Posted on November 02, 2015
This November 13-17, the world’s largest gathering of Conservative Jewish thinkers and doers will converge upon the Chicagoland-area to influence the future of Conservative Judaism at The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s (USCJ) convention, Shape the Center. Not just a conference, but a launching pad for positive change, Shape the Center is an opportunity to engage, inspire and transform Conservative Judaism and kehillot (Jewish communities inside and outside the walls of the synagogue) throughout North America.
Taking a holistic approach to synagogue life, the convention will offer interactive workshops to build people’s capacity in addressing today’s most pressing issues, including LGBTQ and special needs inclusion, leadership development, change management, millennial engagement, interfaith families, financial sustainability, and more.
“Two years ago at the centennial in Baltimore, more than 1,200 people came together for the conversation of the century to explore the anxieties of our kehillot and begin to lay out a vision for the future of Conservative Judaism,” said USCJ CEO Rabbi Steven Wernick. “This November, we will continue to examine the forces affecting the entire Jewish world, and religion as a whole, so as to shape our present and determine our future.”
The convention’s action-oriented workshops will be facilitated by Jewish leaders and innovators such as author Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom; novelist Dara Horn; Lab/Shul spiritual leader Amichai Lau-Lavie; director and founder of the92Y Shababa Network, Karina Zilberman; co-author of Immunity to Change, Harvard University Professor Robert Kegan, and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post critic Sarah Kaufman.
Additionally Rabbi David Wolpe, named the most influential rabbi in America by Newsweek, and PresenTense, a community of innovators and entrepreneurs, thinkers and leaders, creators and educators from around the world, will lead an interactive “IdeaLab” to come up with a new tagline for Conservative Judaism to help define its future course.
USCJ is also partnering with innovative organizations such as Keshet, JOIN for Justice, and The Ruderman Family Foundation, among others, to lead intensive sessions on topics including how to create a welcoming community for LGBTQ and special needs congregants and families, and making community organizing around social justice issues a pillar of congregation programming. “Shape the Center is just the beginning as attendees will walk away with the tools, resources and actions plans to ensure the continuation of robust and meaningful Conservative Judaism,” said Margo Gold, USCJ International President. “Together we'll shape the center of Jewish life in North America, Israel, and around the world.”
The gathering will also include a multi-generational Shabbaton for more than 500 Conservative Jews of all ages. Together they will engage in a weekend of celebration and learning, culminating with a Havdalah concert from Joey Weinsenberg, the Creative Director of The Hadar Center for Communal Jewish Music, and Cantor George Mordecai of Temple Israel in White Plains, NY. The convention is co-chaired by Diane and Howard Wohl of Temple Beth Torah in Westbury, NY and Tami and Randy Horton of Am Yisrael Conservative Synagogue in suburban Chicago. Other committee chairs include Carolyn Kolers, Planning and Strategy Committee; Rabbi Leonard Gordon, Program Committee; Robin Weinberg, Marketing/Communications Committee; and Marjorie Saulson, Development Committee.
Shape the Center will be held at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, IL, November 13-17. For more information please visit www.shapethecenter.org.