Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

God and Spirituality
Among the most basic core values of Conservative Judaism is belief in God. The quality
of spirituality may be understood as feeling the presence of God in our everyday lives.
“Conservative Judaism affirms the critical importance of belief in God but does not
specify all the particulars of that belief” (Emet Ve-Emunah, p. 18). There are various
views of God that are represented in Conservative Jewish thought. Two main views are
the belief that a supreme supernatural being exists and has the power to command and
control the world through that supernatural being’s will. Those who hold this view
“affirm our faith in God as Creator and Governor of the Universe. His power called the
world into being; His wisdom and goodness guide its destiny.” Of all creation, only
people are created in God’s image and endowed with free will (Emet Ve-Emunah, pp. 14-
15). Another view sees God as present when we look for meaning in the world, when we
work for morality, justice, and future redemption. Adherents to this view do not ask
“where is God” but rather “when is God.”
It is important to wrestle with your own understanding and concept of God. Each person
forms his or her own theology or understanding of God. It is essential to continually
compare your own theology to traditional views of God. Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of
the Jewish Theological Seminary from 1987 to 2006, tells us that “Conservative Judaism
is very much part of that ancient Jewish quest for comprehensive understanding of God.”
There are no definitive answers. There is only the journey.
“The Conservative Movement recognizes, as did the Rabbinic tradition, that ‘The Torah
speaks in the language of human beings.’…All God-talk is a metaphor, the usage of
speech to approximate a reality that cannot be fully described,” we are told in Willing,
Learning and Striving, the study guide to Emet V’Emunah. No human being can know
God fully. We focus on what God does rather than on what God is.
Judaism provides us with opportunities to experience God’s presence. There are many
vehicles for expressing our spirituality, including music, art, movement, dance,
relationships, major life events, and of course prayer.
Tefillah
Tefillah, or prayer, includes acknowledgement of God’s role in our lives, praise of God,
thanksgiving, and expressions of ideals for both the Jewish people and the world (Emet
Ve-Emunah, p.49). The Jewish tradition establishes a structure, called keva, for the times,
content, and order of prayer, thus enabling us to pray together as a community. The ideal
prayer experience goes beyond keva and calls upon us to pray with kavanah (intention
and feeling). The siddurim (prayer books) of the Conservative community embody a
balance between old and new, keva and kavanah. One goal of prayer is to infuse us with a
sense of God’s holiness. This helps us to reflect on our own behavior as well as on our
interactions with other people. We Jews strive to make our experience of prayer beautiful
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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