local
in person, but he thinks it can function
even better with a digital addition.

“We have two doors,” Englander
said. “A physical door and a virtual
door.” He sees two ways in which a syna-
gogue can use the digital space.

Th ere’s the add-on option to Shabbat,
High Holiday and other services, which
Englander views as a more passive
experience for people at home but still
“high quality.” Th en there’s the more
active and personal use for “classes for
all ages,” Englander said.

“Th ere will be much more opportu-
nity for interaction and for people to
feel like they’re part of a conversation,”
he added.

While Englander believes the virtual
part is important, he thinks another
frontier may even be more important.

He said more and more people today
are looking for volunteer opportunities
and so, as a synagogue leader, he hopes
to focus on “harnessing people’s desire
to do good,” he said.

Th is means emphasizing volunteer
opportunities that will make an impact
From left: Congregation Beth El President Stuart Sauer and Rabbi David Englander sign the
contract for Englander to become Beth El’s new rabbi.

Photo by Alicia Drozen
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14 MARCH 10, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



“Saying Shabbat ends when three stars
come out on Saturday night is different
from saying it ends when we want it to end.

We’re still guided by our understanding
of Jewish law in those practices.

We’re just more inclusive.”
RABBI DAVID ENGLANDER
on the community and help volunteers
meet each other. Englander thinks
community service may be the key to
activating the younger generations that
synagogues always need to court.

To do so, though, Beth El needs
to take an inclusive approach, he
said. Conservative Judaism no longer
excludes women from certain roles,
gays from full support in their Jewish
journeys and Jews by choice in general,
according to Englander. So, it’s incum-
bent upon Conservative institutions to
continue that ethos.

Inclusivity does not mean that a syna-
gogue is no longer Conservative, either.

As Englander explained, Conservatism
is about following traditions, not only
allowing certain people to follow them.

“Saying Shabbat ends when three
stars come out on Saturday night is
different from saying it ends when we
want it to end,” the rabbi said. “We’re
still guided by our understanding of
Jewish law in those practices. We’re just
more inclusive.” JE
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