Here are links to the top 2013 Biennial Videos:

Rabbi Jacobs Keynote – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp5fGPOpXrw

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the closing plenary – http://urjbiennial.zerista.com/?utm_source=WU&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20131213&utm_campaign=Feature

URJ CEO Stephen Wachs – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5VuvYmE0

Spoken Word Poet Andrew Lustig – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5VuvYmE0

Josh Nelson and URJ Choir – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5VuvYmE0

Incoming HUC Rabbi Aaron Panken – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5VuvYmE0

Retiring HUC President Rabbi David Ellenson – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5VuvYmE0

AND, given our interest in engaging youth – check out
2 years till Florida …

The Bob’s are about to run for our plane but before we do I will squeeze in one more post with my cell phone about this mornings Plenary.

New HUC President is the “man of the hour” and even though he has a great sense of humor he is serious about the core. “Nothing is more important than teaching torah and the traditions.  The greatness of our movement is greatest when it fosters the teaching of Torah.”

We heard excitng points about the expansion of camps in Israel andnd a NFTY Presentation on Millenials. Their status is more based on what they do versus what they own. They want their actions to have meaning. The example was Duncan’s barmitzvah sermon in marriage inequality.  How marriage equality has changed over time. The reform movement is about leading a meaningful life – inspired engagement.  Being Jewish as a lifestyle.  We have to be exceptional educators and investing in them. We are encouraging more niche programs.  We have to reach out and tap the youth on the shoulder.

Rabbi Pesner talks about how parents and volunteers have get involved to promote inspired engagement.  This is a defining moment.  The NFTY movement is going to start at 6th grade, no requirement for dues before engagement, an open to children of any congregation.

This was followed by BB’s address – a highlight for sure! Please watch it on the 2013 Biennial Website.

The first thing you notice is that there are so many Jews! More than Temple HDD, more than camp, I think you’d have to be in Israel or at Yeshiva to be among such a dense Jewish population. But it’s not just the people – there’s the music, the exhibitors, the vendors, all the subjects being covered. It’s nice to be the majority in a public space. It’s a good energy.

The weather in San Diego is a welcome relief from our northeast cold, but I can’t say we’ve had much time to experience it. Other than the walk from the hotel to the conference center, the days start and end with prayer but in between its all education, with networking squeezed in at every chance. With approximately 100 sessions to chose from on a single day it was easier making college class registration choices. There is literally something for everyone – leadership, youth, educators, administrators, and spiritual interests. Most of the sessions are quite filled too.

Given the audience, as you’d expect there is no shortage of questions and audience participation. Attendees are very engaged and that creates energy in each session and makes the time fly by.

One of my favorite aspects are the central gathering areas, the exhibitor area and the Kikar Town Square. There must be over 200+ exhibitors showing everything from Judaica, to housewares, to technology for temples, and all sorts of service providers for temples. In the Kikar Town Square there is always a performance going on, either music or a comedy act or even a poetry reading. They have a music and book store. People gather in little clusters, kibitzing, or catching up on their email.
Because of the way the conference center is spread out, people are constantly going through these areas to get to the next session, so there is lots of hustle and bustle.

In the larger sessions, especially the plenary sessions in the evening the URJ takes care of business. Honoring leaders, keynote speakers, top Jewish musical talent, and other topics for the whole attending body to share in. After that wraps up at 9:30 PM then there are other even more activities late into the evening, so I’m told.

We come from all over the country. From small town congregations, like Vassar Temple, to large city congregations with over 1000 families. Our love of Judaism is a common bond which lets you strike up conversation with anyone.

And our hotel is rocking!
http://hardrockhotelsd.com/mobile/index.php

We started today by attending the morning prayer service using Visual T’filah. I wanted to see how they supplemented the information on the screen to make for an engaging service. The service was run by a young (female) Rabbi and (male) Cantor, both with beautiful voices. The Cantor played a guitar during half of the service and a piano during the 2nd half.

Next I attended a session on the “Intentional Interim Rabbi” where I learned about the CCAR training now required of all interim Rabbis, and how the interim rabbi not only helps with transition from the prior rabbi, but also helps the congregation determine the profile for what they’d like in a new Rabbi. Typically hired for a 1 year period, the intentional interim rabbi is typically an empty-nester who likes traveling to different areas, helping congregations in need, and then moving on. It was stressed that the interim year is not a disruption, but is an opportunity for the congregation to reexamine who we are, identify traits that we feel we absolutely require, and help the congregation arrive at consensus. Where there’s conflict, the interim doesn’t take sides … he/she needs to hear from everyone and help all arrive at consensus. It was mentioned that congregations who don’t hire a full rabbi rather than an interim will often take on a second rabbi search within the next year. So planning is very important.

The session on Visual T’filah was particularly enlightening. The temple purchased the CCAR model service based on Mishkan T’filah and we enhanced it to meet our needs. This session focused on how to create new, fresh visuals for services, and create unique services for specific situations, like a Martin Luther King service, or tailoring a Saturday morning service to highlight the interests of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. One of the panel participants was Rabbi Danny Dreskin of Woodlands Community Synagogue in White Plains. Rabbi Dreskin started the Visual service trend and Visual T’filah is used regularly at his temple with very wide acceptance. After speaking with him following the session, he invited us to visit his temple on a night when they’re using Visual T’filah to observe how they conduct the service using this medium.

I also attended a session on Best Practices for fundraising. During this session, issues related to marketing and messaging, running fund development, and running an annual campaign were discussed, as well as how to inspire donors to give. A panel of reform synagogue development professionals offered advice and answered questions. A common theme throughout the entire discussion was the need to make connections with everyone at the temple, to cultivate members, set goals and to get the message out … to always tell our story about what’s involved in running the temple and why additional fundraising is necessary. The role of clergy was also discussed, how clergy relationships with potential donors is very powerful. Build relationships via life events, engage new congregants, and develop appropriate goals on why funding is required, and how the donor will benefit. While I felt many of the suggestions were more appropriate for larger congregations, the basic principles apply regardless of the number of families.

On a side note, I got to meet Rabbi Larry Hoffman (Joel’s dad), who was doing a book signing at the URJ Bookstore. Rabbi Hoffman’s wife was there as well. They are both looking forward to visiting Vassar Temple for the Shabbaton in the Spring, to see the temple that Joel has been raving about!

This evening’s Plenary session will feature Rabbi Rick Jacobs, URJ President and other speakers, followed by music entertainment featuring Josh Nelson and Dan Nichols.

Bob Abrams

First day at the Biennial is off to a great start. Our flights (LGA to Dallas, then to San Diego) were smooth and we got to our destination close to on schedule. And our bags got to our destination as well … yay! Many thanks to Mary Ritter for driving us to LaGuardia Airport very early in the morning for our 6am flight!

After checking into the hotel we headed over to the huge convention center to check in and get our bags with the program and other handy info. We located the Kikar, which is the “central square” with the URJ Book store and a stage featuring Jewish music artists much of the afternoon. I spent much of the afternoon at a program for temple presidents, where I met up with several fellow presidents who I met at the Scheidt Seminar last year. I got there too late to hear Ron Wolfson talk about Synagogue 3000, but was fortunate to attend There were two great speakers: Rabbi Sam Joseph and Rabbi Larry Hoffman (Joel’s father).

Rabbi Joseph’s topic was on the need to establish relationships as part of creating community. He stressed that the Board needs social settings (away from the Temple) to help create and enhance relationships, something that cannot be done at the Board meeting around a large table. He then took the group through a self-survey of leadership orientations that expressed the importance of considering 4 major leadership styles among the Board and its leaders: structural, human resources, Political and Symbolic leaders. It’s a good exercise that I’ll try to do with the Board. During the discussion I found out about a good way to engage families with younger kids is a “Pajama Havdalah”, with activities for the little ones. Rabbi Hoffman talked about the need to “think differently”, establishing the true values of the congregation (look beyond being a welcoming temple) and crafting our messages to focus on the values that matter. He also offered some useful tools for determining the culture of the temple, such as level of trust, purpose of programming, whether congregants are consumers vs. partners, and other aspects. Rabbi Hoffman received an award for his long-time contributions on the Synagogue 2000 and 3000 initiatives.

The first Plenary session was kicked off by very funny comedian, Joel Chasnoff. Vice President Joseph Biden addressed the Biennial via pre-recorded video, introduced by Rabbi David Saperstein. VP Biden was recognized for his work on social justice issues, stopping gun violence, rights for disabled Americans, and national security for the US & Israel, including elimination of Iran’s nuclear program. Later in the evening was a wonderful concert by Jewish musicians Julie Silver and Michelle Citrin!

Bob Abrams

The “Bob’s” (Abrams and Ritter) are going to the 2013 URJ Biennial in San Diego this week 12/11 – 12/15 and we’re excited. This will be my first time, and honestly I’m a bit overwhelmed by all there is to do and experience. The Biennial agenda is impressive and covers an amazing spectrum. Since Bob and I can’t possibly do it all we’ll “divide and conquer” as they say. You can help, and join in the fun too! “What,” you say, “how can we participate if we’re not going? Here’s how …

Attend some of the activities “virtually” on-line – no travel hassles, no expense, from the comfort of your own computer! Here’s a link that will get you there.

Here’s What’s Happening at the 2013 URJ Biennial:

Exciting Speakers:
Holy cow, I can’t believe I’ll be in the same room with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NY Times Food Editor Mark Bittman, Anat Hoffman, Rick Reilly, Ruth Calderon, Ilyse Hogue, Jay Feinberg, and many others. Leaders speaking to leaders and the entire Jewish community – YOU!

Interesting Sessions:
There are sessions on a wide variety of topics all led by today’s top practitioners, teachers and thinkers. What interests you?!

Entertainment:
We’ll get to enjoy today’s top Jewish musicians. Too many to list – see what I mean. Check out the music of the Biennial performers with Jewish Rock Radio’s countdown show Dec 9th, 8:30 PM (re-broadcast Dec 10th, 8:30 PM)!

Kikar Biennial:
Kikar Biennial is the Biennial Town Square — a central meeting place and a main hub of activity for the Biennial. Hey, maybe I can get a “gluten free” beer! (Bob, we do get to have fun, right?! LOL)

Youth Engagement:
NOTHING is more important than engaging the young Jewish individuals who will lead us into the future! The Biennial has a vast array of opportunities to deepen and expand the work Vassar Temple is doing to engage the next generation. Check out the exciting opportunities. We are in good hands! We just want more of them. 🙂

2013 Proposed Resolutions:
The URJ Represents our Reform Jewish community on important subjects. There are four resolutions that will be voted on by our community. Below is a list and more information can be found on the official Biennial website. Check them out – where do you stand?

1. Resolution in Support of Paid Sick Days
2. Resolution on First Nations
3. Resolution on Hydraulic Fracturing
4. Resolution on the US-Cuba Embargo

Follow Us:
Follow our experience on the Vassar Temple’s Blog

So, as you can see, this is an amazing conference and you can understand why Bob Abrams and I are excited to be going! But truth be told, we’re going for Vassar Temple – we’re going for YOU! Vassar Temple, and Reform congregations around the world, are the future. It’s our duty, it’s our joy … join us!

Bob Ritter