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  1. Reconstructionist Torah Blessings

    The traditional blessing before reading from the Torah contains the phrase אֲשֶׁר בָּֽחַר בָּֽנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים (asher bakhar banu mikol ha’amim) — “Praised are you Lord our God, ruler of the Universe, who has chosen us from among all peoples by giving us the Torah.”  The Reconstructionist version of that phrase is rewritten as אֲשֶׁר קֵרְבָנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ (asher kervanu la’avodato), “who has drawn us to your service by giving us the Torah.” This change preserves the notion of Torah as our unique and prec

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/video/reconstructionist-blessing-torah-reading

    Posted on: 2016/06/16 - 5:06pm

  2. Peoplehood Educational Gifts from Kaplan Center

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

     

    The resources include:

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/video/jewish-peoplehood-educational-resources

    Posted on: 2016/06/28 - 10:41am

  3. Jacob Staub KI Talk on Reconstructionism

    In this talk given at Congregation Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, California, Rabbi Jacob Staub explores what makes Reconstructionist communities unique. Selected quotes follow. The entire call transcript is available at the bottom of this page. 

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/spoken-audio/what-makes-reconstructionist-congregation-different

    Posted on: 2016/10/28 - 1:11am

  4. Maoz Tzur from original Recon siddur

    This revision of a familiar Hanukkah song was published in the 1945 Reconstructionist siddur. The original text was amended to address ethical concerns raised by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan - specifically, the first verse is changed so that instead of anticipating God “preparing the slaughter of the blaspheming foe,” we look forward to the end of slaughter and the stilling of the sound of battle. See attached for the Hebrew and (non-literal, but poetic) translation.

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/revised-maoz-tzur-early-reconstructionist-siddur

    Posted on: 2016/11/17 - 2:54pm

  5. Why We Need Process Theology

    What is “process theology”? Rabbi Toba Spitzer argues that it offers ways to think and talk about God that make sense in a modern scientific framework, that resonate with Jewish texts and traditions, and that promote wise and ethical behavior. 

    This article originally appeared in CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, Winter 2012. Copyright by Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/why-we-need-process-theology

    Posted on: 2016/11/18 - 8:21am

  6. Child's Biography of Mordecai Kaplan

    This short biography of Mordecai Kaplan is written for children from 5th to 9th grade. It also has proved useful for adult education classes for a brief review of Kaplan’s life before delving into other topics of Kaplanian or Reconstructionist thought. It is accompanied by study questions that might guide your exploration of the meaning of the value of Kaplan’s life and work after having read the story.

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/childs-biography-mordecai-kaplan

    Posted on: 2016/11/30 - 1:25pm

  7. Teen Exercise: Exploration of God Beliefs

    This pilot program for Jewish teen education provides several activities for exploring and sharing beliefs about God. Originally written in anticipation of the 2016-2017 school year, this experimental program can be used in a variety of settings and times of year. 

    This resource is part of a package of educational resources on Jewish peoplehood kindly provided by the Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood

     

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/exploration-god-beliefs-teen-program

    Posted on: 2016/11/30 - 1:29pm

  8. Yigdal Reconstructionist Text Study

    Yigdal, one of the most beloved of the medieval piyyutim (liturgical poems), appears as an opening hymn in the daily morning service. Yigdal summarizes the thirteen principles of the Jewish faith as formulated by Moses Maimonides (RaMBaM; late 12th century C.E.) in his Mishnah commentary on Sanhedrin 10:1.
     
    Reconstructionists often proudly assert that when we pray with a Reconstructionist siddur, we feel that we can 'say what we mean and mean what we say,' because our liturgical language reflects Reconstructionist theology.

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/yigdal-reconstructionist-examination

    Posted on: 2016/11/30 - 2:00pm

  9. The Reconstructionist Revolution (PEARL call, Jane Litman)

    In this hour-long conference call, Rabbi Jane Litman presents an overview of the revolutionary ideas that underlie the first century of Reconstructionist Judaism.

    Selected quotes follow. The entire call transcript is available at the bottom of this page. 

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/spoken-audio/reconstructionist-revolution-foundational-ideas

    Posted on: 2016/11/30 - 6:51pm

  10. New Approach to Shabbat Practice (Schwartz)

    Congregation B'nai Israel in Willimantic, Connecticut underwent a long communal Reconstructionist process to decide on congregational rules for Shabbat practice. This newsletter article documents that process, and explains the values weighed and the eventual outcome that was reached. This document can serve as an exemplar for Values Based Decision Making on other topics as well. 

    https://archive.reconstructingjudaism.org/document/new-approach-rules-shaping-shabbat-practice

    Posted on: 2016/12/01 - 1:41pm

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