The Cornerstone of a Better World
A powerful Reconstructionist message responding to recent acts of anti-Semitism, as well as inspiring examples of the “best of humanity.”
Teena Hendelman, z”l, founder of the Ottawa Reconstructionist Havurah, now Or Haneshamah.
May we remember the lives and contributions to our community.
Updates for Your Board
Special Plenum Meeting on 3/20!
The Plenum of the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities will meet by telephone on Monday, March 20, 2017, at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time / 5:15 pm Pacific time to discuss and vote upon the attached proposal to establish a Joint Israel Commission.
We would like for as many Plenum reps as possible to join in on the call. Each congregation's designated Plenum rep is eligible to vote during the meeting. If your congregation's Plenum rep is unable to participate in the call, please try to designate a proxy and email Rabbi Maurice Harris at mharris@rrc.edu.
What Are Reconstructionists Doing?
Are the members of your community receiving the latest movement news? Is your community curious about how Reconstructionists are making a difference? Do your leaders look for new resources and nuggets of wisdom?
If so, encourage your members to subscribe to our movement email newsletters!
Share this link with your community: http://bit.ly/ReconEmailHave your community become a part of People’s Climate March and Shabbat (April 28-29)
On Shabbat morning in Washington, DC, there will be a major “People’s Climate March,” similar to the 2014 march that took place in New York City with the explicit goals of urging the new administration to work towards building a more sustainable future and energy economy that focuses investments in particular to help improve the lives of low-income people and people of color. (For the full platform go to https://peoplesclimate.org/). This is a great opportunity for Reconstructionist communities to get involved in an important effort.
There are several ways that Reconstructionist communities can get involved:
Sign on, along with other Jewish communities to either directly attend the march or to organize some type of solidarity activity in your community (e.g. sermon, text study, discussion, speaker, ritual) during that Shabbat on 4/28-29. Here is the link to register with the Jewish organizing hub where Jewish communities can sign-on.
Spread the word of your community’s involvement on the “Jewish Communities Support People’s Climate March & Shabbat” facebook page.
Join in the organizing! There is a weekly conference call for the national Jewish organizing hub comprising of participating Jewish organizations from over 10 cities – and the list is growing! To join the organizing calls and get more information email jewsforcleanenergy@gmail.com.
Hazon Israel Trip
We are pleased to share this opportunity with our members!
Over the last decade, Hazon has run many successful Israel trips. The Sustainable Israel Tour (March 13 - 19, 2017) is for a small group and offers the best sustainable food tours, in-depth examinations of mission-driven communities, and an Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride.
Participants will meet activists at the cutting edge of mindful food practices and sustainable society in Israel. We'll learn how these innovators drive change despite food, climate, and political insecurity. We'll also explore Israel’s culinary, ecological, cultural, and economic innovations.
The cost (excluding flights but including accommodations for six-nights, food, and tours) is $4,000 per person in a shared room.
Click here for info and registration, or email nigel@hazon.org or meredith.levick@hazon.org.
Tell Us Your Inspiring Story!
Has a Reconstructionist rabbi or congregation transformed your life or the life of anyone you know?
Has a Reconstructionist approach made positive Jewish experiences more accessible to you or someone you know? Has your community worked on a unique project or initiative?
We want to hear about the impact Reconstructionism is having on the world and people’s lives. And we plan to share those stories with Jewish Reconstructionists everywhere.
While we might not be able to use every story submitted, we would love to hear from you. Of course, we will contact you before using your submission.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bryan Schwartzman at bschwartzman@rrc.edu or 215.576.0800, ext. 121.
This Good Idea: Shabbat Oneg Sign-Ups Tool
Where
Congregation Bet Haverim (Atlanta, GA)
When
Anytime
What They Did
Congregation Bet Haverim began using an online platform called SignUpGenius to enable members to sign up for providing various goodies to onegs after Shabbat services. You can see their oneg sign-up online here – but please don’t fill out the form unless you’d like to bring challah and grape juice to an upcoming service in Atlanta!
Why It Worked
Amy Robertson, Executive Director of Congregation Bet Haverim, says it’s a very handy time-saving tool that allows members to easily sign up for open slots. As members still adjust to the new process, some still continue to send emails trying to sign up for onegs. If those requests don’t get added to SignUpGenius, there’s a chance of a mix up. Overall, she’s very pleased with this tool.
Who Can You Contact To Learn More
Amy Robertson, Executive Director – arobertson@cbhatlanta.org.
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.
March
3/29/17
How can we foster enriching interfaith conversations that invite people to dare to understand?
Welcome Posters for Your Community
We know that many of our communities are looking for ways to combat bigotry and hate. If you would like to display something in your meeting spaces that express progressive Jewish values and welcoming, we created a “Welcome Poster” that can be printed on letter size paper or 11” x 17”. If your community likes the poster, feel free to print as many as you wish. We recommend color printing on glossy or other high grade paper, and we suggest displaying it at entrances or high-traffic passageways. If you don’t have a color printer or aren’t able to print the larger size in-house, we suggest that you contact a local copy shop for help.
If you have questions, need ideas, successes to share, or a curiosity for what’s new, join our interactive Facebook group called, “Can you hear me now?”(Open to presidents, rabbis, executive directors, and anyone interested in marketing).
Politics from the Pulpit--Transformation for Agitation Not Irritation: Speaking Publicly About Repairing the World Together
When we encourage others to participate in a cause, we have to remember that we want to promote action, not become a nuisance. How can we drive social action in our diverse communities without stirring conflict?
This Purim, HIAS will distribute a #BeEsther Guide to Talking to Friends and Family about Refugees. Queen Esther famously took a stand against evil and reversed the plot of an evil man who planned to persecute and annihilate the Jewish people. HIAS invites American Jews to #BeEsther this year and stand up to anti-refugee sentiment, bigotry, and fear among family and friends by talking to those closest to them about refugees. The PDF guide can be emailed and shared on social media.
For Passover, HIAS developed a new Haggadah supplement. We would love your help in distributing this and encouraging people to talk about refugees in their Passover celebrations.
Tresa Grauer, Assistant Vice President for Affiliate Support; tgrauer@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 144 Cyd Weissman, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Impact; cweissman@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 257 Rabbi Joel Alpert, Director of Rabbinic Placement; jalpert@reconplacement.org; 215.576.0800, ext. 304 Jackie Land, Associate Director of Community Engagement; jland@rrc.edu; 302.500.0863 Rabbi Maurice Harris, Associate Director of Community Engagement, mharris@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 118 Rory Schonning, Community Engagement Assistant, rschonning@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 131 Rachael Burgess, Editor of Leadership Brief and Reconstructionism Today,rburgess@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 141 Rabbi Amber Powers, Executive Vice President,apowers@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 150
Our business hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET; Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET
1299 Church Road, Wyncote, PA 19095
P: 215.576.0800 | F: 215.576.6143
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This email went to rabbis/spiritual leaders, cantors, presidents, executive directors, education directors, board members, Plenum representatives, and administrators at congregations and havurot affiliated with the Reconstructionist movement. If you would like us to add another member of your leadership to the list, please email rburgess@rrc.edu.
The Jewish Reconstructionist Communities in association with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) provide services for more than 100 congregations and havurot where members help create the Judaism they want to live. RRC is a progressive rabbinical school where people of all backgrounds engage intensively with Jewish texts, thought and practice. As a combined organization, RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities make up a unique kind of entity in the contemporary Jewish landscape.
Email is a crucial way to stay in contact, and we appreciate your continued engagement and support of the RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities. Contributions to the RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities supports our faculty, underwrites scholarships and student internships, provides specialized training and mentorship opportunities, and creates unique learning experiences in Israel. Donations to RRC help us to prepare the next generation of Jewish leaders. Click here to donate now.
