If you have posted content about Reconstructing Judaism to the web, we would very much like to repost your pieces here. Please send the link to your post to Rosa Cohen.
Important Dates
April 15
Chesapeake Day of Learning
April 29
Spring Plenum
June 18
Havaya Arts begins
June 24
Camp Havaya begins
Nov. 15-18
Reconstructionist Convention
Mazel Tov!
We are happy to promote your successes here and on our social media. Email Rosa Cohen for more information.
New Resources
Resource for Affiliates on Our New Name
For your use, we have created an Affiliate Resource Page for our new name. We invite you to use the tools on the page to help communicate about our new name and about your community. You’ll find content we developed for our organization and which we adapted for your use.
Feel free to share any of these resources with your community. Click here to visit the Affiliate Resource Page.
eJewish Philanthropy provides valuable articles for Jewish organizations on topics from marketing to community engagement. The following articles may be relevant to your work and the work of the other leaders of your community:
Rooted and Relevant: Reconstructing Judaism in 2018
Before we open convention registration in late April, we’d like jumpstart the conversation around the 2018 Reconstructionist convention in Philadelphia, Penn. On the convention website is a question we’d love for you to share with your community:
Many options for davening with amazing leaders from around the movement
Music and dancing woven throughout Convention
Engaging and open-minded Jewish text study
Field trips and social justice service opportunities in nearby historic Philadelphia
Opportunities for gatherings of affinity groups including RENA members, rabbis, executive directors, congregational presidents, a pick-up choir, musicians, young leadership and Learning Network participants
Storytelling
Learning network participants gathering off-line
Celebrating the rabbinical college’s 50th anniversary with stories, music and of course, cake
A Saturday night concert featuring Nefesh Mountain from Bnai Keshet and many other Reconstructionist musicians
An in-person meeting of the Plenum
Participating in workshops and special events with other Reconstructionists
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 email newsletters. Share this link with your community: http://bit.ly/ReconEmail
Archiving #MeToo
Reconstructing Judaism is partnering with the Jewish Women’s Archive to capture and preserve the #MeToo stories of Jewish women. Consider adding yours to this important communal record.
Reconstructionist Learning Networks connect leaders and members of affiliated Reconstructionist communities with RRC faculty, leading authors, social justice activists and Reconstructing Judaism staff. Network participants meet online to explore the issues that matter most to their community through case studies, texts and real-life challenges.
Networks are free for members and staff of affiliated communities, RRA members, RENA members and direct contributors. New networks starting in April include:
Camp Havaya (Pennsylvania) is an incredibly diverse and welcoming community where campers are encouraged to discover what being Jewish means to them—no matter who they are or where they come from. We hope you will share the video with your community. Camp Havaya will start on June 24. More information is available at CampHavaya.org.
Havaya Arts (California) is a high-quality arts and summer camp experience. Havaya Arts aims to be a joyful, welcoming and progressive Jewish community where campers grow as intentional artists and human beings. We hope you will share the video with your community. Havaya Arts will start on June 18. More information is available at HavayaArts.org.
Podcasts From Our Studio
We hope you will consider sharing the links to and explanations of these podcasts with your community.
Hashivenu is a podcast about Jewish teachings and practice around resilience. Cultivating resilience, both individually and collectively, is an essential path to personal renewal.
About Episode 9
The Book of Esther contains striking examples of women speaking out against oppression in ways that both empower and imperil them. Judith Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Archive, joins Rabbi Deborah Waxman to discuss parallels with the #MeToo movement.
How does Judaism intersect with contemporary culture and illuminate how people live their lives? Hosts Rachael Burgess and Bryan Schwartzman have a lot of questions, both profound and goofy.
About Episode 11
What does Judaism do and what it is for? What does it do for those who don’t feel compelled by God to live life according to Jewish law? Rabbi Maurice Harris, RRC '03, fields these questions and explains why he avoids “outing” himself as a rabbi while he’s a passenger on a commercial flight.
Reconstructing Judaism endorses and co-sponsors numerous petitions, public letters and statements from aligned organizations and also issues its own public statements on occasion. Here are the statements we have issued and public letters we have signed onto in the last month, either alone or jointly with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association:
J Street Conference: A Voice for Today, a Vision for Tomorrow
April 14-17
Washington, D.C.
Join us for a Reconstructionist breakfast meet-up at 8:30am on Sunday, April 15, at the J Street conference on the Israel/Palestine peace process.
Chesapeake Day of Learning
April 15
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Adat Shalom
7727 Persimmon Tree Lane
Bethesda, Md.
The program will begin with a choice of services, meditation and yoga followed by a keynote presentation by Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, RRC '82, on spiritual practices for the cultivating of character.
In the interactive portion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to work on their own most challenging trait using the Jewish practice of Mussar. The keynote will be followed by a choice of workshops presented by local and Reconstructing Judaism leaders.
The cost for this program is $18 per person. A box lunch will be provided.
Plenum Representatives, please expect further details from the Affiliate Support Department.
Reconstructionist Convention
Nov. 15-18
Philadelphia
This year's convention, titled "Rooted and Relevant: Reconstructing Judaism in 2018," will feature learning, singing, dancing, eating and praying. Early bird registration will open in late April. Check out the convention website for more information and click here to add the event to your calendar.
Recon Communities and Leaders in the News
Jewish Support for Dreamers: A Self-Evident Truth(Times of Israel): Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, executive director of the RRA, and Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president of Reconstructing Judaism, discuss the sacred value of supporting immigrants.
Signs of change for Shir Hadash(Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle):Shir Hadash, a Reconstructionist community in Milwaukee, now operates in close partnership with its host congregation, Plymouth Church.
AJC Expands Presence in Silicon Valley(American Jewish Committee): Serena Eisenberg, RRC '02, now directs the American Jewish Committee's northern California region.
Missed an issue of Leadership Brief or Reconstructing Judaism Today?
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 Reconstructing Judaism. If you would like us to add another member of your leadership to the list, please email rcohen@reconstructingjudaism.org.
