21. Reconstructionist Judaism reconstructionist judaism. The children of Jews who came to America in the immigration Other books that express Reconstructionist approaches to Judaism http://www.shamayim.org/Reconstructionist Judaism.html

Reconstructionist Judaism The children of Jews who came to America in the immigration wave of 1880-1920 wondered how to reconcile their European heritage with the wide-open atmosphere in America. It was the insight of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionism, that Judaism could do well by incorporating the American ideals of equality, democracy and inclusivity. Theological perspectives that flourished in traditional hierarchical societies needed to be reconstructed to speak in a society where authority derived from the people and where one's religious or ethnic identity was not in principle a barrier to full economic and political participation. Reconstructionism is a Jewish embrace of and response to American democratic society. It is a Jewish approach that takes America seriously, both by bringing Jewish perspectives to bear on social issues, and by incorporating the best of American values into Judaism. Reconstructionism is a "bottom-up" approach to Judaism. It begins with the experiences of the Jewish people. It speaks less of revelation and more of discovery. It emphasizes connection, opportunity and responsibility over commandment. Reconstructionists envision a maximalist liberal Judaism that serves as a rich source of spiritual self-expression and moral challenge in the ways Jews conduct their lives. Reconstructionism defines Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people Evolving means that Judaism has changed over the millennia of its existence. Reconstructionists seek to nurture this evolution. We see it as the lifeblood of Judaism, allowing it to continue as a dynamic tradition that speaks to the changes in Jewish life: renewed Jewish statehood, the global village, the environmental crisis, new and different family structures, the evolving relationships of men and women.

22. BBC - Religion & Ethics - Reconstructionist Judaism An explanation of reconstructionist judaism, an American Jewish movement. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/subdivisions/reconst/

@import url('/includes/tbenh.css') ; Home TV Radio Talk ... A-Z Index THURSDAY 8th September 2005 Text only BBC Homepage Religions Judaism ... Help Like this page? Send it to a friend! Judaism Subdivisions Printable version of this page Reconstructionist Judaism Introduction Reconstructionist Judaism was founded in America in the last century. Basic beliefs It says Judaism is characterised by the Jewish civilisation , not beliefs. Religious civilisation 'Religious civilisation' means the knowledge and culture of a people. God Reconstructionists think of God as a force, not a being. God-talk However, they sometimes speak in terms of knowing or feeling God. Community Belonging to a Jewish community is more important than believing. Reconstructionist worship Prayer is regarded as important for the individual and community. Top Further Reading A-Z of world religions Choose Atheism Baha'i Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Jainism Judaism Mormon Paganism Rastafari Shinto Sikhism Unitarianism Zoroastrianism Have your say Newsletter Living Related Links BBC Further reading on Reconstructionist Judaism World Service - Types of Judaism Non-BBC Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Reconstructionist Rabbinical College The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

23. BBC - Religion & Ethics - Reconstructionist Judaism Worship Reconstructionist worship includes Hebrew and English, men and women. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/subdivisions/reconst/worship.sht

@import url('/includes/tbenh.css') ; Home TV Radio Talk ... A-Z Index THURSDAY 8th September 2005 Text only BBC Homepage Religions Judaism ... Help Like this page? Send it to a friend! Judaism Subdivisions Page 7 of 7 Printable version of this page Worship Reconstructionist worship uses both Hebrew and English. Men and women can play an equal part in services. In line with the reconstructionist approach to religion, worship, prayer and rituals are not seen as unchanging practices that God has commanded the Jews to carry out. Instead, they are ceremonies that the Jewish people have devised over time to aid their religious lives. Kaplan referred to these Jewish religious observances as "religious folkways designed to ensure the enhancement of the value of Jewish life". Prayer Reconstructionists don't believe that they must pray in order to comply with religious law, but they do regard prayer as being very important, because it is a way of finding and expressing meaning and values. Since there is no God who actually hears or answers prayer, the effect of prayer is the change that it brings about in the person doing the praying, or in the praying community as a whole. Prayer serves many purposes: prayer reinforces values prayer creates community and brings the community together prayer connects the individual with other Jewish people prayer connects the individual to history prayer acknowledges that human beings are not all-powerful prayer deepens spiritual lives prayer increases connection with God (or with godliness)

24. Who Is A Reconstructionist Jew? About reconstructionist judaism Events News Shabbat Holidays Reconstructionists define Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the http://www.nvrc.net/recon.htm

Home Rabbi's Corner About Reconstructionist Judaism Events ... Search Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community Who is a Reconstructionist Jew? Adapted from the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation website. A Reconstructionist Jew has strong commitments both to tradition and to the search for contemporary meaning. Reconstructionists encourage all Jews to enhance their own lives by reclaiming our shared heritage and becoming active participants in the building of the Jewish future. The Evolving Religious Civilization of the Jewish People Reconstructionists define Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people. By "evolving" we mean that Judaism has changed over the centuries of its existence. The faith of the ancient Israelites in the days of Solomon's Temple was not the same as that of the early rabbis. And neither of those faiths was the same as that of our more recent ancestors from around the world. Each generation of Jews has subtly reshaped the faith and traditions of the Jewish people. Reconstructionist Jews seek to nurture this evolution. We see it as the lifeblood of Judaism, the power that allows Judaism to continue as a dynamic tradition in every age. For more information about the Reconstructionist movement, please visit the

25. Kol Ami: The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community About reconstructionist judaism offers a very brief introduction to We offer books about reconstructionist judaism, Reconstructionist prayer books, http://www.nvrc.net/

Home Rabbi's Corner About Reconstructionist Judaism Events ... Search Welcome to Kol Ami: The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community HURRICANE KATRINA Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this disaster Donate ELUL WORKSHOP NEW OFFERINGS ADULT JEWISH EDUCATION WORKSHOPS Shabbat Ba-Bayit/Shabbos Kum Sitz/Hanging out on Shabbat SEPTEMBER MESSAGE FROM RABBI LEILA GAL BERNER Our most recent simcha From left to right: Melissa, Madison, Dr. Ruth (service leader), and Rachel Kol Ami has really come of age now. We celebrated the B’nei Mitzvah of our first group of “children” on August 13, 2005. It was truly a beautiful event as Melissa, Madison, and Rachel were called to the Torah by Dr. Richard Ruth. Yasher Koach to the three new adults in our community! Here are some comments from members and guests about the B’nei Mitzvah: “My friends and family all were overwhelmed by the warmth and beauty of our service. To a person, regardless of their faith, all commented that they had never experienced such a wonderful service, even in their own congregations. They felt what I felt from the moment I set foot into Kol Ami, and that makes my spirits soar! Thank you to Richard, Jim, and Rich for showing 200 more people how wonderful our community is.” “I want to congratulate Rachel, Melissa and Madison on the great job they did at their Bat/Bar Mitzvah. It was such a delight to see all their hard work pay off. Richard and Jim led a warm, welcoming and meaningful service. For such a small congregation we have accomplished so much and I am very happy to be part of such a supportive and loving community.”

26. WUJS - World Union Of Jewish Students A collection of articles, materials and links to help Jewish Students learn reconstructionist judaism. http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/learning/judaism/recon.shtml

About Us Congress History WUJS Links ... Help WUJS Reconstructionist Judaism Position on God Reconstructionism affirms that belief in God is more central to Jewish religion than a specific conception of God. Reconstructionist Judaism affirms a conception of God as the power or process within the world that makes for salvation, or human self fulfillment. Reconstructionism identifies life enriching and life sustaining attributes as godly, worthy of emulation as we strive to make the most of our lives and improve the world. Humans must transform into actuality the potential divinity in the world by acting in consonance with those processes and forces which bring order out of chaos, and lead to moral improvement on both the individual and collective level. Religion today must be naturalistic, that is, people must regard themselves as able to experience the divine within the world as they know it. Today, miracles, revelations, visions, all theurgic manifestations are considered either figments of the imagination or products of febrile minds. Indeed the whole so-called death of God question is simply a restatement of the challenges to supernaturallism by supernaturalists. When they say God is dead they are merely using Nietzsche's famous remark to express the thought that the word God ahs become meaningless insofar as it is still associated with supernaturalism.(Ira Eisenstein) Position on Jewish Law Ritual is an essential part of Jewish civilization. Religious observance provides a means toward spiritual fulfillment, increased social concern and family and community unity. Traditional forms of prayer or ritual that are objectionable should be abandoned or reinterpreted in a way consistent with modern thought. Reconstructionism retains many traditional prayers and rituals but also experiments with innovative practices and new forms of prayer. For instance, Reconstructionism has almost uniformly rejected the mention of choseness in prayer. Some new forms of blessing reject the traditional formula Blessed are you, Lord our God in favour of Let us bless the source of life which deemphasises the hierachy and gender specifivity of the original.

27. Reconstructionist Judaism Table Of Contents Cyber encyclopedia of Jewish history and culture that covers everything from antiSemitism to Zionism. It includes a glossary, bibliography of web sites and http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/recon.html

Reconstructionist Judaism The First American Bat Mitzvah Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan The Thirteen Wants Who is a Reconstructionist Jew?

28. MyJewishLearning.com - History & Community: Reconstructionist Judaism Reconstructionism The Fourth Denomination Reconstructionism, the brainchild of the great twentieth century Jewish philosopher Mordecai Kaplan, http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Modern/ModernReligionCulture/M

Reconstructionism: The Fourth Denomination Reconstructionism, the brainchild of the great twentieth century Jewish philosopher Mordecai Kaplan, was not originally designed to be a denomination. The following article is reprinted from the American Jewish Historical Society’s American Jewish Desk Reference: The Ultimate One Volume Reference to the Jewish Experience in America , published by Random House. Judaism as a Civilization: Early Reconstructionist Thought The smallest of the four branches of American Judaism, Reconstructionism, originated in the philosophy of one individual—Mordecai Kaplan. Kaplan believed that Judaism was a “religious civilization” emerging from the history and culture of the Jewish people. As a “civilization” it was constantly evolving, and it was the goal of Jewish thinkers at any given time to interpret Judaism in the light of contemporary life and thought without abandoning its traditional values. The beginning of Reconstructionism can be dated to 1922, when Kaplan founded the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, a synagogue in New York City. Kaplan gathered Jews who were disaffected with other congregations and committed to “reconstructing” American Judaism so that it spoke more meaningfully to the twentieth-century world. Synagogue members were encouraged to interpret Jewish tradition freely and to create a more democratic institutional life. Kaplan rejected the notion that the Torah and the Talmud had been revealed by God at

29. MyJewishLearning.com - History & Community: Reconstructionist Judaism Reconstructionism for the 21st Century reconstructionist judaism matures under new leadership. By Debra Nussbaum Cohen The following article is reprinted http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Jewish_World_Today/Denominatio

Reconstructionism for the 21st Century Reconstructionist Judaism matures under new leadership. By Debra Nussbaum Cohen The following article is reprinted with permission from the January 18, 2002 edition of The Jewish Week A new generation of leaders On a cold and drizzly January day, Rabbi David Teutsch sits in his windowed corner office at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College [RRC] a satisfied man. Today the seminary's endowment stands at $12 million, nearly six times what it was when Rabbi Teutsch became president of RRC in 1993. Currently 90 students are studying to be rabbis or cantors, up 50 percent over the number when he started, and the board of directors recently approved plans to expand that to 120 students. It is a good time for him to leave. Rabbi Teutsch has resigned from the presidency to return to what he loves most: studying, writing and teaching. He will be doing those things, as well as heading a revitalized and expanded Center for Jewish Ethics, at RRC. His newly named successor is Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, who has for 13 years led Congregation Bnai Keshet, in Montclair, N.J. When he moves from Montclair to Wyncote, he'll be bringing with him   a fresh set of ambitions for the seminary. The second generation: new confidence and new institutions Rabbi Ehrenkrantz, 40, is the first graduate of RRC to become its president. That, along with several other key developments, marks this as a watershed moment for the smallest and youngest of American Jewry's religious movements.

30. Reconstructionist Judaism Jewish Social Studies reconstructionist judaism Learn about the history and beliefs of reconstructionist judaism from WUJS A brief look at reconstructionist judaism. http://www.archaeolink.com/reconstructionist_judaism_jewish.htm

Reconstructionist Judaism Home Christianity Buddhism Islam ... Worldwide Church of God Other Jewish Resources Conservative General Resources Orthodox Reconstructionist ... Reform The links provided here are for the purpose of having online material where you can learn what each faith has to say about itself. While these links are not about "religious anthropology" itself, having a knowledge of what each faith believes can be an important tool in many studies of the anthropology of religion. In the review annotations, I will let the site speak for itself as much as possible. Please Note: If you sometimes get an error message when clicking on a large text link, don't give up. Try the URL link instead. There are times when the large text link doesn't "take" for some reason, thus the built-in redundancy. Thank you. Jewish Reconstructionist Federation You will find a huge website covering many aspects of reconstructionist Judaism. Articles, events, history, audio resources, educational materials, congregational resources and much, much more. - From Jewish Reconstructionist Federation - http://www.jrf.org/

31. Reconstructionist Judaism - Definition Of Reconstructionist Judaism In Encyclope Main article Jew Jewish religion Etymology of Jew · Who is a Jew? Jewish leadership · Jewish culture Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi (German and E. http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Reconstructionist_Judaism

Add to Favorites General Encyclopedia Legal ... Law forum Search Word: Visit our Law forums Labor Law Accidents Law Bankruptcy Law Business Law ... Tax Law Main article: Jew Jewish religion Etymology of "Jew" Who is a Jew? ... Ashkenazi (German and E. Europe) Mizrahi (Arab and Oriental) Sephardi (Iberian) Temani Beta Israel Jewish populations Israel ... Jewish languages Hebrew: Biblical Modern Aramaic Yiddish ... Reform Reconstructionist Karaite Jewish political movements Zionism Labor General Revisionist ... Modern Reconstructionist Judaism is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: The belief that an individual's personal autonomy generally overrides traditional Jewish law and custom , yet also holding that one's practices must take into account communal consensus. This leads to a somewhat more traditional set of observances than seen in Reform Judaism A positive attitude toward modern culture The belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well as modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to learn about and from Jewish religious texts. A non-fundamentalist method of teaching about Jewish principles of faith , along with the belief that no Jew needs to accept all, or any, principles of faith.

32. Jewish Philosophy - Definition Of Jewish Philosophy In Encyclopedia Classical Judaism saw the development of a brand of Jewish philosophy drawing on reconstructionist judaism philosophers. See reconstructionist judaism. http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Jewish_philosophy

Add to Favorites General Encyclopedia Legal ... Law forum Search Word: Visit our Law forums Labor Law Accidents Law Bankruptcy Law Business Law ... Tax Law Jewish philosophy is the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish Torah thought. Early Jewish philosophy was heavily influenced by the philosophy of Plato Aristotle and Islamic philosophy . Many early medieval Jewish philosophers (from the 8th century to end of the 9th century ) were especially influenced by the Islamic Motazilites; they denied all limiting attributes of God and were champions of God's unity and justice. Over time Aristotle came to be thought of as the philosopher par excellence among Jewish thinkers. This tendency was no less marked in the Islamic, the Christian Byzantine and the Latin-Christian schools of thought. Contents showTocToggle("show","hide") 1 Karaite philosophy 2 Avicebron, Solomon ibn Gabirol 3 Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah 4 Saadia Gaon ... Karaite philosophy A sect which rejects the Rabbinical Works, Karaism , developed its own form of philosophy, a Jewish version of the Islamic Kalâm. Early Karaites based their philosophy on the Islamic Motazilite Kalâm ; some later Karaites, such as Aaron ben Elijah of Nicomedia (fourteenth century), reverts, in his

33. Reconstructionist Judaism - Enpsychlopedia reconstructionist judaism is a denomination of Judaism characterized by As in Reform Judaism, reconstructionist judaism holds that personal autonomy http://psychcentral.com/psypsych/Reconstructionist_Judaism

home resource directory disorders quizzes ... support forums Reconstructionist Judaism Jews and Judaism Jewish religion Etymology of "Jew" Who is a Jew? ... Reform Reconstructionist Karaite Jewish political movements Zionism Labor General Revisionist ... "New" Reconstructionist Judaism is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: the belief that an individual's personal autonomy generally overrides traditional Jewish law and custom , yet also holding that one's practices must take into account communal consensus. This leads to a somewhat more traditional set of observances than seen in Reform Judaism a positive attitude toward modern culture the belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well as modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to learn about and from Jewish religious texts. a non-fundamentalist method of teaching about Jewish principles of faith , along with the belief that no Jew needs to accept all, or any, principles of faith. the rejection of the belief that the Jews are a chosen people , as well as the rejection of all miracles and theism Contents showTocToggle("show","hide")

34. Reconstructionist Judaism -- Facts, Info, And Encyclopedia Article reconstructionist judaism. Categories reconstructionist judaism reconstructionist judaism is a denomination of (The monotheistic religion of the Jews http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/r/re/reconstructionist_judaism.htm

Reconstructionist Judaism [Categories: Reconstructionist Judaism] Reconstructionist Judaism is a denomination of (The monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud) Judaism characterized by: the belief that an individual's personal autonomy generally overrides (Click link for more info and facts about traditional Jewish law and custom) traditional Jewish law and custom , yet also holding that one's practices must take into account communal consensus. This leads to a somewhat more traditional set of observances than seen in (The most liberal Jews; Jews who do not follow the Talmud strictly but try to adapt all of the historical forms of Judaism to the modern world) Reform Judaism a positive attitude toward (A typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes) modern (A particular society at a particular time and place) culture the belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well as modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to learn about and from Jewish religious texts. a non-fundamentalist method of teaching about (Click link for more info and facts about Jewish principles of faith) Jewish principles of faith , along with the belief that no Jew needs to accept all, or any, principles of faith.

35. Congregation Beit Tikvah, A Reconstructionist Jewish Community In Baltimore reconstructionist judaism is respectful of traditional Jewish observances reconstructionist judaism has always been open to new approaches to thinking http://www.beittikvah.org/reconstruction/

Reconstructionist Judaism Information courtesy of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Reconstructionist Judaism is ... Judaism as the Culture of the Jewish People Community as Cornerstone ... MORE RECONSTRUCTIONIST JUDAISM IS ... a progressive, contemporary approach to Jewish life which integrates a deep respect for traditional Judaism with the insights and ideas of contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual life. Judaism as the Culture of the Jewish People For Reconstructionists, Judaism is more than Jewish religion; Judaism is the entire cultural legacy of the Jewish people. Religion is central; Jewish spiritual insights and religious teachings give meaning and purpose to our lives. Yet our creativity as expressed through art, music and drama, languages and literature, and our relationship with the land of Israel itself are also integral parts of Jewish culture. Each of these aspects provides a gateway into the Jewish experience that can enrich and inspire us.

36. Reconstructionist Judaism@Everything2.com reconstructionist judaism. printable version chaos As an Atheist, I sometimes wish I were Jewish Reform Judaism Jews for Jesus bat mitzvah http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Reconstructionist Judaism

37. Darchei Noam: Reconstructionist Judaism photo of book Exploring Judaism A Reconstructionist approach Reconstructionism was reconstructionist judaism strongly emphasizes the humanistic and http://www.darcheinoam.on.ca/reconstructionism.html

Reconstructionist Judaism An evolving religious civilization The central idea of Reconstructionism is that Judaism is more than a religion in the narrow sense but is a complete religious civilization, with its own art, music, literature, culture, and folk-ways - as well as religious rituals, ethics, and philosophical and theological discourse. Like all civilizations, Judaism is, and has always been, an evolving set of beliefs and practices. Reconstructionism was founded by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983), with a view to revitalizing Judaism in the modern world. Each generation of Jews is charged with the responsibility for envisioning the Judaism of its own time, and fashioning it anew out of inherited traditions and the record of its own experience. Reconstructionist Judaism strongly emphasizes the humanistic and naturalistic values in historical Judaism, and it places them in a context that reflects contemporary social conscience, philosophy, science, and the quest for spirituality. A work in progress You may not realize it, but you are probably familiar with many ideas of Reconstructionist Judaism. They are woven into the fabric of Jewish life in North America through their influence on the other Jewish movements. These links may help you explore these ideas:

38. Congregational Resource Guide Report: Movement Organizations: Reconstructionist Jewish Reconstructionist Federation As an educational association and clearinghouse for reconstructionist judaism, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation http://www.congregationalresources.org/JRG/JRG3.3.asp

Home Page Background Philosophy Methodology ... Feedback Resources for and from Jewish Congregations Movement Organizations: Reconstructionist One of the great challenges faced by the Reconstructionist Movement is to continue its growth. As the newest of the movements, its institutions are still growing in ways the other movements no longer do. This allows for much creative thought and new approaches to Jewish life. The Reconstructionists’ report on the role of the rabbi is a prime example of their innovative approaches and thinking. Jewish Reconstructionist Federation As an educational association and clearinghouse for Reconstructionist Judaism, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation assists Reconstructionist congregations and havurot as well as individuals seeking to learn more about the movement. Educational offerings include the recently revised Reconstructionist Educator's Study Packet and a curriculum resource guide. The federation also develops and presents seminar programs on aspects of congregational development for leaders of affiliated congregations and havurot. The JRF’s publications catalog features music offerings, the book Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach , and some key position papers on topics ranging from homosexuality and Judaism to the rabbi-congregation relationship. A key publication is the JRF quarterly

39. Reconstructionist Judaism reconstructionist judaism is theoretically an outgrowth of Conservative, Additional Reading on Judaism Part VI reconstructionist judaism Last Change http://www.chabadpoway.org/reconstructionist-judaism.html

Your browser does not support frames. We recommend upgrading your browser. Click here to enter the site.

40. Feminist Ideas In Judaism In Reform, Conservative and reconstructionist judaism, women are now ordained as rabbis PublicEye.org White Supremacists in the US . http://www.chabadpoway.org/feminist-ideas-in-judaism.html

Your browser does not support frames. We recommend upgrading your browser. Click here to enter the site.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 2     21-40 of 116    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | Next 20