Let's Journey Together
In an essay that appeared in Philadelphia’s Jewish Exponent, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., makes the case that Reconstructionist Judaism matters now more than ever.
Posted on July 7, 2017 by
Rabbi
Deborah Waxman
Ph.D.
"Where Was God?" - Lesson Plan On Natural Disasters and Parashat Noah
During disasters and their aftermaths, many people wonder about God’s role in their suffering. This lesson seeks to explore God’s role in tragedy from a Jewish Reconstructionist perspective. This lesson is intended for children ages 8-12.
Posted on March 29, 2017 by
Rabbi
Nicole Wilson-Spiro
How Can Reconstructionists Pray?
How does a non-supernatural notion of God fit together with the practice of prayer? Rabbi Jacob Staub explores their intersection.
Posted on March 29, 2017 by
Rabbi
Jacob Staub
Ph.D.
Nothing Neutral About It: Inspired by Reconstructionist Judaism in Switzerland
Paul Piwnicki, a Polish-born, German-raised scientist and Jew-by-choice, credits Reconstructionist thought with helping him develop a personal theology and practice. Piwnicki’s story highlights the influence of Reconstructionist ideas and thinkers, even in countries lacking Reconstructionist congregations.
Posted on March 16, 2017 by
Bryan Schwartzman
If God Is Good, Why Do Pain and Suffering Exist?
The question is an old and venerable one: If God is good, and God is all-knowing, and God is all-powerful, then why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Rabbi Jacob Staub explores this longstanding question.
Posted on February 10, 2017 by
Rabbi
Jacob Staub
Ph.D.
Light Through The Cracks
Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on finding spiritual equilibrium in a time of shifting sands.
Posted on February 1, 2017 by
Rabbi
Deborah Waxman
Ph.D.
Liturgy and Prayer Leadership: Distance Learning Session
This distance learning conference call explores the dynamics of worship and the human impulse to pray, some of the deep structures of Jewish prayer services, and specifically Reconstructionist liturgy.
Posted on January 30, 2017 by
Rabbi
Shawn Zevit
Reconstructionism Explained
What is Reconstructionist Judaism? Its essence is contained in the phrase, “Judaism is the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people.” Unpacking this phrase, we find five simple keys to understanding the philosophy and beliefs of Reconstructionist Judaism.
Posted on December 9, 2016 by
Rabbi
Steven Carr Reuben
Ph.D.
A Hasidic Lens on Parashat Bo
In this short talk, Rabbi Lester Bronstein brings 18th and 19th-century Hasidic thought into dialogue with contemporary Reconstructionist theology.
Posted on December 1, 2016 by
Rabbi
Les Bronstein
A New Approach to the Rules Shaping Shabbat Practice
Congregation B’nai Israel in Willimantic, Connecticut underwent a long communal Reconstructionist process to decide on congregational rules for Shabbat practice. This is the result.
Posted on December 1, 2016 by
Rabbi
Jeremy Schwartz
Yigdal: A Reconstructionist Examination
Yigdal, one of the most beloved of the medieval piyyutim (liturgical poems) summarizes the thirteen principles of the Jewish faith as formulated by Moses Maimonides (RaMBaM; late 12th century C.E.). 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. How might a Reconstructionist interpret the words of Yigdal in this way?
Posted on November 30, 2016 by
Rabbi
Leila Berner
Ph.D.
Exploration of God Beliefs: A Teen Program
This pilot program for Jewish teen education provides several activities for exploring and sharing beliefs about God.
Posted on November 30, 2016 by
Rabbi
Jeffrey Schein