Excerpts from Rabbi Moffic’s Sermon on the Reform Movement’s Conversion Initiative:

In 1978, the main leader of the movement, Rabbi Alexander Schinder, urged congregations to welcome interfaith families and interfaith couples. This was an extraordinary message for the time. It broke with the dominant practice of Jewish institutions of condemning interfaith marriages. It generated intense criticism from within the Reform movement and from every other denomination. Yet, reversing a 50 year trend where the Conservative movement was America’s largest, today Reform is the largest of the three movements. The reason for Reform’s growth is, quite simply, our welcoming of interfaith families. Schindler’s call for openness and inclusion was visionary leadership at its finest. Like the great sage Hillel, he looked to the future. He saw an opportunity to realize Reform’s great message of inclusion and universalism, and build a stronger and more progressive movement.

I recall this today because we seem to be witnessing a reversal of this vision. The leadership of the Reform movement, while admitting that Reform has grown because of interfaith families, is urging congregations to take a much stronger stand in encouraging non-Jewish spouses to convert. Now let me say that there is nothing wrong with conversion. Some of the most meaningful experiences I have had—and I think it is the same for Rabbi Sternfield—have been working with those converting to Judaism. But I am concerned about this approach for a few reasons.

First, Rabbi Schindler’s goal was not primarily to gain converts. It was to provide support and opportunities for interfaith families and children. Focusing on conversion may alienate families, and hinder outreach’s original purpose. Second, by urging conversion, we risk setting up classes of citizens in a congregation. If you haven’t converted, so it might feel, you are not a full citizen of the congregation.

Urging conversion is not forward-looking. The future of Jewish life in America is one of greater inclusivity, open doors, and true outreach. To emphasize the boundaries between Jew and non-Jew is neither visionary nor representative of our highest values. Like Hillel, we should look to the future, asking ourselves how we can be more open and inclusive and affirming of interfaith families.

Chiseled on the outside of our building are the words “My house shall be a house of prayer for all people.” These words are taken from the Biblical book of Isaiah, chapter 56 verse 7. If you go back and read them in their original context, you see that they come one of Isaiah’s visions of the future. They describe what the great temple would be if the Jewish people lived up to its highest ideals. Isaiah, like Hillel, looked toward a bright future. His vision guides us today. As we light the Chanukah candles this coming week, let us affirm that our faith, that our liberal, inclusive, progressive Judaism—will continue to shine and radiate in the year ahead.