Dee Ross, center, youth director at Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon, attended the recent Union for Reform Judaism biennial with five temple youth group members, including Leanna Spector, 17, of Ocean, left, and Melissa Daniels, 16, of West Long Branch. Photo courtesy of Dee Roth
January 22, 2008
Rabbi Cy Stanway returned from Reform Judaism’s largest convention last month with the goal of reinvigorating Shabbat morning services, expanding outreach efforts to the temple’s young adults, and establishing a dialogue with moderate Muslims in the Monmouth County area.
The three topics were among the high points of a keynote sermon delivered at the Union for Reform Judaism biennial in San Diego in December by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, its president.
Stanway, religious leader at Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon, said he plans to meet with temple members during the next few months to discuss ways to achieve these goals. When the discussions are concluded — hopefully by February or March — the talks then will move into the implementation phase, Stanway said.
“It’s always been the policy at Beth Miriam to be extremely thorough and devote a lot of time to careful planning before we launch anything new,” he said. “I think that approach has been one of the great strengths of this congregation. They relish the concept of enlightenment and are always ready to broaden the temple’s perspectives and horizons. And those outlooks are part of the core of Reform Judaism.”
The Sabbath morning initiative will be the focus of many of the upcoming temple discussions, Stanway said.
“Rabbi Yoffie said the character of the Shabbat morning service often focuses on a bar or bat mitzva celebrant while providing limited spiritual offerings for other congregants. As a result, he said that communal celebration gives way to a bar or bat mitzva ‘performance.’ I think Beth Miriam does a good job of avoiding that situation, but I have to say that the Saturday service does seem less inviting to other members of the congregation.”
Stanway said he is meeting with the temple’s religious practices committee to explore ways to make the Saturday Shabbat service more inclusive.
“Our own temple statistics say the need is there and that it’s very real, and our congregants, especially the younger ones, are looking for that spirituality when they want to come to a Shabbat morning service,” he said. “With the talent and innovation among the members of Beth Miriam, I know we can meet that need.”
The effort will focus on the young and old.
“Rabbi Yoffie also said Reform congregations can’t afford to lose families with young children that can’t stay up late at night, and we have to respect our senior members, many of whom would rather attend a morning service so they do not have to drive at night,” Stanway said. “And we can’t overlook those who simply want to join together in prayer on Saturday morning.”
Opening dialogues with members of Monmouth County’s Muslim community can bridge the gap in knowledge between the two faith groups and can help each understand the true essence of their and each other’s religious beliefs, said Stanway.
“Talking with our Muslim neighbors is the only real way we can learn about each other and increase our respect for one another as well,” said the rabbi. “Learning to understand the world we both live in and the concepts that are still central to our different lives and different religions will hopefully take us in the direction of peace and tolerance. I can’t think of any other approach that is better or more inclusive.”
Beth Miriam youth director Dee Ross of Lincroft also attended the convention, along with five members of the temple’s youth group. The young people’s concerns about such issues as affordable healthcare and reaching out to the Muslim community have become subjects of discussion at youth group gatherings that have taken place since the biennial, she said.
“Their interest was always there, but they had an opportunity at the biennial to talk about these things with Jewish youth from other parts of North America,” Ross said. “They saw their participation in Reform Judaism as part of a large network that exceeds individual temples. I think that when their interest in Reform Judaism is so strong and there are opportunities where they can openly express themselves and engage with their peers, you can see the beginnings of the emergence of future Jewish leaders.”