Affiliation Benefits Packet for fiscal year 2018
Although next year’s affiliation materials are not due until September 30th, we’re sending the information early so that you can consider it in your budgeting conversations. After an 18-month process that included staff, lay leaders, and the Reconstructionist Plenum, we’ve made some modest changes to our dues system for 2017-2018. The new structure maintains the three-tier system of choice, while setting dues at a single percentage rate of congregational budgets within each tier.
To encourage the growth of the movement, generous donors have committed to a challenge grant that will match every dollar that you increase your dues over last year. We need to raise a total of $25,000 more this year than last year from congregational dues in order to successfully unlock the challenge grant. We hope that your congregation will help us to reach this goal and to continue our important work.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us. And thank you for the support and the energy that you contribute to our entire community!
Did you see this year's college packets for Purim?
This year, like every year, we sent a package of Purim goodies to our Reconstructionist college students and young adults to not only help them sustain their energy through a busy school or working schedule, but also to help them welcome Spring, and "make noise!"
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/ReconEmail
Jewish social justice gap year in Portland, Oregon Tivnu Gap Year participants discover the Pacific Northwest, connect Jewish life with social justice through individualized internships, and live together in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Develop confidence, purpose, and skills for farming, teaching, building, and advocating. Build a caring home, a compassionate city and a country in which all are included. Learn more – check out this video. Tivnu: tools to build a better world. For more info, email info@tivnu.org or call 503.232.1864.
RRC Graduation
Save the date for RRC's upcoming graduation: June 11, 2017 at Kenesseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA
Join RRC for one of our largest annual gatherings, as we confer the title of Rabbi upon our graduating class. We look forward to announcing their pulpit placements and professional undertakings over the next few months.
Hevreh 3
July 19-23, 2017
Waynesboro, PA
Hevreh is back for a third summer for adults seeking to broaden their Jewish experience through study, prayer, spiritual renewal and growth with leading Jewish scholars, including Rabbi David Teutsch, Ph.D. and Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D.
Participants will study with master teachers of Judaica; reflect and rejuvenate; pray, sing and dance, reconnect with friends and make new ones; encounter nature; and celebrate Shabbat!
For more information, please visit Hevreh's website: www.hevreh.net.
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: Art and Education
Where
The walls of your places of meeting, perhaps especially religious school hallways.
When
Anytime
What Is It?
Any Jewish organization can receive a free set of beautiful and educational posters through the Voices & Visions project, an initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (the folks who gave us the PJ Library). From their website: “Voices & Visions is about art, about powerful messages, about combining them into posters, about starting conversations, about continuing the Jewish journey. In late 2012 Voices & Visions released its debut Masters Series. A collection of 18 images, the series pairs leading figures of contemporary art and design with powerful quotes from Jewish thinkers across the ages. Originally offered as a limited release, the Masters Series took off and is now being used by Jewish organizations around the world. Organizations have used the images to beautify their spaces, spark conversations, contribute to their curricula, and create new programming. The series is offered as a gift to organizations interested in using the images in their community space.”
How to Get the Free Posters Just fill out the request form online here. One free set per organization. We just ordered a set at RRC/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities and they arrived within a week. They’re 18” x 26” and they come with some curricular materials for Jewish educators.
New Resources
Counting the Omer
Ritualwell has many resources for counting the Omer. Whether you're looking for songs, poems, thought pieces, prayers, meditations or art, continue to check www.ritualwell.org/counting-omer throughout May for new content and resources.
When the Call Comes, Will Your Congregation Be Ready?
When a prospective member emails or calls your community, will your community make a meaningful first impression?
At a time when people avoid religious institutions, an email or phone call from a prospective member is an opportunity that synagogues cannot afford to lose.
Be sure to have a plan in place in your community so that every inquirer will feel welcomed.
Check out this article in eJewish Philanthropy written by Rachael Burgess, Assistant Director for Integrated Marketing & Communications Strategies at RRC/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities.
And take a look at these examples to help you develop your plan:
Rabbi Jeffrey Schein, RRC '77, and Dr. Deborah Schein are available for scholar in residence Shabbatot, weekends, and/or weeks on these programs:
1) "Text Me: Ancient Jewish Wisdom Meets Contemporary Technology," by Rabbi Jeffrey
2) "Parenting and Children's Spirituality" by Dr. Deborah
3) "The 100 Languages of Children Meet the 70 Faces of Torah" by both Rabbi Jeffrey and Dr. Deborah
They can weave together any two or three programs depending on the needs of a congregation.
Fees are negotiable. We also offer a discount for Reconstructionist friends and family.
Rabbi Jeffrey is a Reconstructionist rabbi and was the national director of Reconstructionist Jewish education of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF) from 1985-2005 and together he and Dr. Deborah Schein are the founding couple of Reconstructionist congregation Kol HaLev in Cleveland.
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 Affiliate Support; jland@rrc.edu; 302.500.0863 Rabbi Maurice Harris, Associate Director of Affiliate Support, mharris@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 118 Rory Schonning, Community Engagement Assistant, rschonning@rrc.edu Rachael Burgess, Editor of Leadership Brief and Reconstructionism Today,rburgess@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 141
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
You are receiving this email because you are listed in our records as a leader of a Reconstructionist community. If this is no longer the case or if you would like to update your contact information, please click here.
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.
