The biannual JRF convention is always a source of excitement and expectation - an opportunity to greet old friends and acquaintances and to meet new members of the movement; to learn new ideas, songs, ways of doing things, both practical and theoretical, and to share how we do things at Keddem with others in the Reconstructionist movement. It is amazing how well known we are within the movement and a delight to find other congregations similar and different to our own.
I was fortunate to attend a preconference workshop led by Rabbis Shawn Zevit and Sid Schwartz entitled "Deepening the Sacred Trust: The Synagogue of the 21st century". Guess what? that synagogue of the 21st century sounded a lot like us. We did group exercises listing strengths and challenges to our various congregations. Time was spent on learning how to motivate members to participate (most congregations have a maximum of 10% of their membership actively participating - at Keddem it is over 60%). Breakout groups discussed ways of "Empowering Members" "Mainstreaming Tzedek" "Maximizing Jewish Growth". One of the most important messages learned here and throughout the convention - all congregations, large and small have the same challenges - getting people to volunteer, leadership development, having enough funds to support programming, communications, growth without losing intimacy, etc. Working together individual challenges can eventually become strengths.
Other highlights included spirited services and numerous workshops ranging from Spirituality to Theology to Civil discourse concerning Israel. Alan Marcum led a well received workshop on "Experiences in a Community-led Congregation." The new JRF summer camp reported on their first encampment this past summer with exciting prospects for subsequent years invigorating the Reconstructionist youth movement. The keynote speaker, Irwin Cotler, Member of the Canadian Parliament, lawyer, Hebrew scholar, and human rights activist was eloquent in his defense of human rights around the world and his defense of the people of Israel in a hostile world. Antisemitism, as we all know, unfortunately, is alive and well around the world.
The Reconstructionist movement is growing and thriving in many places. There are now 103 congregations affiliated with the movement (approximately 3-4% of Jews currently identify as Reconstructionists.) The movement is still the fastest growing if the smallest. Reconstructionists can also be found in the Czech republic and Israel. During Convention, a congregation in Prague was granted affiliate status in the Reconstructionist movement.
Many projects are under way to preserve the history of the movement including a new oral history project. I was videotaped for that project and it was a wonderful opportunity to tell about Keddem congregation. During the convention videotapes of some of the recently deceased founders of the movement (for whom this meeting was dedicated - Rabbis Ira Eisenstein [1906-2001] and Lavy Becker [1905-2001], both students of Mordechai Kaplan) were especially inspirational. Both were interviewed only a few years before their deaths and the passion, compassion, and wit of their personalities came through vividly.
In summary, its difficult to distill the experience of 5 wonderful days in Montreal among over 300 Reconstructionists from all over North America. We have ordered tapes of all the workshops that were recorded (there were dozens, many of which were recorded; it was impossible to sample more than a few) which will be made available through the Keddem library.
I encourage everyone to get involved in the West Coast region as well as the national movement. Publications such as Reconstructionist Today (RT) and the JRF website can help us get to know the movement better. We are fortunate that the next convention (November, 2004) will be held in Portland, Oregon - save the date. I hope that many of you will get involved in both participating and planning for Portland. Our West Coast Region of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is leading the way in the twenty-first century of the common era and the conclusion of the first century of Reconstructionist Judaism in the coming decades.