The first international convention of the World Council of Synagogues ended here today after three days of deliberations by some 1,000 delegates representing Conservative Judaism in 21 countries.
The highlight of the second day of the convention, attended by some 800 delegates from the United States and Canada, was the dedication of the first American student center built under sponsorship of American Conservative Judaism. The ceremony was held at the Binyan Hauma National Building here and it was addressed by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, both of whom warmly endorsed the movement.
The Prime Minister, urging a new form of Judaism “adapted to the new way of life of a free people under its own sovereignty” in Israel, declared that “the religious milieu which existed outside of Israel is not adapted to modern ways of life.”
“If we do not want to have an absolute and final break between the past and future, we must renew our spiritual life and integrate it into our new way of living, adapt it to a new framework,” the Prime Minister told the delegates. “It is clear to anyone who honors our spiritual heritage–and it is impossible and forbidden to root out Jewish faith and Holy days from this tradition–that this heritage must change its form and adapt a new form, one which is adapted to a new way of life.”
He added that “the existence and growth of the Conservative movement testifies to the renewal and validity of Judaism which does not rest on past glories and is immune to hardening of the arteries.”
Mr. Sharett asked the Conservative leaders why, “if Conservatives consider themselves the repository of Jewish spiritual values and all that is best in Jewish tradition,” do they deny themselves “the opportunity to radiate their influence within Israel by presenting the movement in a modern version more adapted to understanding and more attractive to the younger generation.”
Professor Bernard Mandelbaum, provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which sponsored the new center, announced a new department of international service to provide American rabbis and teachers for other countries and to train local youth for service to their own communities.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
