Biennial chance to hear top speakers

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2009-02-01T00:00:00

Northwest Reform Jews will gather in Portland Feb. 6-8 when Congregation Beth Israel hosts the 2009 Union for Reform Judaism—Pacific Northwest Biennial.

In honor of Beth Israel’s 150th anniversary celebration, several national Reform leaders will speak at the regional event, including Religious Action Center Director Rabbi David Saperstein and Hebrew Union College President Rabbi David Ellenson. Other North American leaders who will speak include Rabbi Stacy Offner, URJ vice president; and Rabbi Sue Ann Wasserman, URJ director of worship, music and religious living.

“Because of our 150th anniversary, we have some of the real leaders in the Reform movement as our keynote speakers,” said Rabbi Michael Cahana, noting Beth Israel is the oldest Reform congregation in the region.

While much of the conference requires registration, some events are open to the community. Cahana especially urged people to attend services Friday night (Feb. 6) when Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, will speak.

“He is well known on Capitol Hill as a leader articulating the liberal Jewish position in support of Israel and other causes of interest to the Jewish community,” said Cahana. “He was part of the Inauguration festivities and we will be hearing from him about what he sees as Obama’s agenda and where we are moving on human rights issues. He will be wonderful to hear and since he is speaking at our regular Shabbat services, people don’t need to register.”

Cahana said the Friday night services, which begin at 7:30 p.m., also will feature the Beth Israel Shabbat Band, which often performs at family services to create an internactive musical service.

“This is the first time we are taking the same model for adult services,” he said. “We’ll be using the same upbeat style of joyful, participatory music in a service geared for adults.”

Another keynote speaker, said Cahana, is the president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Ellenson, who serves as the biennial’s scholar-in-residence, will speak at the Shabbat lunch, which requires reservations.

Ellenson has written numerous publications beginning with his 1989 “Tradition in Transition: Orthodoxy, Halakhah and the Boundaries of Modern Jewish History.” His latest book published in 2004, “After Emancipation: Jewish Religious Responses to Modernity,” is a compilation of essays on Jewish values and identity, the challenge of emancipation, denominational responses, modern responsa, and contemporary works of legal and liturgical creativity.

Other programs of potential interest to Portlanders are a presentation about the architecture of the congregation’s historic Byzantine sanctuary by CBI member Henry Kunowski. The talk will be followed by a tour.

Services or Torah study sessions are open to the public with no reservations. Other sessions require registration. Members of Reform congregations can register through their congregation. Those who are not members of Reform congregations may contact Regional Director Rabbi David Fine at 206-374-9393 or pnw@urj.org.

For a full schedule of programs visit www.urj.org/pnwc/biennial.