“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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