Rabbi Urges Support of New Jewish Life Style Exemplified by the Chavurot

American Reform Judaism was called upon to sponsor and develop small, unconventional, experimental religious circles, to be called chugim or chavurot, (circle of fellowship) to attract young and adult Jews, especially those currently rejecting formal, religious live. Rabbi David Polish, vice president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, told laymen and rabbis at the biennial convention of the Northwest Region of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, that “our religious movement (Reform) should encourage the creation of new types of groups to be known as chugim or chavurot and help them to come into existence by providing funds, leadership and consultation but permitting them a spirit of complete freedom and growth.” He said a number of such groups have already been started on their own in various parts of the country, mostly independently, by Jewish college youths dissatisfied with existing Jewish life. “Instead of regarding them as interlopers and outside our concern, we should encourage them.” Rabbi Polish declared.

He also suggested that the Reform movement create and develop an American version of the Shtetl, and added: “We should find a number of Jewish families willing to establish themselves as a self-contained community, living in their own area, who will create their own educational and religious programs and live a full Jewish life.” Rabbi Polish expressed the belief that both the chugim and shtetl communities would include Jews of common interests and ideologies who would cope with the concerns confronting Jewish life. These experimental groups would revive the interest of Jewish youth in Judaism, confront social concerns, develop worship patterns to suit their needs, study Torah. Bible and other related Jewish subjects. The Reform rabbi told the gathering that he considered such experimentation “essential for the future of Jewish life in America.” He added that if Reform Judaism is to continue to merit the label “progressive,” then “we should eagerly seek such opportunities for demonstrating the establishment’s openness to new structures in Jewish life.”