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News and Blogs

Principles for a Full Year of Love and Caring

The calendar says the school year should end. However, many Jewish educators, witnessing the effects of the pandemic on their students, and now civic unrest, are challenging the calendar’s norms. Instead of closing down the year, they are asking, “How might we continue to engage our students through the summer?”

News
News and Blogs

With Training and Funding From RRC, Reconstructionist Rabbis and Rabbinical Students Engage Those Seeking Connection and Meaning

Reconstructing Judaism’s support of entrepreneurship gives rabbinical students and recent graduates the funding, supervision and mentorship to turn ideas into reality. “For me, the big story is that Jews remain seekers of meaning and community. What our Auerbach grants do is create new portals for Jewish community and meaning,” said Cyd Weissman, Reconstructing Judaism’s vice president for Innovation and Impact.

News
News and Blogs

Teaching Resilience to Children

As more and more places of worship become vulnerable to hate crimes and gun violence and we increase security measures, young people are particularly traumatized. One congregation has created a mental health and resilience curriculum for its students. 

News
News and Blogs

Reconstructionist Educators of North America: An Overview

Learn more about Reconstructionist Educators of North America, a vital resource for professional development, mentorship and connection for Jewish educators in Reconstructionist communities.

News
News and Blogs

How Judaism Elevates Modern Discourse: The Topic at the Table for Chesapeake Day of Learning

The 2018 Chesapeake Day of Learning addressed difficult conversations in progressive Jewish communities.

News

Surviving in the One-Room Schoolhouse

In this classic article, Rabbi Julie Greenberg explores successful mixed-age classrooms in Jewish schools. 

Article

Hashkiveinu, Prayer and Connection: A Lesson for Use With Siddur Kol Hano'ar

This lesson helps children and adults delve into the meaning and feeling of the Hashkiveinu prayer.

Document

The Four Children Count the Omer

A classroom activity framing the Counting of the Omer in the content of the Four Children of the Passover seder.

Article

Educating Future Jews: Jewish-Americans or American Jews?

Should children receiving conflicting, non-Jewish, religious education be allowed to enroll in a synagogue school? This question is at core about the differences between how the individual is seen by the community, his status, and how the individual sees herself, her identity

Article

The Life of Reconstructionist Educators in the Digital Age

This short article reflects on the challenges and opportunities presented by digital technology in Reconstructionist education. 

Document

A Child's Biography of Mordecai Kaplan

This short biography of Mordecai Kaplan is written for children from 5th to 9th grade.

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Kaplanian Report Card: An Evaluation Tool for Jewish Education

This evaluation tool provides a rubric for assessing the contemporary state of Jewish education

Document

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Education Series

This three-part family education series addresses issues related to bar/bat mitzvah. It is designed for a large group of parents and students and uses active learning exercises. It covers issues around Jewish identity, the meaning of bar/bat mitzvah, and common concerns that parents and students have about the process.

Document

Jewish Peoplehood: Educational Resources

Rabbi Jeffrey Schein has created this suite of educational resources on Jewish peoplehood, under the auspices of the Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood.

Video

Mishnah Impossible

This is a hands-on, team activity for the week before Sukkot that allows students to build sukkot according to instructions given in the Mishnah.

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