Rabbi Josh Waxman, RRC '03, has been Or Hadash's rabbi for 13 years.
Rabbi Saul Oresky, RRC '13, will be installed at Mishkan Torah on Dec. 17.
We are happy to share your community's milestones, achievements and successes. Email Rosa Cohen at rcohen@rrc.edu to be included in the next Leadership Brief or Reconstructionism Today.
New Resources
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:
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
We are thrilled to announce the Reconstructionist movement’s upcoming trip to Israel from March 7-15, 2018. This trip will focus on art, music and politics, delving deep into the complexity of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We invite you to share the itinerary and registration form with your community.
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, 2018. 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, 2018. More information is available at HavayaArts.org.
Podcasts From Our Studio
RRC/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities built a professional podcast studio to launch two podcast series: Hashivenu and #Trending Jewish. We hope you will consider sharing the links and explanations to 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.
In the latest episode, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum reflects on the extraordinary work of her community, and how it embodies the fundamental connection between spiritual life and social activism. Click here to listen.
How does Judaism intersect with contemporary culture and illuminate how people live their lives? Hosts Rachael Burgess and Bryan Schwartzman don’t profess to have answers, just a lot of questions—some profound and some rather goofy.
In the latest episode, Bryan and Rachael discuss the relevance of Jewish blessings with Rabbi David Teutsch, Ph.D., and storyteller/puppeteer Marilyn Price. Click here to listen.
Public Positions on Current Matters
In addition to endorsing and co-sponsoring numerous petitions, public letters and statements from aligned organizations, RRC/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities issues its own public statements on several issues. Here are the statements we have issued and public letters we have signed onto since October, either alone or jointly with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association:
Reconstructionist Weekend
Jan. 19-21, 2018
Or Shalom Jewish Community
625 Brotherhood Way
San Francisco
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president of Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, will speak about "Reconstructionism and Resilience" at an evening reception at Or Shalom. The weekend will also feature Friday night services, the second San Francisco Women's March, and a discussion about current events. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lillian Markind at admin@orshalom.org.
LGBT Spirituality & Spiritual Violence Mini Series
Feb. 5, 2018, 7 p.m.
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
522 W. Maple St.
Allentown, Penn.
The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center's LGBT Spirituality & Spiritual Violence Mini-Series will begin with a presentation by Rabbi Deborah Waxman. The mini-series will be moderated by Rev. Beth Goudy and funded by E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. Click here to RSVP.
Reconstructionist Convention
Nov. 15-18, 2018
Philadelphia
This year's convention, titled "Rooted and Relevant: A 2018 Reconstructionist Conversation," will feature learning, singing, dancing, eating and praying. We hope you will encourage your clergy, congregants, board leaders and staff to attend. Click here to add the event to your calendar.
Welcome the Stranger Both Within and Outside Ourselves (Jewish Exponent): Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, RRC '86, explores the path of lovingkindness in Judaism through biblical stories about offering hospitality to strangers.
Ultra-Busy Leader Stops to Gain Perspective (Jeducation World): Cyd Weissman, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Impact at RRC/JRC, interviews Avi Deutsch, a successful Jewish entrepreneur.
How to Reach Us:
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 Taryn Wyron, Assistant Director of Affiliate Support and Tikkun Olam Specialist; twyron@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 107 Dara Galtman, Affiliate Support Assistant; dgaltman@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 131 Rosa Cohen, Editor of Leadership Brief and Reconstructionism Today;rcohen@rrc.edu; 215.576.0800, ext. 120
Our business hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. EST
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.
