Curious about what's going on at Reconstructing Judaism? Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., president of Reconstructing Judaism, describes the experiment of combining learning and action on homelessness through powerful partnerships at our 2020 New York Day of Learning.
Welcoming New Communities to the Reconstructionist Movement
We are pleased to welcome Jüdische Gemeinde Michelsberg (Jewish Community of Michelsberg) into the Reconstructionist movement. This community is located in Wiesbaden, the capital city of the State of Hesse, Germany. Recently the community commemorated the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Read about the community here.
We are pleased to welcome Shalom Bayit: Jewish Community of Central Oregon into the Reconstructionist movement. Shalom Bayit is an eclectic, big-tent congregation with a spiritual and informal approach. Read about the community here.
Eve Wider and Carolyn Ban of Dor Hadash in Pittsburgh, Pa., wrote a deeply moving letter encouraging other communities to participate in HIAS’ National Refugee Shabbat on March 20-21. Reconstructing Judaism is proud to once again co-sponsor this important event. We invite you to dedicate your Shabbat to refugees and asylum seekers.
Eleven women rabbis who are either graduates of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College or directly connected to the Reconstructionist movement are highlighted in an exhibit by the Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA) featuring more than 75 women rabbis from around the world.
Learning Network: What are the various ways an art practice can relate to, resonate with and become Jewish practice? Free webinar series. Starts March 5.
Ritualwell Immersion: Reading and writing poetry can create sanctuary, a welcoming place to hear and reveal one’s own inner voice. Webinar series with modest fee. Starts March 16.
Ritualwell Immersion: Whether your wedding plans are traditional or alternative, this course will provide the tools you need to make your big day meaningful, sacred, and reflective of who you are. Webinar series with modest fee. Starts March 17.
Sulaiman Khatib, the co-founder in 2005 of Combatants for Peace, is an inspiring model for those of us who grow discouraged about the possibility of peace. The organization is composed of former IDF soldiers and former Palestinian prisoners who believe that a process of internal transformation must precede peace-making. Read Khatib’s and Penina Eilberg-Schwartz’s essay, “To Live This Utopia, For Moments” and Rabbi Sheila Weinberg’s essay about Combatants for Peace, “Healing the Soul, Healing the World.” Watch or listen to Khatib, Eilberg-Schwartz and Rabbi Weinberg in an Evolve web conversation here.
Purim begins Tues., March 10, 2020. Let's Make a Shpiel! is a wacky Purim game for ages 10 to 110 from Ritualwell.
Act out characters in Jewish history, perform bizarre scenarios, answer Jewish trivia questions, give commands in Gibberish, and make ridiculous noises…all in the name of Purim. Let’s Make a Shpiel! is a recipe for hours of fun.
Pre-order now. Games will start shipping in late February. Free shipping!
Passover begins April 8, 2020. A Night of Questions is the haggadah from the Reconstructionist Press.
On its publication, Letty Cotton Pogrebin wrote “A Night of Questions offers everything found in the traditional haggadah plus a cornucopia of marvelous marginalia, provocative readings and commentaries, suggestions for embellished rituals, song lyrics, incisive interpretations, historical notes—all of it rendered in language that manages to be inclusive and nonsexist without sacrificing lyricism and grace.”
All those who are 18+ and identify as Jewish are eligible to vote in the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections, which are critical to promoting progressive Jewish values in Israel. Reconstructing Judaism is proud to be running in partnership with the Reform movement as part of the ARZA slate in the 2020 election, as we did 5 years ago.
If you would like to learn more or help organize members of your congregation to commit to vote, visit our page of information on ARZA or email Rabbi Maurice Harris, RRC ’03, Associate Director for Thriving Communities and Israel Affairs Specialist, at MHarris@ReconstructingJudaism.org.
We want your input on what you'd like to see and experience in our next Convention! Please take a moment to let us know through our Virtual Suggestion Box for Convention 2022.
We welcome you to join us for Shabbat Alive services, University Synagogue’s jazz and pop service with a band, led by Rabbi Arnie Rachlis, RRC '75, and Cantor Ruti Braier with the participation of Rabbi Yael Ridberg, RRC '97, of Congregation Dor Hadash in San Diego. The evening will also feature a d'vartorah by Rabbi Ridberg and a discussion with Rabbi Rachlis and Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., RRC '99, president of Reconstructing Judaism, on “Reconstructionist Judaism: The Past, Present and Future of the Reconstructionist Movement."
Join Reconstructing Judaism staff and board members on Saturday, March 28 at 9:00 a.m. for a day of community with Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue, to be held at the beautiful Calamigos Beach Club on the Pacific Coast Highway. Our day will begin with networking over coffee and danishes, followed by Saturday morning services with a d’var torah and study from the president of Reconstructing Judaism, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., RRC '99.
We will continue our way with a lunch program, discussing resilience through community at our tables, to be followed with an afternoon of sessions that help us explore Judaism through community, nature. music and our own resilience.
Join the Kehillat Israel community and Reconstructing Judaism staff and board members for a night of music, discussion and dessert. The night will feature a musical havdalah and a wide-ranging conversation between three Reconstructionist rabbis: Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, rabbi emeritus of Kehillat Israel and Reconstructing Judaism board member, Rabbi Amy Bernstein, senior rabbi of Kehillat Israel, and Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D, president of Reconstructing Judaism. Register here.
Please join us for an afternoon of learning and celebration with scholar Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D., RRC ‘77, professor of Jewish Philosophy and Spirituality at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and director of Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations. The theme of Rabbi Staub’s presentation is Reconstructionism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Following the afternoon of learning, we invite you to stay for the Chesapeake Annual Celebration, where we will honor exceptional individuals from our local congregations. Register here.
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College's 48th Graduation Ceremony – Save the Date
June 7, 2020
2:30 p.m. EDT
Congregation Beth Or
Maple Glen, Pa.
Convention 2022 - Save the Date
March 23–27, 2022
Please mark your calendars for the next Reconstructing Judaism convention, which will be held in partnership with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and Havaya Summer Programs.
Convention will take place March 23-27, 2022, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, in McLean, Va., just outside of Washington D.C. Join us to learn, pray, sing, dance, eat and network with other Reconstructionists from all over the world. More information to follow!
