Philip Goldwasser

Apply for a Blog

Jun 5, 2019, 9:08 PM

Oh USY, Oh USY…

Let me start out by saying that I still hold by my original thesis. On May 3rd, I published a blog post on the Times of Israel stating that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) is an unstable...

May 3, 2019, 9:24 PM

How do you solve a problem like USCJ?

A recent convention of United Synagogue Youth, the Conservative movement’s youth arm. Via Usy.org

You start by dissolving it and setting its flagship youth org, USY, free to fend for -- and rebrand -- itself

Jul 26, 2017, 7:31 AM

President Trump and the Boy Scout Fiasco

I have used this space in the past to talk about Jewish topics, specifically relating to the Conservative Movement, but after hearing President Drumpfs speech at the Boy Scout Jamboree earlier today, I felt the need to comment. Let me...

Jan 25, 2017, 6:57 AM

The Power of 100

My two younger children attend a wonderful Jewish Day School in NJ, Golda Och Academy. The school is a Solomon Schechter school, having started its life as the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union Counties. My wife...

Sep 18, 2016, 8:56 PM

As we get closer to the November general election, I am starting to wonder about a rather large question. When, as a community, did we forget how to be nice? It is a simple question, with very complicated and...

Feb 17, 2016, 12:15 PM

A Liberal Jew Praises the Memory of Justice Scalia

A brief interruption to my usual blogging about the Conservative Movement, but I could not let this pass. I am saddened at the loss of Justice Antonin Scalia. When I wrote about this on Facebook, I got a lot of push back...

Jan 29, 2016, 6:38 AM

The Kitniyot Dilema

In December, 2015, The Law committee of the Rabbinical Assembly, the rabbinic arm of the Conservative Movement, adopted two different teshuvot (decision in Jewish law) on the topic of kitniyot on Passover. Both teshuvot permit the eating of kitniyot...

Jan 26, 2016, 2:22 AM

Where you should pray now

A response to a US Jew wondering how to keep his spiritual gas tank full: There's a Conservative place for you

Load more

About Me

Phil Goldwasser has been involved with the Conservative Movement for over 40 years, beginning with his time in USY. He has served on the board of directors of his synagogue, The Highland Park Conservative Temple - Congregation Anshe Emeth in Highland Park NJ, and chairs the youth committee. He holds a masters degree from JTS. Phil is currently a Rabbinical Student at the Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk, anticipating ordination later this year.

Contact Me