Rabbi Mira Wasserman, Ph.D., exemplifies the Reconstructionist approach to challenging Jewish texts by investigating how enslaved people are depicted in the sources.
According to Mordecai Kaplan’s teachings, which have long resonated with me and so many others, to be Jewish in America is to live simultaneously in two rich civilizations, the Jewish and the American civilizations, both full of promise and character-shaping values. To be Jewish in America is to draw deeply from both of these civilizations in order to contribute meaningfully to both of them. As deeply as Kaplan believed this, living it out was often challenging in his day. Increasingly, it is challenging in our day as well.
Jewish communities are embracing meaningful ways to support LGBTQ+ folks and foster inclusive spaces. Below, you’ll find resources and actions to honor Pride Month through a Jewish lens.
Originally published on The Times of Israel. How do we encourage a sense of belonging, of being part of a tribe, without descending into tribalism? How do we foster community life that is oriented inward and at the same time open to the wider world? How do we bridge differences
Today, a coalition of ten organizations representing a broad swath of mainstream American Jewry – including three of the four denominations – issued a joint statement rejecting the false choice between confronting antisemitism and upholding democracy. The organizations, which were brought together by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and include the Religious
Jewish communities are embracing meaningful ways to support transgender rights and foster inclusive spaces. Below, you’ll find resources and actions to honor Transgender Day of Visibility through a Jewish lens.
On Oct. 17, 2023, nine members of the faculty and faculty affiliates of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) were scheduled to gather over lunch. We were poised to begin a yearlong journey of anti-racist spiritual practice grounded in the teachings of mussar (Jewish ethical practice) and hasidut (mysticism).
CPE is a formal, accredited method for training students of all faiths in the art of being a spiritual caregiver. These programs reflect the growing professionalization of the field and are usually offered in healthcare facilities. Chaplains, though, can serve in many settings, including retirement communities, hospices, campuses and prisons, as well in the military and with police and fire departments.
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, RRC ‘90, was named to the BBC’s list of the world’s 100 most influential women. The recently retired spiritual leader of New York’s LGBTQ-oriented synagogue, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), was one of seven American women on the list.
Amanda Beckenstein Mbuvi, Ph.D., will teach on “Reading Torah as Family Stories” as part of the Global Day of Jewish Learning.
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
