Lights, camera, action… we’re thrilled to announce that Camp JRF will open a new film and arts-based specialty camp in southern California. This is thanks to a $1.4 million award to be distributed over four years by the Foundation for Jewish Camp as part of its Specialty Camps Incubator.
 
The Jim Josephs Foundation and the Avi Chai Foundation provide support for the Specialty Camps Incubator.
 
The new camp – geared for third to 10th graders – is slated to open in 2018, with the goal of providing high-level arts programming within the Jewish, values-based, welcoming environment that is epitomized by Camp JRF.  We don’t have a location picked out yet, but we know it will be within a two hour drive of Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing details as the camp takes shape.
 
“Camp JRF began as a dream just over 15 years ago,” said Rabbi Isaac Saposnik, RRC ’08, executive director of Camp JRF. “With this new camp, we’re excited to build upon that dream as we create powerful and transformative Jewish experiences for more and more kids and families.”
 
“Camp JRF is the beating heart of the Reconstructionist movement.  It is one of our crown jewels,” said Rabbi Deborah Waxman, RRC ’99, Ph.D., president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College/ Jewish Reconstructionist Communities.  “It is impossible to feel anything other than optimistic about the future of Judaism in general and the future of Reconstructionist Judaism in particular when you visit Camp JRF.  We could not be more thrilled by or more grateful for the challenge of expanding it to the West Coast.”
 
For more information, you can email us at info@campjrf.org.
 
You can also check out these articles about the new camp from the Jewish Exponent, eJewish Philanthropy and Jewish Telegraphic Agency!

Back in March, we told you about a new program from Jewish Reconstructionist Communities called the Reconstructionist Learning Networks, directed by Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Impact, Cyd Weissman. We piloted six successful networks last spring for groups of people with similar questions.
 
This fall, we’re launching more than 20 networks, many of which are geared toward community leaders and will include eight presidents’ forums.
 
How do networks work?
Learning Networks connect you with people from diverse paces and with different viewpoints. Facilitated by experts including Jewish Reconstructionist Communities staff and Reconstructionist Rabbinical College faculty, each network will have six to 12 participants from across geography and perspectives who will gather virtually to explore the crucial questions of Jewish life that can’t be Googled and that matter most to you and your community. Participants will learn amongst colleagues, explore case studies, text studies, resource materials and discuss real-life challenges and solutions.
 
Networks meet three to six times a year online for about an hour each session.
 
Some of those questions include:
How can we make Jewish stories come to life?
How can we effectively work for justice, while maintaining our energy and keeping our members involved?
Can you hear me now? How can our community’s brand stand out in a busy world?
Which model of Jewish education is right for us?
How are executive directors responding to new challenges?
 
There are many more questions participants are already asking, and we’re sure there we have a network for everyone. If you don’t see something that speaks to you, please tell us what you are looking for. We’ll be adding three more Learning Networks this year based on feedback we hear from you.
 
Click here to view the whole catalogue.
 
What you will need in order to participate:
You’ll need access to a computer, a web camera and an Internet connection. The video-networking platform we use fosters connections by making it easy for participants to see and hear one another.
 
FIND OUT MORE

REGISTER ONLINE 
 
If you have any questions, please contact Rory Schonning at rschonning@rrc.edu or 215.576.0800, ext. 131. 
 

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Upcoming Networks
Networks meet three to six times a year online for about an hour each session. At least six people are required for each network. Networks are capped at 12 participants unless otherwise specified, and a waitlist will be created if a network reaches capacity.
 
REGISTER ONLINE NOW  
If you have any questions, please contact Rory Schonning at rschonning@rrc.edu or 215.576.0800, ext. 131.
 
November
 

11/1/16	How do we bridge the gap between shul and home?
11/9/16	How can we effectively work for justice, while maintaining our energy and keeping our members involved?
11/10/16  or  11/17/16	How can we make Jewish stories come to life?
11/21/16	What does rabbinic leadership look like in a Jewish Community Center (JCC)?
11/22/16	Can you hear me now? How can our community’s brand stand out in a busy world?
11/22/16	Which model of Jewish education is right for us?

December
 

12/1/16	Where is our Shabbat when we work on Shabbat?
12/6/16	Can you hear me now? How can our community’s brand stand out in a busy world?
12/8/16	Where is our Shabbat when we work on Shabbat?
12/13/16	How do we bridge the gap between shul and home?
12/14/16	How can we effectively work for justice, while maintaining our energy and keeping our members involved?
12/14/16	How do we create new rituals for changing times?
12/15/16	Where is our Shabbat when we work on Shabbat?
12/20/16	Can you hear me now? How can our community’s brand stand out in a busy world?
12/20/16	Which model of Jewish education is right for us?

Republished from Ritualwell.org
By Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz, RRC ‘97, of Temple Bnai Israel in Willimantic, Conn.
 
When I was president of the Reconstructionist Student Association at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in the late 1990s, I thought it would be good to start our meetings with a berakhah. I wanted to orient our work toward holiness and remind us of the holiness of our work. The only problem: no berakhah for such an occasion existed. As I searched for bases in the Torah tradition, I found the following statement in the Jerusalem Talmud:
 

 Rabbi Yirmiyah said:
The one occupied with the needs of the community
is like one who is occupied with matters of Torah.
—Talmud Yerushalmi, Brakhot 5:1
 

Rabbi Yirmiyah’s statement is in the context of a discussion of the hierarchy of mitzvot: When does engaging in one mitzvah exempt you from having to perform another, competing mitzvah? According to Jewish law, Torah study sometimes takes precedence over some other mitzvot. Rabbi Yirmiyah believed that serving the community was at the same level as Torah study. His statement made the text of my berakhah obvious. We already had a berakhah “la’asok b’divrei Torah” – “to occupy ourselves with matters of Torah.” Rabbi Yirmiyah says being occupied with community needs is equivalent to being occupied with matters of Torah. Thus:

 

 Barukh atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam
asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu la'asok betzorkhei tzibur.
 
How full of blessing you are, ETERNAL ONE, our God, majesty of the Universe,
who has consecrated us with Your commands and commanded us to occupy ourselves with the needs of the community.

We’re thrilled to announce that we are planning the first ever Reconstructionist Birthright Israel trip (planned dates: December 18-29, 2016) for young adults age 21-26. Participants will hike, learn, sing and connect with the land, people, history and culture. There are only 40 spots available, and they will fill fast! Go to www.campjrf.org/birthright to register now, and be sure to share this exciting opportunity with members of your community!