What is Reconstructionism?
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 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.
Community as Cornerstone
While deeply connected to the historical experience of
the Jewish people, we find a profound sense of belonging in our contemporary
communities as well. This connection often leads to increased ritual
observance and experimentation with the ritual rhythms of Jewish life. We
find meaning in rediscovering the richness of traditional ritual and
creating new observances which respond to our contemporary communal and
personal cycles.
Reconstructionist communities are characterized by their
respect for such core values as democratic process, pluralism, and
accessibility. In this way, they create participatory, inclusive,
egalitarian communities committed to exploring Jewish life with dedication,
warmth and enthusiasm.
Patterns of Practice
"Torah" means "teaching." In Jewish tradition, talmud
Torah, the study of Torah, is a life-long obligation and opportunity.
Reconstructionists are committed to a serious engagement with the texts and
teachings, as well as the art, literature and music of tradition. But we are
not passive recipients; we are instead challenged to enter the conversation
of the generations and to hear voices other than our own, but to add our own
voices as well.
Reconstructionist Judaism is respectful of traditional
Jewish observances but also open to new interpretations and forms of
religious expression. As Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881-1983), the founder
of Reconstructionism, taught, tradition has "a vote, but not a veto."
Reconstructionists share a commitment to making Judaism their own by finding
in it joy, meaning, and ideas they can believe. Unlike Orthodox and
Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionism does not view inherited Jewish law (halahah)
as binding. We continue to turn to Jewish law for guidance, if not always
for governance. We recognize that in the contemporary world, individuals and
communities make their own choices with regard to religious practice and
ritual observance.
But where Reform Judaism emphasizes individual autonomy,
Reconstructionism emphasizes the importance of religious community in
shaping individual patterns of observance. Belonging to a community leads us
to take the patterns of observance within that community seriously; our
choices do not exist independently, but are made in response to our
community as part of our participating in it. Reconstructionism thus retains
a warmly traditional (and fully egalitarian) approach to Jewish religious
practice.
Spiritual Seeking
Reconstructionists hold diverse ideas about God, but we
share an emphasis on Godliness --those hopes, beliefs, and values within us
that impel us to work for a better world, that give us strength and solace
in times of need, that challenge us to grow, and that deepen our joy in
moments of celebration.
Reconstructionist prayerbooks speak of God beyond the
gender concepts of male/female, and beyond the traditional metaphor of "king
of the universe." For example, in our prayerbooks God is addressed as, among
other things, "The Healer," "The Teacher," "The Comforter," and "The
Presence." We are engaged in the spiritual adventure of discovering the many
attributes of the one God.
Ethics and Values
Reconstructionist communities emphasize acts of social
justice alongside prayer and study as an essential part of their spiritual
practice. Reconstructionist Judaism affirms that religion can and must be a
powerful force for promoting communal discussion about ethics and values.
The Torah tradition itself is a deep and wide resource for this project. Yet
we know that generations of Jews have sharpened and distilled the ethical
insights of Judaism as a result of their encounter with other cultures and
traditions, and so it is in our time.
Excerpt from Jewish Reconstructionist
Federation website. For more information, visit the JRF website at
www.JRF.org .
