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Membership and Engagement Survey

Has your community found creative ways to attract new members, engage new people or redefine what it means to belong?

We are gathering stories for a possible upcoming feature on how Reconstructionist communities are welcoming new members and engaging new audiences. Do you have a story?

Please take a moment to let us know.

Tikkun Olam Opportunities for You and Your Community Members

Pursuing Justice Conference

Reconstructing Judaism is proud to be an official Participating Organization for Pursuing Justice 2020. Please register today and invite members of your community to join us in Washington D.C. in May 2020 for three days of learning, connecting and taking action for the multiracial Jewish social justice movement.

Human Rights Shabbat 2019: Anti-Racism Work

This December’s Human Rights Shabbat, hosted by T’ruah: The Rabbinical Call for Human Rights, is an opportunity for congregations to begin an ongoing communal commitment to opposing racism. Please contact Rabbi Micah Weiss with any questions about how your community can get involved.

National Refugee Shabbat

Reconstructing Judaism is proud to once again co-sponsor HIAS’ National Refugee Shabbat on March 20-21, 2020. We invite you to dedicate a Shabbat program in your community to refugees and asylum seekers.

How can our Reconstructionist Communities Help Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers?

On October 24th, 2019, the brand-new Tikkun Olam Commission hosted an organizing call to help Reconstructionist communities get involved with helping immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Even if you missed it, it's not too late! You can watch a recording of the call at this link.

Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations - Invite Your Community Members to Participate

Cultivating Constructive Conversations About Israel/Palestine

Your community members are welcome to sign up for Evolve's Adult Education Beit Midrash, which will provide participants with study guides for the Evolve essay of the month. This month's topic is Cultivating Constructive Conversations About Israel/Palestine. If you are interested in participating, please contact us.

Difficult Conversations: Assisted Suicide

How do we navigate the complex choices we confront when the suffering of a loved one is unbearable? Rabbi David Teutsch approaches the question from a values-based perspective, Rabbi Birgit Klein examines a few rabbinic texts that might guide us and Rabbi Meryl Crean examines the question from the viewpoint of a geriatric chaplain.

New Resources

The following resources may be relevant to your work and the work of the other leaders of your community:

Please let your community know that registration is open for our Havaya Summer Programs, including Camp HavayaHavaya Arts, and Havaya Israel.

Upcoming Events

View all upcoming events at ReconstructingJudaism.org/Events


Webinar - Kaplanian Surprises: The Educational Roots of our Contemporary Challenges
Dec. 12
1 - 2 p.m. EST

Rabbi Jeffrey Schein, Ph.D. will lead a webinar for congregational lay-leaders interested in learning more about Mordecai Kaplan’s ideas about Jewish education. We will explore how some new issues in our 21st century Jewish educational life can be enriched by core insights drawn from Kaplan’s chapter on Jewish education in Judaism as a Civilization (1934). Join this webinar, co-sponsored by Reconstructing Judaism and the Kaplan Center, and add your voice to the medley of 21st century Jewish voices seeking to make these astounding insights real in our own educational programs. Click here to register.


Save the Date - New York Day of Learning
Jan. 26, 2020
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
New York City

Save the Date - Chesapeake Annual Celebration
April 19, 2020
Oseh Shalom
Laurel, Md.


Save the Date - Convention 2022
March 23–27, 2022

Please mark your calendars for the next Reconstructing Judaism convention, which will be held in partnership with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and Havaya Summer Programs.

Convention will take place March 23-27, 2022, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, in McLean, Va., just outside of Washington D.C. Join us to learn, pray, sing, dance, eat and network with other Reconstructionists from all over the world. More information to follow!

Reconstructionists in the News

Liberal Jewish groups ask Israeli politicians to oppose West Bank annexation — even if Trump supports it

Congregation Dor Hadash was a target for its immigrant advocacy—and the shooting did not stop that work

Tree of Life survivor Daniel Leger: Paths to healing in the City of Bridges

Rabbi Lawson Says Hineni

Recovering from the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history

Detention facility must have civilian oversight to protect immigrants, the faith community says

A connection in Curacao

Atlanta’s New Approach to Interfaith Families

Public Positions on Current Matters

Amicus Brief Challenging Excessively-Broad Religious Exemptions for Health Care Employees

Endorsement of HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act

One Year After Pittsburgh, Jews and Allies Pledge Solidarity

Statement Urging Renewal of Violence Against Women Act

Letter to Israeli Political Leadership Opposing Annexation

Statement on Recent Rocket Attacks on Israel

Response to US Policy Shift on Settlement Legality

US Jewish Movements: President Trump Must Fire Stephen Miller

Click here for our previous statements.

How to Reach Us:

Tresa Grauer, Ph.D.
Vice President for Thriving Communities
TGrauer@ReconstructingJudaism.org
215.576.0800 ext. 144

Jackie Land
Associate Director for Thriving Communities
JLand@ReconstructingJudaism.org
302.500.0863

Rabbi Micah Geurin Weiss
Assistant Director for Thriving Communities/Tikkun Olam Specialist
MWeiss@ReconstructingJudaism.org
215.576.0800 ext. 155

Jacob Weinberg
Thriving Communities Associate
JWeinberg@ReconstructingJudaism.org
215.576.0800 ext. 131

 

Rabbi Maurice Harris
Associate Director for Thriving Communities and Israel Affairs Specialist
MHarris@ReconstructingJudaism.org
215.576.0800 ext. 118

Rabbi Joel Alpert
Director of Rabbinic Placement
JAlpert@ReconPlacement.org
215.576.0800 ext. 304

Rosa Cohen
E-Newsletter Editor
RCohen@ReconstructingJudaism.org
215.576.0800 ext. 120

Our business hours are Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST; Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST

You are receiving this email because you are listed in our records as a leader of *|HTML:COMMUNITY|*. If this is no longer the case or if you would like to update your contact information, please click here.

This email went to rabbis/spiritual leaders, cantors, presidents, executive directors, education directors, board members, Plenum representatives, and administrators at congregations and havurot affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism. If you would like us to add another member of your leadership to the list, please email rcohen@reconstructingjudaism.org.

Copyright © 2019 Reconstructing Judaism, All rights reserved.


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