Rabbi Daniel Freelander addressed the Biennial last night. He took the opportunity to look back at the past few years as well as outlining a vision for the future of the Reform Movement.

What makes our movement healthy? Why are we growing? What feeds and nourishes us?

We grow because of the commitment and innovation that our 900 congregations and their leaders do every day to create a meaningful Judaism for our 320,000 families.

We grow because of the inspired and dedicated leadership of thousands of Temple Presidents, Rabbis, Executive Directors, Board members, Educators, Cantors and committee leaders who resonate to what really matters: the personal Jewish engagement of congregational members in meaningful Jewish experiences.

We grow because of the unique partnership between our synagogue leaders and our congregational Union that allows us to support one another, to share our challenges and successes and to learn from one another.

This Biennial is our opportunity to stand at the top of the mountain of Jewish life, and to survey what we’ve cultivated. We reflect on the journey, and consider what lies ahead.

So look back 10 years. Each Reform congregation was making Shabbos for itself when it came to setting educational goals. No consensus had yet been reached on what the goals should be of a Reform Jewish educational experience

Together, we developed the Chai Curriculum, now applied in more than 350 Reform congregations. An education now experienced by almost half the students in reform religious schools, we are creating a generation that understand the meaning of a kehilla kedosha, a sacred community steeped in Reform Jewish values. And almost 250 congregations use the Mitkadem Hebrew Curriculum, which has pioneered individually paced Hebrew language instruction within a mixed classroom.

Our adult learning efforts have focused on reaching learners in new ways, specifically through the Internet. How many of you in the room tonight subscribe to Ten Minutes of Torah? You are among over 20,000 individuals who open up TMT every morning. Torah study for your soul’s in-box first thing every morning. And 4500 of you participate in the month long Eilu V’Eilu debates between Jewish scholars, that bring multiple perspective on complex contemporary Jewish issues into your offices and homes. We have succeeded in engaging our members in Jewish learning beyond our synagogues. Your congregations have encouraged this learning through your web-sites, e-mailings and monthly newsletters. We are leveraging each other’s assets to spread Torah in new ways.

Since our 2005 Biennial middle school students in over 100 congregations have been participating in the new Sacred Choices Curriculum. 14 training sessions were held for middle school teachers and group leaders to help them implement these Guidelines for teaching Sexual Ethics. We are now piloting our soon to be released high school/confirmation Sacred Choices curriculum in 12 congregations Together we assist our young people apply Jewish values to sexual behavior, and to develop meaningful and healthy relationships.

Older initiatives continue to matter and guide us. More and more congregations enhance their interfaith programming with the Open Doors, Open Minds dialogues developed in response to Rabbi Yoffie’s 2003 Biennial initiative. Honest and open conversations with our Christian neighbors have led to dozens of interfaith follow-up projects. And at this biennial we commence our conversation with the North American Islamic community, so necessary if we are to live together in harmony.

As our movement reaffirms our 30 year long commitment to Outreach, our synagogues have taken the lead in aggressively supporting individuals to consider conversion to Judaism. Since 1998, 350 lay and professional leaders have been trained to work with our rabbis to make this pivotal experience as supported and powerful as possible.

More and more congregations are lovingly recognizing and honoring non-Jewish spouses who are raising Jewish children, and supporting the Jewish growth of their families. We offer a variety of new books and resources that emphasize the need to thank and include those who make Judaism come alive in their homes.

The decisions to join a synagogue is based on many factors, some not always obvious to temple leaders and staff. Office staff and membership committee members are being sensitized to how the quality of their interactions impact potential members. And hundreds of membership committee chairs have received new training to better welcome, integrate and retain those members who will bring us new creativity and energy, and help secure our future.

The worship initiative of 1999 has borne remarkable fruit. Scores of Union congregations have rethought their approach to Friday evening worship. New vitality and variety have re-engaged us in prayer, and tonight we dedicate the results of a decade of lay-professional partnership as Mishkan T'filah is formerly presented to the movement. Even this transition is guided and supported by our list serves and websites. It is an exciting era for spiritual renewal.

On Chanuka we celebrated the miracle of light and leadership, of the ability of a dedicated few to bring about needed change. Tonight we acknowledge the miracles of the past decade of Reform Jewish life, and celebrate the remarkable successes of you leaders assembled here in bringing change to your communities.

And so I ask you to look forward to next Chanuka. What courageous vision will you bring to your community in the year ahead?

This week we will together identify many challenges, but only YOU can make creative change happen in your congregation.

But, if the past decade is any example, then the next ten years shall be even more dynamic and exciting.