Who Are You, Anyway?
My name is Gella Solomon. I’m 25 years old and I live in Brooklyn NY. I am a 3rd generation Conservative Jew (my grandparents were Conservative, my parents are Conservative, and I was raised and am Conservative) who was educated in Conservative Hebrew Schools, grew up attending a Conservative shul, and intends to attend Conservative Rabbinical school.
Everything that you see so far has been done by me with the help of a friend. (Permission to publish his name pending)
Why Are You Doing This?
Most of the laity-focused educational programs that exist in the non-Orthodox world tend to be limited to the most remedial sorts of study. There is a wealth of synagogue initiatives designed to attract and accommodate “unaffiliated Jews” by sacrificing serious study and davening for “accessibility,” and very few to accommodate those who are committed and serious about, and already have background in Judaism, Jewish study and Jewish practice. The Institutions of Conservative Judaism tend to patronize the laity and many feel that there is a serious gap between the remedial sorts of programs offered to the laity and the programs that are reserved for the training of the professional body. One should not have to become a rabbi to be a serious Conservative Jew, or to engage in serious Jewish learning.
Why Conservative Judaism? Can I Be Involved If I’m Not Conservative?
Many people think of Conservative Judaism as simply “more than Reform, less than Orthodox.” This is a mistaken notion. Conservative Judaism has its own philosophy and its own approach to Judaism based in a particular historical understanding of the origins and meanings of our texts and traditions. This project is made primarily for people for whom the philosophy and approach of Conservative Judaism is the one that makes the most sense. Of course, Jewish Learning should be important to any and every Jew, and anyone should feel welcome to become involved. It should be noted, however, that our approach is to be the Conservative approach, just as when you enter a Chabad house, you must realize that you are entering a world of an Orthodox (or really Chabadnik) approach.
Are You Affiliated With USCJ? JTS? The RA?
Nogah Chadash is not, and probably will not be affiliated with any official arm or institution of The Conservative Movement. We are an independent initiative with a vision of revitalizing Conservative Judaism and promoting Conservative Jewish philosophy.
You Do Realize That Not All Conservative Jews Are Egalitarian And Open To Non-Heterosexuality and Non-Binary Gender, Right?
Yes. But this organization is. If you are not yourself egalitarian by philosophy or practice, no one is going to force you to be. But, if you cannot handle seeing a woman wearing a tallit or laying tefillin or functioning as a Shaliach Tzibbur, then you might not be comfortable with us.
Where Are You Getting Money For This?
On the upper left hand of this page you will see where any and all funding comes from thus far.
Are You A 501(c)3 Non-Profit?
We have not filed anything yet.
Is This An Online Organization?
No. Everything you see on this website (with the exception of the Impetus Statement which was written a while ago) has been created since December 19th 2006. This website was created with the intention of sharing thoughts and ideas, and raising money in order to engage people face to face. The website is simply as far as we’ve gotten so far.
I Heard About Another Group/Organization/Person Doing Something Like This. Why Don’t You Merge or Join Them?
That’s great! I’ll probably contact them and share ideas, but no, I have no intention of abandoning this and joining another organization, or of merging this project to another. This is not about competition or turf. The more initiatives we have to encourage Jewish learning and to encourage committed Jews, the better. See Reinventing The Wheel And The Logic Of Zero Sum. (An explanation of the term zero sum)
Are There Really That Many Committed and Interested Conservative Jews Out There?
I don’t have statistics, but judging from the responses I got within the first day of just mentioning this project, yes, there are a lot of us out there and we’re all pretty frustrated.
You Keep Saying Young. Young This, Young That, Young Young Young. I’m Old. Am I to Be Excluded?
Of course not! Nogah Chadash is not meant to exclude folks who do not consider themselves to be within the chronologically-defined category of “young.” The usage of the “y word” here is meant to illustrate the difference between what might be called “the old guard” and The Vanguard of Conservative Judaism. This division does tend to fall along generational lines, but not necessarily in every case. If you share our vision, then you are as “young” as any of us.