150+ attend regional Reform conclave

Beth Israel hosts lay, professional leaders from U.S. Northwest, British Columbia

By JEMI KOSTINER MANSFIELD

article created on: 2009-02-15T00:00:00

Over the weekend of Feb. 6-8, Congregation Beth Israel hosted the Union of Reform Judaism Pacific Northwest Regional Biennial, opening its doors to more than 150 participants from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

At first glance, the schedule of events read like a convention for rabbis named David: Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center, as Shabbat keynote speaker; Rabbi David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, in conversation during Shabbat Se’udah; and Rabbi David Fine, director of the URJ’s Pacific Northwest Region, serving as facilitator.

The Regional Biennial was last held in Portland in 1999.

“We are thrilled that the URJ chose Congregation Beth Israel to host this gathering of Reform congregations in our region,” said Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, senior rabbi. “CBI is the oldest congregation in our region. We were among its founders, and it is wonderfully appropriate that we should be hosting this regional Biennial as part of our 150th year celebration. It is a reminder of the leadership role Beth Israel has played in our region and in our community.”

While the National Biennial is held every two years and attracts thousands from Reform congregations across North America, regional gatherings offer lay leaders, clergy and educators within a few states of each other the opportunity to meet, study and worship on a more intimate scale, exchanging information and ideas specific to the area’s unique needs.

Over the course of the weekend, participants were treated to workshops, lectures, classes and services led by some of the biggest names in the Reform movement.

Saperstein delivered an energetic 40-minute sermon at Kabbalat Shabbat services, focusing on our responsibilities as Jews when it comes to social justice.

The evening also included a presentation by Camp Kalsman Director David Berkman and a rousing camp-style song session led by former Kalsman Song Leader Rayna Dushman. The level of ruach reflected the presence of a lot of past URJ campers in the room.

Feb. 7 programming opened with multiple text studies led by rabbis from around the region and segued into a Shabbat service infused with music.

During lunch, Ellenson answered questions submitted by attendees, presented by Fine. In a gentle and genial manner, Ellenson shared his thoughts on Reform Judaism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and spoke about those who have influenced him. He also thanked Beth Israel for sending so many students to HUC-JIR’s program, including Rabbi Joshua Rose and, as of Feb. 6, new student Keara Cummings, a faculty member at Beth Israel and a staff member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.

Two afternoon sessions of workshops offered a range of topics, from conversion support and strengthening congregational finances to Israeli views about Arabs and introducing new music into Shabbat worship.

Henry Kunowski, a member of Beth Israel and an expert in historic architecture, led two in-depth tours through the majestic 1928 Byzantine dome, an unmistakable landmark in Portland and the symbol of the congregation.

Havdallah marked the transition into a joyous evening of music, including “Rhythm and Jews,” an in-depth look at the Jewish roots of many American music icons and, later, a show by KlezKidz, a Seattle-based group made up of talented musicians ages 8 and up.

On Feb. 8, all Biennial programming transferred to the downtown Hilton, with ongoing learning sessions throughout the morning and afternoon.

By the time 4 p.m. rolled around, the weekend’s participants were ready to head home with a new understanding of what has been accomplished in the URJ, in the region and within each congregation.

As Saperstein noted on Friday evening, “We can, will and must be the shapers of a better and more hopeful future for all of G-d’s children.”

After taking part in a Biennial weekend that goal seems all the more attainable.

An audio recording of Rabbi Saperstein’s entire Feb. 6 sermon can be heard at the Beth Israel Web site: www.bethisrael-pdx.org.

This story made possible by a grant from the Judith and Edwin Cohen Foundation.