Whereas rabbi steven wernick has served the movement as a congregational rabbi at temple beth sholom cherry hill, new jersey and temple adath israel merion station, pennsylvania as well as during his. Change may be afoot in the more conservative communities. Dec 03, 2017 conservative judaism has made headlines lately. If conservative judaism falls in america and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a noise.
The organization maintains that they are bestinclass. Rabbi steven wernick, who served as a panelist, it was announced from the podium that chancellor arnold eisen had been invited to participate but was unable to make it. The united synagogue of conservative judaism has severed ties with the longtime director of united synagogue youth usy after receiving multiple testimonies that corroborated an allegation of sexual abuse. Rabbi steven wernick, who served as a panelist, it was announced from the podium. Please note that the rate upon which dues are calculated for 20102011 will remain the same. The uscj board represents a crosssection of conservative jewish thought leadership.
Gold introduced the uscj ceo, rabbi steve wernick, who pondered whether his tone should be that of a truth teller or a rabbi. Rabbi steven wernick explains plan to revive movements fortunes. Metny uscj is proud to announce that we have scholarships for incoming 9th graders to the solomon schechter high schools of long island and westchester in 20102011. Nearly onefifth of american jews identify with conservative judaism. If conservative judaism falls in america and no one is. Jews called to apply privilege to renew civil rights. Jts spokeswoman sherry kirschenbaum did not deny a report that eisen declined to take part in the panel because he wanted, but was. Setting uscj strategic direction and financial parameters, policies. About one month ago, the mayor of rehovot ordered the cancellation of the bar mitzvah ceremony for children with disabilities on 48 hours notice, following six months of the childrens preparation, simply because it was to take place within the citys masorti. Yesterday marked the confirmation of rabbi steven wernick right as the ceo and executive vice president of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, the arm of the movement representing the congregations. Donat believe gloomy forecasts on conservative judaism.
Audit to shed light on conservative judaism jewish journal. The abuse allegedly occurred 33 years ago, when the victim was. Wearing a tallit given to him in honor of the occasion, the 42yearold flashed a broad, boyish smile, and for a moment it felt as if the cheering audience that packed the ballroom would. Conservatives emphasize youth in biennial push washington. Jan 27, 2017 rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, said the current standards dont make sense in todays world of intermarried couples actively participating in. Whereas rabbi steven wernick has served the movement as a congregational rabbi at temple beth sholom cherry hill, new jersey and temple adath israel merion. Rabbi steven wernick, ceo of uscj, and his staff initially tried unsuccessfully to contact the alleged victim, but they have since been in touch with him and have had multiple conversations. Dec 06, 2017 rabbi steven wernick is the ceo of uscj. Strengthening synagogues and conservative judaism uscj. Rabbi steven wernick, the recently appointed uscj executive vice president, is addressing the decline in membership, as well as looking to seed new congregations in areas with rising jewish populations. Conservative judaisms leadership turns over the pittsburgh. In his book based on the joseph stories, living a life that matters, rabbi harold kushner asks an interesting question. Conservative youth group cuts ties with exhead accused of. This is not the jts i know petition criticizing lack of nuance in jts statement gains 300 signatures in 2.
For the past decade, rabbi steven wernick has been the ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism uscj. Rabbi steven wernick, the ceo of united synagogue of conservative judaisms congregational arm, will. United synagogues wernick to step down next year led conservative movements congregational arm for nine years. Whos that man walking rabbi steven wernick, executive vp and chief executive officer, uscj. But in the past two weeks there has been interesting news and comment on intermarriage in the more traditional, conservative parts of the jewish community. Though spotted having dinner just minutes earlier with uscjs new executive vice president, rabbi steven wernick, who served as a panelist, it was announced from the podium that chancellor. In his book leading from the emerging future, otto scharmer argues that our response requires us to shift the inner place from which we. Photo by debra rubin rabbi steven wernick believes the conservative movement has been in crisis for the last two years, a victim of shrinking memberships and falling.
Learn talmud at your own pace with rabbi steven wernickone of judaisms greatest strengths is its affinity for diverse opinions and the debate, for the sake of heaven to implement gods will in our lives. Its been quiet on the intermarriage front for a while. Rabbi steven wernick is stepping down from his position as ceo of the. Shabbat morning presentation 12 1st night of hanukkah. Conservative judaisms leadership turns over the ceos of the movements rabbinic and congregational umbrella groups are stepping down. Nov 12, 2009 wernick, who began his work as the uscj s executive vice president this past july, was officially installed in his position on the conventions first evening. Rabbi steven wernick left, rabbi shalom schachter by gerry posner. Rabbi wernick was ordained at the jewish theological seminary. Your synagogues dues may change based upon the size of your congregation. Uscj international president rabbi steven wernick uscj executive vice president maury potosky hazak chairman joanne tuckerzemlak hazak director. Mar 02, 2011 united synagogue of conservative judaism leader rabbi steven wernick outlines a plan to reinvigorate the movement before a gathering of leaders feb. Conservative judaism will thrive by focusing on meaning, not. Wernick is the chief executive officer of the uscj, the united synagogue of conservative judaism.
Stronger than hate october 29, 2018 20 heshvan, 5779. According to wernick, the uscjs notes indicate that gutin had been tasked in 1997 with speaking to kol amis rabbi about the allegations against cohen. Rabbi steven wernick, the head of the movements congregational arm uscj, has stood. Stay connected with uscj sign up to receive communications from uscj about an authentic and dynamic judaism, leadership, torah and more. Conservative judaism will thrive by focusing on meaning, not membership.
December 2017 2 parenting talk how judaism can help build resiliency in children 10. The recent announcements of the pending departures of rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative. Gold shines as uscj president atlanta jewish times. Members of congregation ohev shalom receive their solomon schechter award from cantor jen brown far left, cochair of the award committee. Uscj ceo rabbi steven wernick used his platform to push the 1,200 attendees of the nov.
The resolution, the first of its kind in the conservative movement, passed overwhelmingly with a 948 vote during a special meeting of the united synagogue of conservative judaism uscj general assembly, jta reported. Thank you ray for your kind words, for your leadership of united synagogue these past several years and for your guidance and friendship these past six months in particular. Proclamation on the appointment of rabbi steven wernick as. The official chabad lubavitch phone book presented by. Area shuls recognized for community projects, ohev shalom. The uscj received more than 180 submissions nationwide in the competition, which recognizes initiatives that shape an authentic and dynamic. Apr 11, 2018 rabbi steven wernick, who announced march 29 that he will step down after nine years as the ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, an umbrella group, said that intermarriage is the biggest challenge facing his successor.
For conservative leader, a road show for change new jersey. Rabbi steven wernick, uscj chief executive officer for his keynote address on sacred strategies for synagogue life rebecca kane, daniel bacharach, melissa goller of h2i and gila hadani ward of temple beth sholom roslyn heights. Uscj, as a valued and trusted partner, is committed to assisting welcoming, vibrant, and caring jewish communities to fully. Jan 21, 2016 rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, speaks at uscjs november 2015 convention in chicago. Is it jacob who favors joseph such that his brothers conspire to kill him. Conservative leadership emphasizes youth at biennial convention. Sep 14, 2017 in his book leading from the emerging future, otto scharmer argues that our response requires us to shift the inner place from which we operate. Dec 18, 2017 conservative youth group cuts ties with exhead accused of sexual misconduct jules gutin denies allegations, which the ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism says were wide ranging. We in the conservative movement are absolutely devastated, rabbi steven wernick, executive director of united synagogue of conservative judaism, told haaretz. Conservative judaism will thrive by focusing on meaning. Allegations about jules gutin, who in 2011 completed his tenure as international director of usy and since 2012 had conducted tours of poland for the conservative movements youth. As conservative judaisms leadership turns over, is intermarriage.
Whereas the mission of the united synagogue of conservative judaism founded in 19 is to help strengthen the conservative movement in judaism by strengthening conservative congregations. As head of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, wernick has tried to. Mar 17, 2011 rabbi steven wernick, the recently appointed uscj executive vice president, is addressing the decline in membership, as well as looking to seed new congregations in areas with rising jewish populations. Apr 25, 2018 the recent announcements of the pending departures of rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism uscj, and rabbi julie schonfeld, ceo of the rabbinical assembly. The united synagogue of conservative judaism announced. Conservative judaisms rebranding effort could signal a historic sea change. As executive vice president and ceo of united synagogue of conservative judaism, he is leading an effort to overhaul his organization and introduce the most dramatic changes in.
United synagogues wernick to step down next year jewish week. Steve wernick, the ceo of the conservative movements umbrella. Uscj conservative judaism always has had something like middle child syndrome, feeling itself squeezed on both sides by the orthodox and reform movements. Rabbi steven wernicks address to uscj biennial convention. United synagogue of conservative judaism says it is cutting staff. Steven wernick stepping down from conservative movement. Conservative movement severs ties with former youth director over alleged sexual abuse. Conservative judaisms usy hired child molester the forward. Previous to this, rabbi wernick served as the ceo of theunited synagogue of conservative judaism uscj, an organization committed to a dynamic judaism.
Conservative movement proposes allowing nonjews as synagogue. Conservative judaisms rebranding effort could signal a. These weekly topics have fostered many family discussions inspired by the values in the weekly torah reading. Some see the openings as a chance for policy shift, particularly on interfaith marriage. One of judaisms greatest strengths is its affinity for diverse opinions and the debate, for the sake of heaven to implement gods will in our lives. It seems as though all the players who have the potential to put the conservative movement on the right course have taken the field.
Learn talmud at your own pace with rabbi steven wernick. We will continue to publish our weekly torah topic discussion starters on this new website. Rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, speaks at uscjs november 2015 convention in chicago. Wernick quits conservative movement amid turmoil the forward. A diversity of experience, style, gender, geography, industry, and age allow the board to effectively set the strategic direction of uscj and influence the course of north american judaism. He challenged the group to look below the tip of the iceberg, to release the save me instinct of recounting typical synagogue problems. Discuss the book after it is read as a way to jumpstart a conversation about a challenging topic. Area shuls recognized for community projects, ohev shalom on. With 600 synagogues in north america and a home in israel, uscj is the largest network of conservative jews in the world. Conservative leadership emphasizes youth at biennial. Urgent letter to president rivlin the rabbinical assembly. Kaddish for conservative judaism the rabbi with a blog. Uscj ceo rabbi steven wernick spent the first shabbat after the tragic tree of life congregation shooting in squirrel hill, pittsburgh.
Conservative movement severs ties with former youth. Conservative movement proposes allowing nonjews as. United synagogues wernick to step down next year jewish. Rabbi steven wernick, uscj chief executive officer for his keynote address on sacred strategies for synagogue life rebecca kane, daniel bacharach, melissa goller of h2i and gila hadani ward of temple beth sholom roslyn heights for their presentation on holistic y outh engagement. Book festival of the mjcca, and the festival folks devised new free programming to get us through the laying low times. Dec 07, 2009 rabbi steven wernick s address to uscj biennial convention. For conservative leader, a road show for change new. With great sadness and with deep sorrow, we have no choice but to write this letter to you. If he did so on top of a tree or on top of a camel, it is also fit, but he may not go up to it on the holiday since it is forbidden to go up on a tree or on top of an animal on a holiday. Conservative movement severs ties with former youth director.
Rabbi steven wernick stepped down at the end of last year as ceo, and the organization has yet to name his successor. On february 8, 2019, a piece of history appeared before my eyes, although this little moment might never have been noticed by most people in the synagogue service at beth tzedec synagogue that shabbat morning. Jews called to apply privilege to renew civil rights the ebenezer baptist church in atlanta was the site of a discussion on relations. Dec 14, 2017 with uscj ceo rabbi steven wernick as the moderator, antidefamation league ceo jonathan greenblatt and ebenezer baptist church associate pastor natosha reid rice spoke to united synagogue of conservative judaism convention attendees sunday night, dec. Rabbi steven wernick, ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism, said the current standards dont make sense in todays world of intermarried couples actively participating in. When wernick arrived as leader of the uscj in 2011, he ordered up new staff protocols for handling sexual abuse allegations. The talmud is the source from which this affinity for debate and the code of jewish halakhah law is derived. Conservative movement ceo rabbi steven wernick stepping down. Uscjs ceo rabbi steven wernick is stepping down after almost a decade leaving the conservative movement. Conservative youth group cuts ties with exhead accused of sexual misconduct jules gutin denies allegations, which the ceo of the united synagogue of conservative judaism says were wide ranging.
Over the years, weve published brief conversation starters on our website, torah topics for today. Our guest for rosh hashanah is rabbi steven wernick, chief executive officer of the united synagogue of conservative judaism uscj. On february 8, 2019, a piece of history appeared before my eyes, although this little moment might never have been noticed by most people in the synagogue service at beth. Talking to children about events in pittsburgh uscj. Synagogue affiliation rates are on a steady decline and. Rabbi steven wernick, the head of the movements congregational arm uscj, has stood shoulder to shoulder with his equivalent in the reform. If conservative judaism falls in america and no one is around.
Dec, 2017 were hearing from people frustrated that the statement is too effusive, and were hearing from people who dont understand why we equivocated at all, said rabbi steven wernick, uscj. Jewish identity in america can no longer rely on culture or ethnicity to sustain it. Conservative judaisms rebranding effort could signal a sea. Congregation ohev shalom in wallingford had plenty to celebrate this month at the united synagogue of conservative judaisms biennial conference in atlanta, taking home top honors in the 2017 solomon schechter awards.
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