Reconstructing Judaism
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983) chose the name “Reconstructionism” in the 1920s to communicate that Judaism itself—its structure, beliefs, rituals, customs and culture—must be “reconstructed” in each generation to renew its relevance and ensure its sustainability. We are proud to carry on Kaplan’s legacy of grounded, purposeful and brave innovation.
Reconstructionists approach Judaism—and life—with deep consideration of the past and a passion to relate it to the present. Applying our understanding of Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people, we draw from the rich wellsprings of Jewish tradition to face the challenges and opportunities of the current moment.
In keeping with that evolution, in 1922, Kaplan’s daughter, Judith, was the first young woman in America to become a bat mitzvah. Reconstructionism grew into the fourth movement in North American Judaism (along with Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform) with the founding of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1968. Following Kaplan’s lead, we continually work to expand the boundaries of the Jewish community without watering down what it means to be Jewish.
Reconstructionists hold diverse ideas about God, but we share an emphasis on Godliness –those hopes, beliefs, and values within us that impel us to work for a better world, that give us strength and solace in times of need, that challenge us to grow, and that deepen our joy in moments of celebration. Reconstructionist prayerbooks speak of God beyond male/female gender concepts and the traditional metaphor of “king of the universe.” For example, in our prayerbooks, God is addressed as, among other things, “The Healer,” “The Teacher,” “The Comforter,” and “The Presence.” We are engaged in the spiritual adventure of discovering the many attributes of the one God.
A Reconstructionist approach is infused by commitments to:
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Learning from the vast storehouse of Jewish wisdom and practice while understanding that the past has a vote, not a veto;
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Openness to insights from contemporary society, especially democratic practice and commitments to advancing equity;
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Thinking, dreaming and making decisions in conversation with community—the community gathered around us today, the voices of our ancestors, and, as best as we can anticipate, the needs and aspirations of the communities of tomorrow;
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Feeling empowered to reconstruct and co-create rituals, practices, texts and more in order to build the Jewish community we want to live in
To be a Reconstructionist, you need not subscribe to a particular position on Israel and Palestine — or any other issue. What is needed is a “capacity to center relationships and to build covenantal community across differences.”
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Reconstructionism helps individuals find and create their own pathways toward meaningful Jewish living. Reconstructionist communities share and create new ways of being Jewish to connect us to the divine and to each other and to ensure our lives are filled with purpose.
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We believe that we find our humanity most powerfully in communal conversation. We are clear that the Jewish community must make space for all individuals in our fullness and that in doing so, the community itself will be continually renewed and remade.