About a month ago, I had the privilege of studying bible at a conference organized by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, more commonly known as YCT. As a student and teacher of the bible, I was excited to have the opportunity to learn new ideas and interpretations from knowledgeable scholars throughout the country and the world. This goal was certainly met, and I look forward to sharing what I learned in upcoming articles, sermons and classes.

But I gained more from this conference than just the text of the bible. I also had a significant first hand encounter with a most refreshing segment of the Orthodox community.

YCT, founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss about a dozen years ago, is based on a phrase Rabbi Weiss coined, “Open Orthodoxy.” The students and faculty of YCT, like all Orthodox Jews, are committed to the practice of traditional halakhah. But adherents to “Open Orthodoxy” differ from some of their brothers and sisters, by affirming the following principles:

• Openness to questions and dialogue with teachers and texts, not merely blindly accepting traditional interpretations.

• Equal access to women in Talmud study and communal leadership.

• Respectful interaction with all Jewish movements, and other religions.

• Recognition of the modern State of Israel as a religious milestone in Jewish history.

• Commitment to personal ethical standards, and to making the world a better place for all people.

In looking over this list, I hope you will agree that these principles are also core values of Conservative Judaism. Though there might be some details of observance and prayer which distinguish our movements, it was most welcome to discover an Orthodox community with whom we share these principles of openness to new ideas, interaction with all people regardless of affiliation, and commitment to ethics combined with ritual practice.

Not everyone in the Jewish community is ready to be so open to new ideas and interaction, but there is much to be gained for those of us who try it. A presenter at the conference shared two stories which illustrate the struggle and the success. Teaching at an Orthodox synagogue, she distributed a handout which happened to contain the phrase New Testament (which was irrelevant to the teacher’s presentation). A student at the class loudly protested this instructor should not even be allowed inside an Orthodox synagogue, let alone be a teacher of bible to a Jewish audience. In this case, the student’s closed mindedness interfered with an opportunity to study with a brilliant teacher.

The same instructor was teaching a class at a Conservative synagogue. At the end of the session, a student dropped her bible on the floor, an action that was followed by a loud gasp from this Orthodox instructor. Instead of yelling and screaming, what followed was a healthy conversation between teacher and student—with each learning something about the other, and about the traditions each had grown up with regarding the treatment of holy books.

Study of bible, and other holy Jewish texts, is a most worthwhile activity for all of us. Studying with an open mind for new ideas is something we can share with our brothers and sisters of all movements and all religions, and lead to making us better people, and this a better world.