By Fran Ransom
Little did I know when I told Tom Porter that I would love to go the Biennial, that it would be life-changing? People through the years have remarked that they had attended a convention or conference and were never the same. Well I must say that I have joined the ranks of those whose lives have been altered by a convention. From the second I was able to change my vacation time at work to be able to attend the Biennial I knew something was special about this convention. I was convinced further, when I asked my husband for an exorbitant sum of money and he gave it to me. I could hardly stay upright in my chair when the Board voted to reimburse me for the expenses that I had already incurred. Their act alone ensured that I did not have to worry about being able to afford to stay at the hotel.
Rabbi Adland took care of the worry that I would not have a way to get to the convention by offering me a ride with him to the Biennial. Most of the Stollen Moments’ group was taking bets that we would not make it there without one of us being left by the side of the road if we got into one of our debates. Coincidentally, an old friend of the Rabbi called and was looking for a person to share a room with at the Biennial. He put the two of us together and that miracle cut my expenses in half and eating food became a real possibility.
Fran and Roomate
The Stollen Moments group would be happy to know that we were able to debate and drive and we arrived in Marylandno worse for the wear. A menorah greeted us as we arrived at the Gaylord Hotel where the Biennial was being held. There were yarmulkes everywhere. The lobby was filled with people greeting one another every few feet. The Gaylord Hotel was uniquely constructed to handle very large conventions; one side totally devoted to session rooms and the other half devoted to hotel rooms. I simply went to sessions and then walked across a common area to an elevator that took me to my room. The 71st General Assembly of theUnion for Reform Judaism was the largest in its history with some 5,000 people attending. That’s 5,000 people singing, and swaying, some even brave enough to dance in the aisles; young and old alike. Sandy Adland told me to get in the aisle and dance but I deferred until possibly the next Biennial inSan Diego,CA.
Fran in panel discussion about removing barriers to people attending synagogue.
Attendees had their choice of some 49 sessions to build their own schedule around daily. Titles included Back to Basics, Torah, Text, and Tikkun Olam; Food, Glorious Food!, Serving Special Needs Individuals Within Our Synagogue Communities, Great Strategies from Great Britain, Social Action, the Israeli Summer and the Reform Movement and Congregational Co-Habitation: A Model for a Vital Future. Each session was filled to capacity and in The Spiritual History of the Sh’ma conducted by Rabbi Joseph Meszler,TempleSinai,Sharon,MA, listeners gave up their seats, and stood the entire session. Rabbi Meszler’s session discussed what the oneness of God meant to the patriarchs who resided in areas that were surrounded by a belief in other gods in the land.
The One in Five: What You and Your Congregation Must Know About Jewish Genetic Diseases conducted by Rabbis Edythe Mencher, Lawrence Sernovitz and Dr. Adele Schneider was truly inspirational. This discussion centered on a rare genetic disease in children called Familial Dysautonomia. Familial Dysautonomia is a recessive trait disease which is hard to diagnosis initially but an infant usually presents with, Failure to Thrive syndrome, nausea, wrenching, no tears, an inability to coordinate swallowing, fluctuating blood pressure, and excruciating pain. Although, there is no cure for the disease, Jewish families are encouraged to have a blood test in order to determine if they are carriers of the disease or any of the 19 known recessive trait diseases.
The Campaign for Youth Engagement (CYE) presented various speakers which pledged a commitment to Jewish Youth by building relationships that are also outside of theTemple in an effort to re-engage our youth. Speakers confirmed that 80% of post b’nei mitzvah children lose their connection with the synagogue. Rabbi Jonathan Stein stated thatTemples should not penalize children because of their unaffiliated parents. Speaker Allison Kur stated that most Jewish youth are afraid to be different and they need to learn how to be proud of being unique.
I met with the regional leaders for the Teen Philanthropy Project and discussed what things worked best in the curriculum. The group of about eight instructors talked about how they modified the curriculum based on their congregation size and specific needs. TempleIsrael was encouraged to do follow up calls on all the Requests for Proposals that were sent out. We were the only congregation that had met the deadlines established by the curriculum.
The return to the Washingtonarea after 50 years also marked the retirement of Rabbi Eric Yoffie, and the installation of Rabbi Rick Jacobs, as the President of the URJ. After hearing Rabbi Yoffie speak and learning of his accomplishments in Reform Judaism, the creation of the ReligiousActionCenterand the drafting of the Civil Rights Act I am truly proud to be a Reform Jew. This is an excellent segue way into one of the most miraculous and historical moments I was able to be a part of at this year’s Biennial. I actually shook President Obama’s hand as he came through the receiving line, and was thanked by the President for attending the Biennial. (I failed to mention that I was in line for the 2:00 p.m. speech by 8:00 a.m.) Notice I said one of the most miraculous momemts, now judge for yourself; I befriended a secret service agent by the name of Brian who was the only person on the floor when I arrived who told me where the line would be starting. Lisa David, URJ staffer, quietly walked over to me around 10:00 a.m. to tell me that they were going to move the crowd away from the stairs and to come with her because she would put me back in the front of the line. After being screened I was first in line to one of the doors of thePotomac room where President Obama would be speaking and was able to sit in the center aisle, three rows back from the VIP section. When he finished his speech he walked down my side of the podium and began shaking hands, all I had to do was get up out of my seat and walk over and stick my hand out.
Another miracle happened with me in line, when the renowned Women of the Wall advocate Anat Hoffman came by and posed for several pictures for me. I was also able to shake hands with the incoming new URJ President Rick Jacobs when I walked through a door where he was greeting people by happenstance. (Not really, we know who was in charge) I would later be asked to come to the bimah on the final day of the Biennial and express my views on a panel regarding the types of barriers which prevent people from coming to Temple to President Jacobs and the entire congregation. Thank you Shelley Schweitzer.
I attended a miraculous Shabbat Service unlike any service I have ever attended. 5,000 Jews of varying nationalities; praying, praising, singing, locking arms, and lining up for a chance to touch the Torahs as they were brought down the aisles. I ate a Shabbat Dinner with 5,000 other Jews. Unlike some I am a creature of habit and was unable to stay up past 11:30 p.m., until the evening before we checked out. There was live music daily in the bookstore and praise services in several of the rooms until the wee hours of the morning each day. NIFTY kids in particular truly enjoyed themselves in the services: dancing and twirling in their seats and aisles. They even received a “shout-out,” from the President of theUnited States.
The only word that describes my first Biennial is Miraculous. I went to my room singing everyday. “Sweet as honey, sweet as honey, sweet as honey on my tongue,”
To my silent partner Herman, daughters Asia and Autumn, The Board, Rabbi Adland, Sandy Adland, President, Tom Porter, Julie Katz and my beloved Temple Israel family, Todah Rabah. To my new Biennial family: Nat, Happy, Alan,Alice, Jeanette, Linda, Donna, Laurie, Ken, Gloria, Max, Leslie, Susan, Avi, Sally, Dr. Paul, and Marcia, let’s do it again inSan Diego.
Finally I would especially like to thank Muriel Nechamkin, my heart, my soul and my mentor who encouraged me to take my rightful place in this wonderful family. Muriel I have come back home full, re-energized, ready to work and proud to be a Reform Jew.
