Three OrH members, along with Rabbi Liz, attended the 2018 Reconstructing Judaism convention in Philadelphia November 15-18. What follows are their reflections on the experience. For more about Reconstructing Judaism, please visit the movement’s web site.
I was delighted to attend my first Reconstructing Judaism Convention this November in (snowy) sunny Philadelphia. I attended Convention thanks to a new fellowship program for young(ish) people: The Shapiro Fellowship for Emerging Reconstructionist Leaders. As Shapiro Fellows we had several opportunities to learn together at Convention and we will continue to learn together digitally throughout the next few months. In our Fellowship sessions we shared experiences, resources, and connections, and we spoke about the work we are doing in our communities. During these sessions I got to brag about Or Haneshamah, and I was proud to realize I could speak to my nearly 10 years of lay-leadership in our lovely community.
In addition to the Shapiro Fellowship, I also had the pleasure and great honour of leading two sessions for convention attendees. First, I facilitated a creative movement workshop entitled “Embodied Storytelling,” and during this session the 26 participants (including Rabbis Amy Loewenthal and Bob Gluck!) wrote biographical stories and then developed beautiful and meaningful silent choreography through which to share their stories. Second, I performed a pared-down, hotel-conference-room version of my solo show Monstrous, which some of you know. This couldn’t have been done without the work of my valiant sound technician … our very own Rabbi Liz, who perfectly supported my performance. The show was a hit: those who managed to get in at all had to stand and sit on the floor when the 40 chairs were filled. The performance was then followed by a meaningful Q & A period during which we discussed spirituality, mixed-race and multicultural Jewish identities, Mordechai Kaplan, and how our ancestors continue to live within us Jewishly, no matter if they were Jewish.
Overall I was thrilled with my time at Convention. I loved connecting with our beloved past OrH rabbis (Rabbis Evette, Bob, Amy, Alanna!) as well as with other teachers and rabbis I had met before in Philly when I visited the College in 2015. Now that I am home, my great hope is that I can share with you some of the palpable energy I felt when I was there. It was amazing to be with 700 other Reconstructionist Jews and especially to pray, sing, and dance together.
Dear haverim: our movement is simply amazing. We have so much ruach and our spiritual leaders are so wise and inspiring. I left Philadelphia convinced, more than ever, that our Reconstructionist approach to spirituality and social justice WILL help us to bring about olam haba, that better world we all dream of … and I hope you are ready to build it together.
It was wonderful to be among so many thoughtful, caring, forward-thinking Jews. Overall highlight: the day-long workshop on racism and anti-semitism, which, though it was US-centric, was still useful and provided much food for thought. Other highlights: the instant choir, hilariously conducted by our own Rabbi Liz, which led to a brief performance during Thursday evening’s entertainment; and a workshop on a feminist critique of Leviticus, which provided not only interesting ideas on Leviticus but also ideas about how to think about the words and stories of the Torah.
This was my first Reconstructionist movement conference, a transformative, joyous, though provoking, and awe-inspiring gathering of over 700 people. To be in this welcoming space full of proud, ethical Jews thinking, singing, and praying together was deeply moving for me. Highlights included:
