News

Osama bin Laden Dead

Victoria Cangelosi — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:05:09 -0400

With the recent news that United States special forces have killed Osama bin Laden, the Jewish and larger community have responded with a diverse range of commentary. Our Jewish tradition cautions us around celebrating the death of any human being, including our enemies. At the same time there is a sense of relief and justice, given that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of so many people around the world of all backgrounds, and thousands at the World Trade Center on Sep. 11, 2001. His death also raises a complex and varied range of thoughts and emotions in the United States and around the world.

Watch President Obama announce the death of Osama bin Laden
Jewish Council on Public Affairs Response
JTA coverage of “Jewish Organizational Statements”
JTA Article on "How Jews Should Respond" NPR article on reaction in the Arab world
Response Lesson to be used to understand the Jewish Response to the death of Osama bin Laden by Robyn Faintich, JewishGPS “The Death of Osama bin Laden” A source sheet to help guide class discussion
Rabbi Goldie Milgram's Philadelphia Voice Blog
Rabbi Brant Rosen's Blog

"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

JRF's Sustainable Synagogue Initiative 2012

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:47:22 -0400

Sustainable WorldIn 1990 JRF passed a movement-wide resolution (see attachments below) on the environment and congregational life. Since 2006 we offered conference calls and resources on Sustainable Synagogues and Living a Jewish Life Rooted in Ecological Values.

Read the notes from the 2007 call.

With the enthusiasm around JRF's Omer Learning Initiative, (2010 Omer Sustainability call- http://jrf.org/pearl/2011/Sustainability) as well as the solid response of JRF congregations in the Climate Change and Blessing the Sun (Solar Energy) Initiatives, JRF continues to deepen our work with member communities, other religious movements and partner organizations (JCPA, COEJL) in the area of sustainability. See Rabbi Shawn Zevit speak about the Reconstructionist Movement's work in sustainability

Our goal is to motivate and educate our congregations in sustainable practices, with the goal of reaching 100 percent participation in the years ahead. See a list of the 15 Communities and Individuals honored at the JRF 2008 Convention as part of our Sustainable Synagogue Intiative.

See information about the Jewish Climate Change Initiative and Shabbat Noach, JRF's participation in the International Climate Change Initiative.

Additional calls and webinars have been offered through our PEARL leadership series. See the Sustainability programs at www.jrf.org/pearl/archive and additional resources through our partner organization Greenfaith: www.jrf.org/greenfaith

Read Brant Rosen's Yom Kippur devar Torah that inspired the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston to reach for the highest level of sustainability in their capital campaign. You will also find documents from JRC about their Green policies, educational material and promotional flyer for environmental awareness attached below. JRC received the first Platinum LEEDS rating for a synagogue in the United States.

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb created a text study on climate change that incorporates elements of musar with other diverse material from our tradition.

NEW RESOURCES JUST ADDED!

For an equally inspiring High Holy Day sermon see Rabbi Sheryl Lewart's talk on living an environmentally sustainable life and Kehillat Israel's Five Mitzvot for Sustainable Living.

Also available is a wonderful meditation on environmental consciousness tied to the seven days of creation by Peter Goldberg of Shir Hadash, Milwaukee, WI, and inspiring materials from Dor Hadash, PA and Darchei Noam, Toronto, Canada and JRC, Evanston, IL (both moved into their new environmentally upgraded buildings in 2008).

For an example of a creative way of community organizing and educating about sustainability simultaneously see Philadelphia's Playback for Change at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ut6eLHEyF8

APRIL 8, 2009- 5769 BIRKHAT HACHAMA (BLESSING OF THE SUN) SOLAR AND RENEWABLE ENERGY CAMPAIGN IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. 2008-9 (5769) was the little known Jewish year of “Birkhat Hachamah” the “blessing of the sun”. JRF was a leading partner in a national coalition that used this rare event to focus on solar power and energy stewardship. See a video for Birkhat Hachammah at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=629JxUYTlFk

As well see resources for Birkhat Hachamah at Ritualwell.org- managed through Kolot: The Center for Gender Studies.

The Shalom Center's Green Menorah Covenant

Environmental resources in Israel

Arava Institute & Kibbutz Ketura

Nurit, new eco-friendly town in Israel being built on the Gilboa

Green Zionist Alliance

The Heschel Centre for Envrionmental Learning and Leadership

The Ecological Greenhouse Ein-Shemer

Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo Eco Activist Beit Midrash

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Additional JRF Resources:

http://jrf.org/omer2008-enviro (2008 Social Justice Initiative)

http://jrf.org/node/1264#enviro (Community Organizing Resources)

http://jrf.org/omer/2007 (2007 Social Justice Initiative)

COEJL Greening Synagogue Guide by R. Fred Dobb

Synagogue Council of Massachussetts- Green Initiative

Boston COEJL Synagogue Green Guide

Education material from CAJE

URJ (Reform)
Synagogue Architecture
Green buildings

USCJ/RA (Conservative):

Also see: http://www.fjmc.org/ShomreiHaaretz.html

OU (Orthodox)
Also see: http://ouradio.org/images/uploads/events/Repairing_The_Future.pdf

Ethical Kashrut

How does your community's practices align with the JRF resolution and the actions and commitments of other JRF communities? To add your resources to this initiative please e-mail SZevit@jrf.org

Osama bin Laden Dead

Victoria Cangelosi — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:01:36 -0400

Thomas Friedman, NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html?_r=1&ref=thomaslfriedman

B’Hatzlacha! Congratulations! Two New Affiliates Join the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Gari Weilbacher — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:27:06 -0400

Following an unanimous vote of approval by the JRF Board, we welcome The Little Minyan of Columbus, Ohio and Kol Haneshamah of Sarasota, Florida, to the JRF community of communities.

Just a year and a half old, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, founded by a small group of year-round and seasonal residents, has already established itself as a creative force in Sarasota, and has now joined JRF as the 106th affiliate. Since its inception it has grown to 38 households, and is operating on a 12-month calendar, including all major holidays.

The Little Minyan began with the pipedream of folks who envisioned a congregational model that included a holy community (kehilla kedosha) that truly cared for and supported one another in times of need, joy, and sorrow. Their vision was shared by a small group that began to meet regularly, jokingly calling themselves The Little Minyan that Could, and on Shavuot 5766/June 2006, The Little Minyan held their first Sabbath service.

Congregation Kol HaNeshama

Congregation Kol HaNeshama offers a variety of programs, including Shabbat morning services, lively musical services on Friday evenings, and holiday services and celebrations. On alternate weekends the congregation offers a very popular “Lunch and Learn” Torah study program, and an extensive adult education program will be offered next year. RRC student Evette Lutman served the congregation this year, and next year’s student rabbi, Nehama Benmosche, will be welcomed and introduced to the community on June 6.

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Outreach, welcomes Kol Haneshamah as “another jewel in the Florida Reconstructionist crown” and Rabbi Mark S. Kram, of Temple Beth Or in Miami sent greetings: “Welcome to JRF! And best of luck in growing your community. We send our best wishes and an offer to help in any way we can from Miami. B’hatzlacha!

Founders include Dr. Linda Charnes (President) and her husband Stanley Yudin; B’nai Keshet members Murry and Leona Brochin, board members of JRF and RRC, respectively; Adat Shalom members Kayla Niles, another JRF board member, and John Niles; and Charles Silberman, former RRC board member from West End Synagogue

President Linda Charnes says, "If you're thinking about Florida for a vacation next winter, think Sarasota and Congregation Kol HaNeshama. We will welcome all members of other Recon communities with open arms, good food and friendship. Let us know you are coming and we will be sure you are invited for Shabbat dinner at one of our members' homes."

Visit Kol HaNeshama's website, www.congkh.org, for information and the full schedule of activities.

The Little Minyan

The Little Minyan, Columbus, OhioThe Little Minyan, a vibrant and highly participatory Jewish congregation in central Ohio, has chosen to enter into the covenantal relationship of affiliation with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF). Although the Little Minyan will be the only Reconstructionist congregation in central Ohio, there are currently affiliates in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Wooster.

Members of the major movement, including Director of Outreach, Rabbi Shawn Zevit, will participate in Erev Shabbat services on Friday, June 12th, 7:30 p.m., to welcome the Little Minyan. The Little Minyan holds monthly erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning services at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2070 Ridgecliff Road, in Upper Arlington. In addition, a wide variety of educational, celebratory, and social action activities of the Little Minyan can be found on their website, littleminyan.org.

The Little Minyan began with the pipedream of two 40-year-old moms, Irene Donhowe of Dublin, and Jessica Shimberg Lind of Upper Arlington, who met through their children and spent years serving in leadership positions at a Reform synagogue. They envisioned a congregational model that included meaningful educational opportunities for children and their parents, a participatory worship experience that welcomed innovation and fostered learning, and a holy community (kehilla kedosha) that truly cared for and supported one another in times of need, joy, and sorrow. Their vision was shared by a small group that began to meet regularly, jokingly calling themselves The Little Minyan that Could, and on Shavuot 5766/June 2006, The Little Minyan held their first Sabbath service.

Within 18 months of forming, the Little Minyan had worked together to create a chuppah (wedding canopy) to celebrate a wedding, welcomed their first Little Minyan baby with a lovely brit chayim (covenant of life ceremony), and assisted in creating a meaningful Shiva/mourning period for a beloved parent. In addition, the community had successfully created Shabbat and High Holy Day worship services, extensive educational programming, and social and social action opportunities, all with the energy and talents of individual members and on a very modest budget.

Over the course of their first three years, the Little Minyan has, on occasion, invited rabbis and other professional teachers to both study with and lead worship for the congregation. However, the Little Minyan remains primarily lay led and completely volunteer driven. With the assistance of a national movement that shares the values and dynamic vision of the Little Minyan, the congregation looks forward to a bright future serving its members and the central Ohio community. Affiliation affords the Little Minyan many opportunities while maintaining a great degree of autonomy.

Full listing of JRF congregations

Affiliating with JRF

Praying with Lior: Film Wrestles with Judaism, Disability

Lisa Tuttle — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:46:10 -0500

Lior with Rabbi Shawn ZevitAn engrossing, wrenching and tender documentary film, Praying with Lior, is debuting around the world and receiving rave reviews and was the highest grossing independent film its first weekend in New York.

The film tells the story of Lior Liebling, a member of congregation Mishkan Shalom in Philadelphia, whom his community calls "the little rebbe." Lior has Down syndrome, and has spent his life praying with utter abandon. As Lior approaches bar mitzvah, the movie poses difficult questions such as What is disability? And who really talks to God?

Read the New York Times story about the film and
an interview with director Ilana Trachtman on the NY Jewish Film Festival blog.

Praying with Lior show times

President Ahmadinejad’s Visit to Columbia: A Student’s Perspective

Jill Janofsky — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:01:26 -0400

Columbia AbuzzWhen I heard that Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs had invited President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—a notoriously anti-Semitic and anti-Israel figurehead—to speak on campus, my first instinct was to oppose the event vehemently.

I reasoned that, if Columbia hosted an anti-Semitic figure on campus, Ahmadinjead’s could attempt legitimize his terrifying and historically incorrect viewpoints. Why should one of the most prestigious universities in the nation provide a platform from which a dangerous leader such as Ahmadinejad could deny the Holocaust and spew his advocacy for the destruction of Israel?

However, as the day approached, my line of thinking about the president’s appearance began to change. After reading over the program, it seemed like Columbia had allocated adequate time to challenge Ahmadinejad’s views. In other words, the university would not simply provide a soapbox from which the President could freely preach.

The event would begin with remarks from Columbia University President Bollinger, who would voice criticisms of Ahmadinejad’s views on Israel, the Holocaust, and the Middle East conflict. After the Iranian President gave his own remarks, he would be required to field questions from the audience.

It seemed like a balanced program, and like any curious college student, I wanted to experience the frenzy of the event first-hand. So like thousands of other Columbia students and faculty on Monday, September 24, I squeezed my way through the numerous rallying students in opposition of Columbia’s invitation to the Iranian President to hear what Ahmadinejad had to say.

Since tickets for the actual engagement had sold out about 30 minutes after they went online, the university decided to televise it on the south lawn of campus. When I arrived, literally every square inch of the grass and surrounding standing areas was completely covered by students and faculty. It seemed that the entire university had gathered to hear the President of Iran; because of heightened security, only those with Columbia ID’s were even allowed on campus that day.

It was easily the most intense engagement I have ever experienced. After President Bollinger's opening remarks, in which he called the Iranian President a "cruel and petty leader," and one who "probably does not have the intellectual courage to answer our student and faculty's questions," Ahmadinejad began his remarks by criticizing Bollinger’s opening statement, claiming that it actually curtailed intellectual freedom because of its harsh tone. He then proceeded not to talk about the background of his country or to offer his own interpretation of history, but to say a lot of nonsense about science, spiritualism, and God.

During the much-awaited question-and-answer portion of the event, the moderator of the program asked Ahmadinejad the expected hard questions: does he deny that the Holocaust happened, does he believe that Israel should not exist, how does he see the role of women in his country, and, my personal favorite, what will he do about homosexuals in Iran? The laughable absurdity and tedious lack of historical knowledge speak for themselves in his answers: instead of directly answering the questions, he proceeded to give long winded tap-dances around the inquiries.

In addition to saying that evidence that the Holocaust, the most documented event in human history, lacks sufficient evidence to prove its historical factuality, he then proceeded to talk about displaced Palestinians instead of giving a “yes” or “no” answer to the question about his views on Israel’s existence. To the inquiry about gays, he simply replied with a chuckle that Iran does not have homosexuals.

When program concluded, we began to file out of campus. Since most of the gates were closed for security reasons, what seemed like thousands of students and faculty exited through one narrow gate, since most of the entrances to campus were closed in light of the tight security.

As we got out to the street, the thunderous voices of protesters, mostly from assorted Jewish and pro-Israel groups greeted us on Broadway: "SHAME ON COLUMBIA! SHAME ON COLUMBIA!" Later that day, the same type of groups, including representatives from JRF NY/NJ, gathered to protest the Iranian President’s appearance on the east side at the U.N. As someone who might have rallied with these very groups just a few days prior to attending the program, I could certainly understand their anger.

In the end though, I felt incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to experience the event in person. I concluded that it is important to invite these leaders that we wholly disagree with, to hear their rhetoric, and to examine the tactics that they use to convey their illegitimacy.

When Ahmadinejad arrived to campus, he patently showed his foolishness for the nation to see. As Americans, we enjoy the fundamental and beautiful right of freedom of speech in order to refine our own knowledge about the world around us. And as President Bollinger said in his opening remarks, "this is not so much for the President of Iran's benefit, but for ours." And I agree.

Ann Arbor Reconstructionists Cooperate with Local Muslims

Abby Weinberg — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:42:10 -0400

This year, the Muslim holiday of Ramadan began on the first night of Rosh Hashana.
The Detroit News reported how Jews and Muslims in the Detroit area are using this rare occurrence to build bridges between their communities.

Read the attached report of a Muslim-Jewish Friday night dinner hosted by members of the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Havurah.

Hirsh Criticizes Tendency to Rate Holiday Services

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:21:26 -0400

RRA Executive Director Rabbi Richard HirshReconstructionist Rabbinical Association Executive Director Rabbi Richard Hirsh just published an op-ed piece in the Jewish Forward in which he criticizes tendencies among those attending high holy day services to rate the experience. The article is titled, I’d Give It a 7… It Had a Good Beat, and You Can Daven to It. Here is an excerpt:

What we frequently refer to as the High Holy Days are more accurately described by their Hebrew appellation: Yamim Noraim, the “Days of Awe.” Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are supposed to be significant because of the weighty confrontation with ultimate issues that they embody, especially issues of morality and mortality.

For many rabbis, however, another translation of Yamim Noraim is more accurate: these can be “awful days,” a mere three out of 365 by which reputations and even employment are often measured. For rabbis whose contracts are up for renewal, the prayer refrain “On Rosh Hashanah it is decreed, and on Yom Kippur it is decided… who will live and who will die” has a quite literal meaning.

Read Rabbi Hirsh's article in full.

Ma Nishma: News from JRF, September 2007

Lisa Tuttle — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:48:21 -0400

The September, 2007 issue is out. In this issue:

Teens Return from Israel
Camp JRF Book Shelf
Special Offers from JRF’s Reconstructionist Press
Now Read RT Online!
Make a Difference with Your IRA
Action in Darfur
Kol HaKavod!
Upcoming Events

Final Havdallah for Session Aleph

Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:59:38 -0400

Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat in the Shabbat Havdalah Garden at Camp JRFOur medurah (campfire) embers have just been extinguished but the memories and the friendships for session aleph will continue to burn brightly into the weeks, months and years ahead.

What a thrilling session we have just completed. Imagine 225 campers and staff in a huge spiral around the havdallah candle and our souls woven together with this final Shabbat and the experiences we have all just shared.

Many of our hanihim (campers) will be returning to their homes but they have grown and matured from summer activities, friends and the kehillah (community) of Camp JRF. We have definitely created a safe community here so our campers feel they can try their skill at sports or art or music or drama or swimming or etgar (ropes course) or even a discussion and be respected and honored and even confident at the attempt.

My favorite part of camp is traveling around campus several times a day just to see our happy campers at all their programs. Many of the pictures on Bunk1 were taken as our campers and staff were just being themselves and having lots of fun at any part of the day or night. And did I mention how our campers and staff enjoy the food.

Our Camp JRF staff feels great about how smoothly our program ran this session and how much our campers enjoyed these magical three and a half weeks.

As our camp songs goes. “Have fun Day and Night all our Hanihim are feeling all right. Found a place no worries no stress, here at CAMP JRF.”

Now we look forward to next session.

Rabbi Jeff