Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Jewish Community Unites to End Hunger Logo

On June 11, at 6:30 P.M. thousands of people of all faiths and backgrounds will gather at the Washington National Cathedral for the second Interfaith Convocation on hunger. We will raise our voices as one and work together to end hunger throughout the United States and the world.

A pre-Convocation gathering of the Jewish community is happening at 5:00 P.M. at Temple Michah, 2829 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Let’s communicate that we care as Reconstructionists by attending in large numbers. JRF's Rabbi Shawn Zevit will be leading the Reconstructionist delegation.

Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation
190 Camp Hill Road
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(215) 283-0276

Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Ft. Washington, PA is one of a thousand congregations across the country to receive a DVD of this important film discussing torture at Abu Ghraib prison and other human rights issues.

The film will be shown at the synagogue Saturday, October 13 at 7:30 pm. For more information please call the synagogue office at (215) 283-0276.

“Death Comes For The Rabbi – An Afternoon of Listening and Learning”

KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation
1100 East Hyde Park Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60615-2810

Come and participate in an unprecedented event combining music and Jewish text study. In a trans-denominational Community Beit Midrash (Study Hall), with Reconstructionist, Reform, Orthodox and Conservative teachers, we will encounter Yehoshua ben Levi, the rabbi who became dead without dying. We will experience Rabbi Yehoshua’s struggle with the Angel of Death both through a Talmudic text (Ketubot 77b) and through a live performance, by the Millennium Chamber Players, of “Floodway,” a piece based on that text written by the renowned contemporary Israeli-American composer Amnon Wolman, who will join us for the afternoon.

This program is free of charge, thanks to the generosity of a number of organizations and individual donors. Child care will be available. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Dan Cedarbaum at 847-492-5200.

Program sponsored by:
KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
THE JEWISH RECONSTRUCTIONIST FEDERATION
THE NEWBERGER HILLEL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
THE CHICAGO BOARD OF RABBIS

Download and print the event flyer, available as an attachment . . . help spread the word!

A Taste of Judaism
Exploring Jewish life in three welcoming classes

Congregation Beth Israel of Media, PA, announced today that Rabbi Linda Potemken will lead the innovative “A Taste of Judaism” program at the synagogue, starting on October 23rd from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. A Taste of Judaism is a free, three-session class for adults who would like to explore the Jewish perspective on spirituality, values and community in an atmosphere that encourages free and lively discussion of Judaism’s approach to living in our rapidly changing society. Over the last few years the program has been enjoyed by tens of thousands at synagogues across the country. Affiliated and non-affiliated Jews are welcome to attend, as well as non-Jews who are seeking a closer relationship with Judaism, interfaith couples, children of interfaith couples and parents and grandparents of interfaith couples.

The public is encouraged to call Congregation Beth Israel (610) 566-4645, or write to info@bethisraelmedia.org to sign up for the free “A Taste of Judaism” sessions, which will be held on October 23, October 30 and November 6, at the synagogue, located at 542 S. New Middletown Road, Media, PA.

Rabbi Marcia Prager and Cantor Jack Kessler: In Madson, WI November 2-4, 2007Congregation Shaarei Shamayim in Madison, WI is pleased to announce that Rabbi Marcia Prager and Hazzan Jack Kessler will be leading a joyous, soulful weekend November 2-4, in Madison. All JRF members are invited to Join Shaarei Shamayim in an inspirational Shabbat of singing, learning, and exploring together in community.

Rabbi Prager is a vibrant Reconstructionist/ Jewish Renewal teacher, storyteller, artist, and therapist. She is the author of the book, The Path of Blessing, an exploration of the profound spiritual wisdom that lies in the Jewish practice of blessing. She is also the creator of The Weekday Amidah in Guided Imagery, a deck of 20 exquisitely hand illustrated cards which use guided meditations through the transformative blessings of this ancient prayer practice.

Hazzan Kessler is a traditionally trained cantor and director of two Jewish music ensembles. He has been described as a one-man force of nature in Jewish music. His most recent CD is Blue Suede Jews, featuring The Klingon Klezmers. A lyric baritone, he has performed opera, oratorio, and premiered new works, in addition to his ongoing career as a singer of Hazzanut, the sacred cantorial art. He is the dean of the Cantorial department of the professional framing program of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal.

For more information and to register, please contact Celeste at shabbaton@shamayim.org

Musicians Attending the JRF Women's Retreat in Wisconsin in April, 2007
The First Retreat of Harmoniyah—Reconstructionist Music Network will be held November 9-12, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

Saturday and Sunday 8pm evening events are open to the general public at a nominal charge- register in advance using the registration same registration link below:

Space is limited: Register Online Now.

Join us for Shabbat services and a unique opportunity to learn with Reconstructionist clergy, lay leaders, song leaders and musicians nationwide:

Musicians Attending the JRF Women's Retreat in Wisconsin in April, 2007
The First Retreat of Harmoniyah—Reconstructionist Music Network will be held November 9-12, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

Saturday and Sunday 8pm evening events are open to the general public at a nominal charge- register in advance using the registration same registration link below:

Space is limited: Register Online Now.

Join us for Shabbat services and a unique opportunity to learn with Reconstructionist clergy, lay leaders, song leaders and musicians nationwide:

Musicians Attending the JRF Women's Retreat in Wisconsin in April, 2007
The First Retreat of Harmoniyah—Reconstructionist Music Network will be held November 9-12, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

Saturday and Sunday 8pm evening events are open to the general public at a nominal charge- register in advance using the registration same registration link below:

Space is limited: Register Online Now.

Join us for Shabbat services and a unique opportunity to learn with Reconstructionist clergy, lay leaders, song leaders and musicians nationwide:

Reconstructionist Education Directors
It's time for our RENA retreat!

Register now! [Note: on the registration form you do NOT need a "Sporg user profile" to register.]

Where: Congregation Or Hadash outside Philadelphia

When: Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon, November 11-13, 2007

Why: To give Reconstructionist Education Directors a chance to share ideas, interact with each other, and learn about infusing informal and formal education into our religious schools.

Musicians Attending the JRF Women's Retreat in Wisconsin in April, 2007
The First Retreat of Harmoniyah—Reconstructionist Music Network will be held November 9-12, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

Saturday and Sunday 8pm evening events are open to the general public at a nominal charge- register in advance using the registration same registration link below:

Space is limited: Register Online Now.

Join us for Shabbat services and a unique opportunity to learn with Reconstructionist clergy, lay leaders, song leaders and musicians nationwide:

Reconstructionist Education Directors
It's time for our RENA retreat!

Register now! [Note: on the registration form you do NOT need a "Sporg user profile" to register.]

Where: Congregation Or Hadash outside Philadelphia

When: Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon, November 11-13, 2007

Why: To give Reconstructionist Education Directors a chance to share ideas, interact with each other, and learn about infusing informal and formal education into our religious schools.

Reconstructionist Education Directors
It's time for our RENA retreat!

Register now! [Note: on the registration form you do NOT need a "Sporg user profile" to register.]

Where: Congregation Or Hadash outside Philadelphia

When: Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon, November 11-13, 2007

Why: To give Reconstructionist Education Directors a chance to share ideas, interact with each other, and learn about infusing informal and formal education into our religious schools.

The Society for the Advancement of Judaism is offering two courses to the public:

"Judaism: Between Theology and Praxis"
Does Judaism demand belief? Many Jews, from lay people to scholars, believe that a basic distinction between Judaism and Christianity is that Judaism is concerned with action rather than belief. This course will examine key moments in the development of this widely shared bias, focusing on political as well as theological reasons why modern thinkers have emphasized "doing" over "believing".

Wednesdays, Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at 7:30 pm

"The Feminist Reinvention of Jewish Ritual"

Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 25, April 1, 8 at 7:30 pm

For more information, call (212) 724-7000.

Save the date: Dec. 14-16, Capital Camps, Waynesboro, PA
The theme of this year's Chesapeake Regional Shabbaton is "Prayer, Spirituality and Expressions of Prayer through Reconstructionist Eyes." There will be adult, family and childrens' programming and a concurrent No'ar Hadash Teen Kallah for students in grade 8 and above.

For more information, contact Jackie Land, JRF Chesapeake regional director, at jljrf@aol.com.

Save the date: Dec. 14-16, Capital Camps, Waynesboro, PA
The theme of this year's Chesapeake Regional Shabbaton is "Prayer, Spirituality and Expressions of Prayer through Reconstructionist Eyes." There will be adult, family and childrens' programming and a concurrent No'ar Hadash Teen Kallah for students in grade 8 and above.

For more information, contact Jackie Land, JRF Chesapeake regional director, at jljrf@aol.com.

Save the date: Dec. 14-16, Capital Camps, Waynesboro, PA
The theme of this year's Chesapeake Regional Shabbaton is "Prayer, Spirituality and Expressions of Prayer through Reconstructionist Eyes." There will be adult, family and childrens' programming and a concurrent No'ar Hadash Teen Kallah for students in grade 8 and above.

For more information, contact Jackie Land, JRF Chesapeake regional director, at jljrf@aol.com.

Please join congregation Oseh Shalom in Laurel, MD, on Sunday, January 27 at a Public Forum to discuss issues with representatives from the Democratic and Republican Presidential campaigns.

With the Maryland Presidential Primary taking place Tuesday, February 12, this is a great opportunity to hear from candidate representatives about the issues, ask questions, and review campaign materials. Bring friends and neighbors! Doors open at 2:30 pm.

Help get the word out! Download and post the event flyer attached to this announcement.

For more details, contact member Mark Cook at: mark@markcook.com or (240) 554-2231.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Growth isn’t only about numbers; if your congregation is to grow, it must focus also on dynamic changes. Members of congregations of various sizes will share their stories of successful growth and will provide workshop participants with opportunities for practical application to their home communities.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

“The board members haven’t changed in years and they are getting tired – what do I do?” Exciting and engaging congregants to take on new leadership roles is crucial to the health and growth of the congregation. This workshop will focus on models for engagement of members, succession, and transition of leadership.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Please join congregation Kol HaLev and more than 20 congregations and organizations throughout the Cleveland, OH area for a special community-wide event: “Sounds of Justice” Havdalah Concert and Advocacy Event for Darfur, featuring JRF's director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam, Rabbi Shawn Zevit.

Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm, B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

Help spread the word - download and post the event flyer.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Planning a fundraising event can be nerve-wracking: What will be successful? How much will members contribute? Who will organize the details? Will members resist being asked for additional funds? What is a reasonable scope for our event? Alleviate your nerves – and those of your congregation – by exploring answers to these questions, and more.

This workshop is intended for communities with less than 250 units.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

The way a congregation develops and markets its dues structure speaks volumes about its values, membership, and goals. Whether it be flat rate, fair share, hybrid, or another model, learn how congregations can be successful in creating a dues structure that is in line with the best of its Reconstructionist values.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Planning a fundraising event can be nerve-wracking: What will be successful? How much will members contribute? Who will organize the details? Will members resist being asked for additional funds? What is a reasonable scope for our event? Alleviate your nerves – and those of your congregation – by exploring answers to these questions, and more.

This workshop is intended for communities with more than 250 units.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Join Rabbi Joel Alpert, Director of the Reconstructionist Placement Office, for a conversation about the Reconstructionist placement process. From filing for placement to interviewing to entering into negotiations, this session will walk step-by-step through the Reconstructionist Placement Guidelines, providing answers to your most practical questions.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

In the fast paced and ever-changing world of technology and marketing, congregations must be innovative in order to effectively reach out to their congregants. Using best practices and new models for engagement, this workshop will highlight exciting models for sharing the ongoing life of your congregation, enhancing your website and newsletter, and using both to mobilize members to be active in the community.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Whether you are moving into an existing facility, adding an addition, or starting from the ground up, building a new synagogue can be both challenging and exhilarating. Issues of location, finances, communal commitment, and values are critical to building a truly Reconstructionist community; explore these issues, and more, with three congregations that have had successful building projects in the past decade.

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Join us for PEARL: Providing Education and Resources for Leadership.

Planning a fundraising event can be nerve-wracking: What will be successful? How much will members contribute? Who will organize the details? Will members resist being asked for additional funds? What is a reasonable scope for our event? Alleviate your nerves – and those of your congregation – by exploring answers to these questions, and more.

This session will be offered in-person for congregational leaders in driving distance of the JRF offices at Beit Devora (Jenkintown, PA).

Click here to register for this and other PEARL sessions.

Rabbi Alan Lew, a leader in the budding Jewish meditation movement, will be visiting Ann Arbor from April 4-6, 2008. All are invited to partake in this weekend of pre-Passover spiritual preparation. The weekend will include several talks, text study, and experiential components to take place at several Jewish venues around Ann Arbor, MI.Alan Lew 2/08

Erev Shabbat will begin with a Shabbat Dinner at 6 pm, followed by Shabbat Services including a sermon by Rabbi Lew. On Shabbat morning services will be based on a traditional model but will include considerably less text, and considerably more chanting and silence. Saturday afternoon themes of discussion will be “The Four Cups of Freedom; Four Aspects of Spiritual Liberation,” and “Leave-Taking; The Biblical Pre-Requisite to Spiritual Liberation.” The afternoon program will conclude at Beth Israel Congregation with a seudah sh’lisheet (third meal).

Sunday morning will be devoted to a meditation workshop based on his most recent book, Be Still And Get Going. "It will be an examination of Yetziat Mitzraim (the Exodus from Egypt)," says Lew, "the seminal moment of Biblical leave-taking, and the extraordinary Five-Step program for transformation that we find there."

RABBI DAVID TEUTSCH AS SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT DOR HADASH
APRIL 4-6, 2008

LIVING A JEWISH LIFE: SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND MORAL CHALLENGE

Rabbi David Teutsch serves as Director of the Center for Jewish Ethics at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, where he has been a professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization since 1997. For 25 years, he has been active as a private consultant for Jewish organizations nationwide.
He is the author of numerous books, including Spritual Community: The Power to Restore Hope, Commitment and Joy (2005), and several volumes in the series, A Guide to Jewish Practice, on the topics of Bioethics, the Ethics of Speech, Kashrut and Tzedaka. An additional volume, on Economic Justice and Organizational Ethics, is forthcoming.

Rabbi Teutsch is also the author of a forthcoming textbook on Jewish Leadership and Not-for-Profit Management. He served as editor of the Daily and High Holy Day prayer books published by the Reconstructionist Press (1996 and 1999).

Rabbi Teutsch received his Ph.D. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and was ordained by Hebrew Union College in New York.

THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS IS AS FOLLOWS:

CONGREGATION TO COMMUNITY: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Rabbi Teutsch has played a central role in shaping the Reconstructionist movement. He will tell his personal story in a way that will explore key episodes in the development of the movement and its philosophy and practice.

Shabbat Service, Friday, April 4, 7:00 pm. Oneg reception following.