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FOURTH UJCL CONFERENCE - COSTA RICA, FEBRUARY 1-4, 2001 What an unforgettable experience we had in San Jose, Costa Rica! Getting together again with a significant group of dedicated men and women who set their hearts and minds to the preservation of Judaism, its richness and its values, was inspiring and energizing. As I expressed in my words of introduction to the representatives of the nine communities who read their reports on the first morning, " when we met, on Feb. '98, at this same place, we were perfect strangers. Today, we greet each other as true friends. We have established mutual strong ties, and we have discovered how much we have in common. This is an encounter amongst human beings, paradoxically united by the geographical distance which should keep them apart..." Rabbi Dow Marmur, Executive Director of the
World Union for Progressive Judaism, was the keynote speaker. His topic was Jewish
Continuity in Small Congregations. His message was meaningful and eloquent: Nowadays, when
the majority of world Jews live in ten cities, they all speak of the strength of Jewish
life in their communities, but lament that they are unable to instill the same commitment
in their children. The problem is universal: Jews, through indifference, become estranged.
The difference in this, between small and large communities, is quantitative rather than
qualitative. Although there are no winning formulas, there is a Jewish renewal movement in response to new needs in Jewish society. It stresses that the way we instill Judaism and its values is not necessarily via the school or the home. It is through each Jew's own spirituality. The individual yearning for God is there, even if that person did not attend institutions of Jewish learning. The movement emphasizes the individual rather than the collective, the soul rather than the mind, the need for personal relationships, with a rejection of authority. It returns to the concept that small is beautiful. The new style is of Jewish people getting together in small, intimate groups, like "havurot", to pray, singing as a congregation, without polished solos. The concept of the Jewish "cathedral" is rendered obsolete. Small congregations do not need to have an inferiority complex any more. Jews no longer live secluded in tight-knit communities; they are open to the world. Today, everybody is welcome to Judaism. Outreach is very important in the Reform platform. The majority of those who want to get close to Judaism are non-halachic Jews. Ironically, the rejection of the traditional criteria may be necessary to ensure the continuity of Judaism. Rabbi Marmur went on to say that the profession of Rabbi is not necessarily a sign of learning. Rabbis just know a little more than others do. Judaism is a religion that may exist without clergy. The para-rabbinical program at the Union of American Hebrew Congregations is successful. The Reform movement understands the need to face the challenge ofcontinuity, without condemning the small communities. As an Executive Director of WUPJ, struggling for continuity in small communities, the remote ones deserve R. Marmur's special attention. He admits that there is not one perfect solution to the problem, just different responses. He feels that if we concentrate on survival and continuity we have a connection to Judaism and, if we live as Jews ourselves, we are making sure that our children will be Jews. Our greatest challenge lies in our acceptance by the general society. The panelists that spoke after R. Marmur presented very interesting concepts. Rabbi Peller said that, in fighting assimilation, a rabbi was only a facilitator but, without the community, the fight was useless. Outreach does not refer only to mixed couples, it is also reaching out to uninvolved Jews, youth, etc. The new generation is the one that will ensure our continuity. Rabbi Kraselnik reminded us of the meaning
of Hanukkah: the Maccabees revolted because their Jewish spiritual life was at stake,
hellenization meant assimilation. Instead of killing the Jews, the Greeks tried for them
to lose their Jewish identity, and the Jews risked their lives to avoid it. The afternoon workshops included the topics
of Education: Living as a Jew, led by Rabbi Peller, TV programs are carefully selected, showing for hours the same images aimed at breeding hatred and indoctrinating youth. In Egypt, a country that has made peace with Israel, it is hard to imagine the negativism of the press against Israel: libels and cartoons at the same level of pre-war Nazi publications. In Syria there is total pre-meditated misinformation, and those journalists that, according to the government are pro-Israel, are terrorized. The foreign press in Israel is replaced as soon as they make comments favorable to Israel. All of this brings about a resurgence of anti-Semitism, be it direct, like the burning of a synagogue, or in the journalists' minds. It is common to watch on CNN or other news networks the Palestinian children throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers, but they omit to show the ambulance behind them, where Palestinians and police store weapons and Molotov cocktails. The Israeli army, in support of the facts, videotapes now everything, so that they will not later be accused of being the aggressors. Israel is a democratic country, and cannot use the Palestinian methods. It is hard for them to fight a press that has deep-seated prejudices against, and false opinions about Israel. It is more important to them to preserve Jewish values; if there is any irregularity the Israelis themselves will be the first to denounce it. Against the Arab lobby, Israel's most valuable weapon is the truth. Kabbalat Shabbat services had a special significance, as they were held at the B'nei Israel Synagogue, which was officially inaugurated on that evening, with all the representatives of JULC in attendance. After services, all of the delegates of the communities that form JULC were invited to a Shabbat dinner at the homes of members of the B'nei Israel congregation, who welcomed them warmly and with an open heart. On Shabbat morning services were held at the synagogue, under the leadership of Rabbi Marmur and Rabbi Peller. Three more workshops were held in the
afternoon: The core principles of the communitarian movement are: Education, Conviviality and Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Strong Democracy, Economic Equity, Opportunity and Sustainability, and Information and Communication. My proposal was to create a web page with links to all the communities that form JULC, which would give them a forum, and to important Jewish networks in the States and Latin America. This would give us the possibility to increase the knowledge of our rich Jewish heritage by taking Distance Learning courses for Adult growth, consult with our two spiritual leaders, and cement our ties by interconnecting freely with the click of a mouse. This Central American and Caribbean Jewish
network would strengthen the Union, and eventually make it a leading organization
preserving the continuity of Judaism in our area. As an example, I presented a tentative
bilingual web page with a link to our community, containing information on our history and
on the present Israelitische Gemeente (Aruba). The idea was well received and it sparked The Conference was closed with a beautiful
gala dinner during which the Ambassador of Israel to Costa Rica, Mr. Daniel Gal, addressed
us with very moving words. Also, members of the B'nei Israel Congregation enacted with
dance and song a Celebration of Jewish Music. Jamaica will be the site of our 5th. Conference (Feb. 2002). We wish our Jamaican friends much success with the preparation of this encounter. We are certain that you will strengthen the tradition of hard work and accomplishment that has been created already by the communities of Costa Rica. El Salvador and Panama. We have approved our Statutes, with a change in our name: from now on, we'll be known as the Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean. After the conclusion of this magnificently organized Conference, I went back home feeling even closer to our friends in the Union, and full of admiration for the dedication of the Costa Rica community who made it a reality. Martha Elena Lichtenstein
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