Resolution meets resolution:

Unity held at the New WAM last evening. Not by the imposition of time-limits, on who could speak and who could not. At last, a meeting where people who attended listened and responded to the concerns of others.

In the end, we hold to the same principles that have borne us to where we have come. WAM ain't broke, and needs no fixin' - just more of the joyous same.

Below is a position statement I had prepared and presented at the meeting. It wasn't adopted in a formal way, but I believe we effectively agreed with its contents by the meeting's end.

Position statement: New West Ashley Minyan: Sept 2007

We, the participants of the New West Ashley Minyan, currently meeting for prayer services at the Jewish Community Center, on Wallenburg Blvd, Charleston, SC

In recognition that our inclusiveness, our vitality and our warmth as a new and growing group, and our successes in every area draw upon the participation of people of various outlooks, both those who are Shomrei Shabbat, and those who are simply traditional observers of Jewish religion, those who are members of BSBI, as well as those who are not,

Now unanimously agree to continue our activities and operations in the same open manner that has been our custom up till now.

We are grateful for the gifts brought to our venture by all responsible – from material support to the provision of ritual objects, from the gifts of inclusive leadership, to the performance of the voluntary duties by all those who choose in some way to serve us, and not least for the use of the facilities of the Jewish Community Center.

We recognize that, in this community, we share many goals with Rabbi Ari Sytner and Congregation BSBI, and we are ever hopeful that at some point we will be able to reconcile with BSBI as equals,

We wish to afford the widest of choices to our participants – those wishing to remain members of BSBI should be free to do so, just as those who choose not to should not be compelled and subjected to such a relationship unless and until the group unanimously chooses to.

We commit ourselves to preserving the unity of this group, and through that to strengthening this community and all of Klal Yisrael.