The Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention, held this year at a gargantuan conference center/hotel outside Washington, D.C., is bigger than ever: It sold out when 5,000 people signed up before registration closed.
But the excitement is palpable for another reason: This is Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s last, and Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ first, biennial as president of the Reform movement’s central body.
New Voices, as well as other media outlets, sat down with Jacobs and Yoffie to talk about Reform Judaism’s future yesterday. When multiple journalists, including your’s truly, brought up the plight of Jewish college students in this press conference, my ears perked up.
There’s a newfound focus on Jewish education at this year’s biennial. Plenty of sessions at are focused on youth engagement and education. But while talk of high schoolers and Jews in their 20s and 30s is being emphasized, any talk of Hillel or a Reform program for college students is notably absent.
Two years ago, Kesher, the Reform movement’s college program was axed as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at streamlining the URJ — and saving money. Though Kesher was never funded to the extent it needed to be truly successful — in its final years it had only one full-time staff member — college students’ connection to the Reform Jewish community was dealt a serious blow when Kesher’s funding disappeared.
Yoffie said that the situation of today’s college Jews presents issues of engagement, though it has its silver lining:
I’ve spent some time on campus. Sweeping generalizations: Some of them grew up without any Jewish commitment outside of the world of the synagogue and sadly, tragically, no Jewish foundation on which to build.
And there are others. They come from all kinds of backgrounds. And that happens and it’s tragic. When I look at our kids on campus, what I see is… progressive orientation, deep commitment, embracing Israel and embracing democratic values, working hard and proud of that approach. And that’s what we want there to be. And that’s what we’re going to promote.
Jacobs jumped on the hopeful half of that sentiment in yesterday’s presser. He said that Reform Judaism seems to be attracting more college-age Jews, judging by attendance at this biennial.
He talked about new partnerships for the URJ to pursue with outside organizations, like Hillel, to increase programming for, and outreach to, college Jews rather than reinvent the wheel.
“It’s a moment for us to figure out as a movement who are the wonderful partners for us in Jewish life,” Jacobs said. “There are lot things we need to do in the Jewish world that we can’t do because there are already great people doing it.”
While working on these partnerships, Jacobs hopes to focus on Jews in their 20s and 30s because they are “off everyone’s radar screen right now.”
The rest of the conference will help define the future of URJ’s youth engagement. Jacobs himself said words alone won’t bridge any gulf.
“It’s not enough,” he said, “to say, ‘We’re inclusive.’ Really? What do you do to make everyone you want to be a part of the community to feel at home?”
