USCJ states its case
We’d like to clarify a few points in your article (“Shul no longer a card-carrying Conservative,” Jan. 24).
The president of Congregation Netivot Shalom is correct in saying that for several years United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has allowed the shul to maintain its membership in our organization for $2,000 a year — a dues level drastically below even the reduced rates given to other congregations. We did this because we always work with synagogues when they tell us, as Netivot Shalom did, that they face serious financial challenges. After several years of this arrangement, we asked the congregation to increase its dues level, though the figure we suggested was a small fraction of the $24,000 mentioned in your article.
We don’t believe in publicly airing the details of financial discussions we have with members. But we must correct the assertion that we simply cut off Netivot Shalom’s membership because they wouldn’t pay a substantial dues increase. Indeed, we simply asked for a good faith effort. Yet we were told repeatedly that $2,000 — and not a dollar more — was what the congregation would pay. At a certain point, it is unfair to the hundreds of congregations we serve — and it is not financially sustainable for our organization — to continue allowing a member synagogue to pay far less than its fair share. A synagogue’s disaffiliation comes only as a last resort and only after a long process. We have told Netivot Shalom that our door remains open if they’d like to work out the dues situation. That continues to be the case.
Finally, you pointed out that United Synagogue went through a rocky period a few years ago. What you omitted is that, as even critics from that time have said, we emerged a stronger, more vital organization that is helping to strengthen and reinvigorate Conservative Judaism.
Andrea Glick
Director of Communications, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
I am still alive
I was shocked to read of the death of Richard S. Colman in the Jewish news weekly (Jan. 24).
Upon reading the obituary, I discovered that a person with the same name but a different date of birth had died.
As I express my condolences to the Colman family, I am reminded of what Mark Twain allegedly said when reading his obituary in the newspaper: “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
As a frequent contributor to J., I am delighted to report that I am still alive and living in Orinda, California. I know that my continued existence comes as a great disappointment to many people.
Richard S. Colman | Orinda
Interfaith reality not as expected
Regarding Dawn Kepler’s Jan. 10 advice column “Mixed & Matched,” during our brief whirlwind courtship, my partner agreed to raise our children as Jews in a Jewish home. I wouldn’t have married him without that commitment. I knew at the time that he couldn’t possibly fully understand what I was asking, even though I had tried to be explicit about the number of holidays and the cost of synagogue dues.
I knew I had to step up. I dragged him to Dawn’s interfaith couples classes and our rabbi’s kashrut class. I had him watch “Crossing Delancey” and “The Frisco Kid.” I tried to explain my vision of a Jewish home.
Despite all this preparation, our reality is very different than my prenuptial ideals. I had hoped we would learn Jewish texts together, and that he’d join me at Saturday morning services at least once a month, but it turns out text study is not his thing, and he can really use Shabbat morning to decompress. On the other hand, he never misses Shabbat dinner, remembers details of kashering pots better than I do and has been very involved in our synagogue’s nursery school, far beyond what I would have expected even from a Jewish partner. We’ve had to figure out what is important and make sure those things happen. Our life together is Jewish and sweet, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Juliet Stamperdahl | Berkeley