ROBERT BARKIN, far right, has led the liberal Jewish movement founded by Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan since 2006. From left above are Sarah Liebman, Jamie Simon, Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman of Congregation Shaarie Torah, Leslie Dolan—incoming president of Congregation Shir Tikvah—and Ungerleider.

Reconstructionist leader dines with Portlanders

By Jewish Review

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Sharon Ungerleider, a prominent Jewish leader in Eugene and member of the Reconstructionist Eugene congregation Beth Israel, hosted a dinner in Portland March 6 for the national president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and 10 local Jewish leaders including a number of prominent young leaders.

Robert Barkin has led the liberal Jewish movement founded by Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan since 2006, having previously served as a JRF board member and as the organization’s financial officer. Barkin was touring Reconstructionist communities in the Northwest.

He noted that Kaplan had asked how to make Judaism relevant for the 20th century. “I want to ask how to make it relevant for the 21st century,” he said. Those who dined with Barkin at Portland’s Carlyle restaurant, especially the young leaders, responded with many suggestions from their own experience in building opportunities for sharing Jewish life among young people. “We need to identify what people are looking for and return to our values,” said Barkin in response to the enthusiastic reports of the young leaders.