• Read This Month's eNews

Struggling for Jewish Rights in Israel

We are glad to report that as a result of the intense lobbying from Conservative, Masorti, and other liberal Jews in North America, Israel, and around the world, and the more than 60,000 emails all of us in those communities sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the misbegotten Rotem conversion bill, which has the potential to do much harm, did not come up in the Knesset in the session that ended July 21. The danger has not yet passed, however; the bill has been withdrawn for six months while a group led by Natan Sharansky considers options, but it is likely to resurface in some form.

We will keep you posted. There is much work to be done.

Inclusion on the High Holy Days

Two experts in inclusion will offer practical ideas on how to make the high holy days accessible to everyone, including people who live with disabilities. As we begin the period of introspection that leads up to the Yamim Noraim, we can begin to think as well about how to make the inspiration and joy of the holidays open to everyone. The conference call, which will include some discussion, is set for Thursday, August 19, at 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard time. To register, email Ariela Brody with your name, the organization’s name, and your synagogue’s name, city, and state or province. It is open to members of affiliated congregations.

Minyan Katan - Help With Children's High Holiday Services

The job of successfully leading high holiday services for 1- to 3-year-olds and their families can seem daunting, but we can help. Together with the creators of Minyan Katan, United Synagogue offers a kit that can help you lead services that are engaging, age-appropriate, and spiritually evocative.

USY’s New B’Kol Echad

B’Kol Echad, the benscher that so many former USYers, among many others, know from their Shabbat tables, has been reissued in an updated version, with new songs and gender-neutral language about God. Until October 31 they are on sale for $2 each. Personalized copies for weddings and bar and bat mitzvah celebrations are available as well.

Strategic Planning Update – Audio of Webinar

United Synagogue is working with Hayom: The Coalition for the Transformation of Conservative Judaism, on a strategic plan that will chart a new course for United Synagogue, and eventually for the rest of the Conservative movement. On June 28, we held the first of a planned series of webinars, where synagogue leaders joined us as Rabbis Steven Wernick and Michael Siegel and Drs. Jacob Finkelstein, Jack Ukeles, and Steven Cohen talked about the developing vision of our future. (Note that the discussion begins just past the 16-minute mark.) We continue to invite you to join us in thinking about our future.

Amidah with Imahot

Many of our congregations want the option to add the Imahot, the matriarchs, at the beginning of the Amidah. Newer printings of the Conservative movement's siddur, Sim Shalom, include them; here, ready to print out, is the Rabbinical Assembly's version for pasting into those siddurim that do not.

Confrontation in Gaza

The Conference of Presidents of Major Organizations, which includes United Synagogue, issued a statement on the fatal confrontation in Gaza. The Israeli embassy has a great deal of information about it up on its website.

Telling the Story

Synagogues want to be able to present themselves as well as possible in the media, to prospective members, and to the community. United Synagogue’s new manual, Telling the Story, is a tutorial on how to do that. It’s available online.

Freeing Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit was kidnapped four years ago, when he was 19, and has been held by Hamas ever since. Our tradition teaches that pidyon shevuyim - redeeming captives - is of paramount importance. How can we work toward redeeming him? By reminding ourselves – and the world – that he still is a prisoner. Join Koach’s yellow balloon campaign and let the world know that we have not forgotten Gilad Shalit.

Save on Your Synagogue’s Credit Card Processing Fees

United Synagogue and Premier Merchant Processing have joined to offer your congregation an opportunity to save money on your synagogue’s credit card processing and reduce your synagogue's United Synagogue dues. This project is offered by United Synagogue’s Membership Advantage Programs and Services.

Building Healthy Relationships

“Love Your Neighbor, Love Yourself,” introduced at USY’s convention, offers teenagers clear-eyed advice on forming healthy relationships. The sourcebook is a joint venture by United Synagogue Youth and Jewish Women International.

Help Wanted?

If you are looking for help in hiring a synagogue professional – anyone! rabbi, cantor, executive director, education director, youth director … -- you’ve come to the right place. Start your search with us. And it's not too early to considerhiring a cantor for the high holidays.

How to Hire a Synagogue Professional

Once you (assuming you are a synagogue leader) have found the right person for your shul, what are the next steps in the hiring process? Find out with our new Guide to Contractual Relations.

Conference at Mayyim Hayyim

United Synagogue is co-sponsoring aconference at Mayyim Hayyim, the community mikvah in Boston, October 10-12.

A Vision of Early Childhood

The Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide and the accompanying director’s manual, is our early childhood consultant Maxine Handelman’s groundbreaking new look at a how to introduce very young children to the joys of Jewish life through a Conservative lens. Read about it and look at the Vision and the directors’ manual themselves. A series of webinars will explain further.

Insurance Program for United Synagogue’s Afffiliates

United Synagogue is pleased to be able to offer member congregations a comprehensive property and casualty insurance program. This is one of Project Ezra’s programs.

Two-Minute Torah

Want to study Torah but don’t have much time? Want a new, fast take on the text? Koach, United Synagogue's program for college students, has inaugurated Two-Minute Torah, a weekly podcast d’var Torah that is available over the web at www.koach.org or by subscription on iTunes. They’ll be given by professional, lay, and student leaders - that range ofbackgrounds is sure to produce a range of styles and ideas. If you want a take on the Torah parasha that's both shortand smart, give it a try.

Going to Israel?

Take a trip with the Conservative movement! Here’s a list of trips offered by our member synagogues. They welcome you.

Transforming United Synagogue

In recognition of the changing world in which we live, the new realities our synagogues face, the challenging economic landscape that surrounds us, and the new opportunities new knowledge and new technology give us, United Synagogue is restructuring. To best meet the needs of our congregations and of Conservative Jews across North America, we have begun the process of transforming from smaller regions to larger districts, and using our skilled staffers as consultants in their own areas of expertise across this vast continent. At the same time, we have begun ongoing planning and re-visioning in earnest with Hayom: The Coalition for the Transformation of Conservative Judaism, which represents a number of Conservative congregations.