Rabbi Rebecca W. Sirbu was invited to present a session on modern trends in religious identity to the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis. Examining the recent Pew and ARIS studies, which show that there is greater movement between different religious traditions than ever before, she challenged the group to be more aware of the make-up of their constituents and the issues they face. She also stressed the need to make Judaism very accessible to people of varied backgrounds. Rabbi Sirbu, the Director of Clal’s Rabbis Without Borders, has made similar presentations to rabbinic groups around the country, to help rabbis think more creatively about their communities and how to better serve them. Rabbis are recognizing that particularly with the changing demographics, they have to function more expansively. Gaining the tools to help them to do so is part of the mission of Rabbis Without Borders.

By Judy Epstein from Clal