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Synagogue hosts Scout Religious Emblem Workshop

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Contributed by: David I. Karp on 12/9/2007

About 40 Jewish Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts gathered at Temple Beth Hillel on Sunday, Dec. 9, for the annual Religious Emblem Workshop of the Jewish Committee on Scouting of the Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America ("BSA").

Temple Beth Hillel, the oldest Reform synagogue in the Eastern San Fernando Valley (60 years), has become a hub for Jewish Scouting activities over the past 10 years.

Temple Beth Hillel hosts Scout Shabbat (Sabbath) services, non-Saturday Merit Badge Midways and Scout Leader training programs, even a Cub Scout Pack and a Boy Scout Troop.

Temple Beth Hillel encourages Boy Scouting at its facilities although it disagrees with the Scouts' national exclusionary policy prohibiting avowed homosexuals as adult scout leaders.

It does so because the Scouting program facilitates the synagogue's own goals in community outreach, character development, leadership training, citizenship opportunities, outdoor experiences and religious affiliation.

However, Temple Beth Hillel's Scout program is fully inclusive, consistent with the beliefs of the Reform Jewish Movement of which it is a part.

"Duty to God" is an important component of the Scout Program. Accordingly, BSA developed a Religious Emblem program in which boys and teens can find a connection through Scouting with their religious beliefs and traditions.

Nearly every faith group that uses Scouting for youth development participates in the Religious Emblem Program. Each faith, and not BSA, is responsible for the requirements of its emblem, consistent with the beliefs and tenets of that faith group. BSA permits Scouts to wear on their uniforms the religious emblems they earn in their own faith.

Temple Beth Hillel finds considerable value in opening its facilities to Scouts who want to learn more about Judaism.

Consequently, the synagogue creates opportunities such as the one on Dec. 9 for boys and teens to earn their Jewish emblems: Maccabee (first to third grade), Aleph (third to fifth grade), Ner Tamid (sixth to ninth grade), Etz Chaim (ages 14-20).

At its Scout Sabbath service, Feb. 1, 2008, Temple Beth Hillel will provide an opportunity to acknowledge the work of the Scouts having earned their religious emblems.

During the course of the Friday night service, the Scouts will receive their religious medals as a public recognition that they recognize their "duty to God."

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