Conservative movement will not cause a flood of younger Jews flocking back to Conservative synagogues. We would still have issues arising out of the more traditional practice that differentiates Conservative from Reform Judaism. If we want to bring in more younger Jews and young families, we must do a better job of outreach. Prioritizing social justice will not resonate with large numbers of younger Jews as hoped but will alienate some existing members of Conservative synagogues.
I am a member of a Conservative synagogue. Our members have a wide spectrum of political beliefs. We have social action, which is focused on doing good work within the local community, not political action. If United Synagogue or a local shul takes a position on issues of the day based on “Jewish ethical teaching” or “Jewish values,” the obvious implication is that those who hold the opposite view are acting contrary to Jewish values.
Those at the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue seem to have no idea how deeply offensive it would be to members of the congregation to hear from their own synagogue that the positions they believe in, or the candidates they vote for, are contrary to Jewish values. This problem is compounded particularly after Oct. 7, when social justice is promoted by so-called “allies” who have not been there for us during these very dark times. The concept of making social justice a defining theme for the Conservative movement is an idea whose time has not come.
Andrew Golkow, Fairfax
