Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Click here to download the digital tribute book. It may take a village, a youth movement, an education program and a camp to raise a Reconstructionist child but when it comes to honoring Rabbi Jeff Eisensat it takes a continent – and five events. And you can be sure that the Reconstructionist child has been touched by Rabbi Jeff personally along the way.

Jeff Eisenstat write:

"Hayinu K’Holmim-We were like dreamers" write the psalmists and my family knows all too well just what a dreamer I tend to be. Camp JRF has seen the transformation of hundreds of children, staff, faculty, parents, grandparents and donors through the vision and hard work of so many who dreamed along with me. I am truly honored by the way in which the movement has embraced the excitement and growth of camp and I am humbled by the effort JRF has established in presenting me as their first national honoree.

Over the course of 3 months, Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat, Director of Special Initiatives has been feted in New York, Illinois, Maryland, California, culminating with a national multi-generational celebration in Westchester, NY on June 4th at the home of Lisa Messinger, Rabbi Jeff’s sister in law. Donors and supporters of JRF and Camp JRF came together to appreciate Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat’s seminal contribution to the future of the movement by raising up the next generation of connected and highly identified Reconstructionist Jews…and were excited by the work and possibilities that lie ahead.

Rabbi Jeff exemplifies the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” He connects our young people with experiences that foster within them a curiosity and appreciation for their Judaism. As the founding director of Camp JRF, he established an experiential Jewish education curriculum based on Reconstructionism’s “Values of Spiritual Peoplehood” that makes Judaism fun and resonates with our youth. Rabbi Jeff was instrumental in helping to establish Camp JRF as one of the “Top Ten” Jewish overnight camps in the United States.

In his new position as Director of Special Initiatives, Rabbi Jeff takes his show on the road to JRF congregations across the country, supporting and furthering JRF’s strategic vision for developing the Next Generation of Reconstructionist youth and the future of Reconstructionist Judaism.

In keeping in line with environmental and sustainable values, JRF printed only one tribute book to present to Rabbi Jeff on June 4th. Instead of distributing the book widely, we offer a version of this tribute book online alongside a special academic paper Rabbi Jeff presented with Rabbi Jeffrey Schein.