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- Article: A Reconstructionist View on Patrlineal Descent
By Rabbi Jacob Staub
"A Reconstructionist view on patrilineal descent."
This is an article from the journal "Judaism", Volume 34 no 1, Winter 1985, p 97-106.
- Article: Educating Future Jews: Jewish Americans or American Jews?
By Sarah Rubin
A frank exploration of the purpose of religious school and how conflicting religious status and identy can be addressed within JRF congregations. Are we teaching our children to take on American culture and values from a Jewish perspective or are we teaching them to explore Jewish culture and values from an American perspective?
- Article: Is Reconstructionist Judaism For You?
By JRF
An introduction to the philosophy, theology, values, practice and organization of the Reconstructionist Movement.
- Article: Jewish Idenity and Patrlineal Descent: Some Second Thoughts
By Rabbi Richard Hirsh
Article on Patrlineal Descent from the Reconstructionist, Volume 49 no 5, March 1984, p 25-28, 34.
- Article: Judaism and Justice
By Rabbi Sid Schwarz
This is a reprint from a Fall, 2003 article published in The Reconstructionist. The article emphasizes the important connection between Judaism and justice and argues that making those connections for our communities will draw Jews to Judaism.
- Article: Leaders in Technology, and Also Jewish
By Cantor Eric Schulmiller
One of the key inventors of the Internet as well as one of founders of Google are both Jewish. This article tells about them and some other Jews who have played important roles in the recent evolution of technology.
- Article: Making Our Synagogues Vessels of Tikkun Olam
By Rabbi Mordechai Liebling
Rabbi Mordechai Liebling is the Torah of Money director at the Shefa Fund. This article is adapted from a talk at the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Tikkun Olam Kallah March, 2003.
- Article: Perhaps You Belong In A Reconstructionist Community
By JRF
An overview of Reconstructionist philosophy and community life, plus testimonials from members of Reconstructionist congregations.
- Article: Resolution Regarding Children of Mixed Marriages
By The Federation Of Reconstructionist Congregations And Fellowships
This is the "Resolution on Patrilineal Descent" that was adopted by the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Fellowships at its 9th Annual Conference, May 5, 1968, in Great Neck, Long Island.
It was published in the Reconstructionist, Volume 34, No. 8, May 31, 1968.
- Article: The Matrilneal Principle in Historical Perspective
By Shaye J.D. Cohen
From the journal "Judaism", Volume 34 no 1, Winter 1985, p 5-13.
- Article: Toward a Reasonable Future for the Jewish People
By Rabbi Jack Cohen
from the journal "Judaism", Vol. 34 no 1, Winter 1985, p 20-23
- Article: Who Is A Reconstructionist Jew?
By JRF
A detailed description of the ideology, philosophy and practice of Reconstructionist Jews and their relation to the larger Jewish community, past, present and future.
- Audio Interview: Issues For Jewish Men Today
By Dr. Harry Brod, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Harry Brod and Shawn Zevit discuss their experience over the years writing about and leading retreats and workshops for Jewish men. Particular attention is given to the issues of being a man in Western culture and a Jew, and how these religious, ethnic, and gender issues impact Jewish men today. An episode of Heart, Mind and Spirit, the first regularly scheduled Reconstructionist radio show in the history of the movement.
- Audio Interview: Social Action (Tikkun Olam)
By Rabbi Brian Walt, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Social justice and the sense of a mission to aid in the Godly renewal and repair of the world has always been a part of the Jewish people's response to the world around us. Rabbi Brian Walt discusses what Tikkun Olam is from a Jewish perspective and how Reconstructionist philosophy and communal life reflects these values. An episode of Heart, Mind and Spirit, the first regularly scheduled Reconstructionist radio show in the history of the movement.
- Audio Interview: The "Kehillah Mekabelet" - Welcoming Congregation
By Roberta Israeloff, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
You will be inspired by this discussion with writer Roberta Israeloff, tracing her faith journey that lead her from alienation with the Judaism of her youth to find a Reconstructionist congregation to call her spiritual home and to fight for a policy there explicitly welcoming gay and lesbian Jews. An episode of Heart, Mind and Spirit, the first regularly scheduled Reconstructionist radio show in the history of the movement.
- Bibliography: References for a Values-Based Decision Making Approach to Greening Synagogues
By Roni Handler, Derek Rosenbaum
A collection of resources that help groups engaging in a values-based decision making approach to greening congregational spaces. The list is divided into print and online materials.
- Dvar Torah: Comparing Conservative and Reconstructionist Approaches in Dealing with Leviticus' Prohibition on Male-Male Sex
By Syd Nestel
In this dvar-Torah Syd Nestel makes in depth comparison of Reconstructionist and Conservative approaches to the prohibitions against homosexuality written in Leviticus 18 and 20.
- Dvar Torah: Walking the Walk: The Sacred Art of Energy Conservation
By Rabbi Brant Rosen
Rabbi Brant Rosen makes a passionate plea, textually based, for building environmentally sustainable synagogue. His own congregation, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) of Evanston, IL is an example.
- How to: Preparing For A Rabbinic Sabbatical From The Perspective Of The Congregational Leadership
By Rabbi Fredi Cooper
A document to help Reconstructionist communities prepare for a rabbinic sabbatical as a time of growth for their rabbi and for their community. Relates to the biblical agricultural sabbatical and includes an outline of questions to shape planning.
- How to: Ten Things I Learned As The Education Director Of JRF Congregation Mishkan Shalom
By Rabbi Linda Holtzman
In this keynote address given at the November 2000 JRF Mid-Atlantic Regional Educators' Day, Rabbi Holtzman shares her wisdom from 5 years as Education Director in the form of 10 principles such as "Acknowledge children with non-Jewish parents as fully respected and accepted members of the community" and "Balance content and the sharing of thoughts and feelings.
- Manual: JRF Guide To The Process Of Affiliation
By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Deciding to affiliate with a major Jewish movement may well be one of the most challenging, energizing and exciting processes your community undertakes. This document, a Brit Kehillah - Community Covenant, guides communities through a visioning process and outlines the rights and responsibilities of being a member of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.
- Other: Interfaith Letter - Americans with Disabilities Act
By JRF
Letter sent to Congress on June 23, 2008 to support ammendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by a coalition of religious organizations.
- Other: Oy Vey the Rabbi is Gay: A Short Story for Children
By Rabbi Daniel Brenner
Short story designed for children about a gay rabbi. The rabbi is not out to his congregation, whose orientation becomes known to two of the members, one of whom is an angry Mr. Birnbaum. After some soul-searching and a heart-to-heart talk with the rabbi, Mr. Birnbaum realizes that his marriage had many similarities to the struggle the rabbi faced.
- Policy: Summary of Boundaries and Opportunities Report
By JRF Task Force On The Role Of Non-Jews In JRF Congregations
After two years of study and discussion, the JRF Task Force on the Role of Non-Jews in JRF Congregations released the Boundaries and Opportunities Report. This summary of the report give background information, outlines the twelve recommendations made by the Task Force and explains a Reconstructionist decision making process that can be used to further discuss relevant issues locally in each congregation. The full report is available for purchase from the Reconstructionist Press.
- Policy: The Role Of Non-Jews In Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Congregations
By JRF
Press release from February, 2008 regarding the publishing of the Boundaries and Opportunities report on the role of non-Jews in JRF congregations.
- RT Article: Building a Youth Movement
By Emily Snyder
Emily Snyder reports on a Teen Kallah from Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in 2001. Reflecting on the fun on the learning experiences of our Youth Movement, Snyder writes, "Sometimes kids need to be led not by adults, but by older kids."
- RT Article: Building the Amuta L'Yahadut Mithadeshet in Israel
By Anna Rosenfield
Anna Rosenfield's argument that Israel is a place where Reconstructionism can thrive because of core Reconstructionist values is sparked by the tension between fundamentals and the other Jewish groups in Israeli society.
- RT Article: Yom Ha'herut: Celebrating Our American Redemption
By Rabbi Seth Goldstein
Rabbi Seth Goldstein proposes a new holiday to celebrate Judaism's "American redemption." A celebration for all American-Jews, such a holiday would be especially significant for the Reconstructionist movement. After all, "what is Reconstructionism but Judaism of the Jewish people, by the Jewish people and for the Jewish people?"
- Speech: Re-Digging the Wells of Our Tradition
By Rabbi Les Bronstein
Starting with the verse from Genesis 26:18 about Isaac needing to "re-dig" the wells upon his return, Rabbi Bronstein makes a case for a version of Reconstructionism which is engaging and serious. The speech is available in text and audio formats.
- Speech: We Need Movements
By Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Rabbi Toba Spitzer was inaugurated as the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association President at their Convention on March 13, 2007. This is her acceptance which focuses on the need for movements within Judaism. Audio and written forms of the speech are both provided.
- Text Compilation: Jewish Values & People with Disabilities- Appreciating the Variety of Life
By Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein
Text compilation - Jewish Values & People with Disabilities- Appreciating the Variety of Life - english only
- Text Study: How Should We Respond To Human Need?
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Psalm 41:2: Happy are those who give to the needy. The Hebrew verb for the word give, maskil, has multiple meanings. This ambiguity of meaning provides an opportunity for one of the rabbinic sages, Rabbi Jonah to think differently about taking care of the needy. Three differing versions of Jonah's "think different" approach are presented in this text study.
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