Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Butzel Conference CenterNeed a break? Want to re-energize your Shabbat practice? Could your family use some time to relax and be playful together? Come celebrate Shabbat with members of Reconstructionist congregations throughout the Midwest at the JRF Midwest Region Shabbaton.

This gathering for singles and families is conveniently located at the Butzel Conference Center in Ortonville, MI, just an hour's drive from Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Lansing.

The Butzel Conference Center is located on 1,300 acres of beautiful woodland overlooking a scenic lake with hiking, basketball, tennis, mini golf and more.

Register before March 28th and get the Early Bird Rate!

Help spread the word - please download and post the two-sided event flyer and schedule.

JRF's Reconstructionist Press is offering summer and reprinting discounts.

Update. The sale has been extended to August 27. This is your last chance to order to get the additional 10% discount for prepaid (check or credit card) purchases. There are only 200 of the less expensive Mahzorim left!

First! Any purchase made by credit card before August 27 (just changed, was August 18) to receive 10% in addition to whatever other membership/volume discount that applies to the order.

Order your High Holy Day Mahzor Leyamim Nora'im: Prayerbook for the Days of Awe. Two versions available.

• Limited supplies left of the last printing of the Mahzor. Base price before discounts is $36.
• New printing of Mahzor on thinner paper which will make it easier to hold during the long holiday services. Base price is $42 reduced to $40 until September 1.

There are no pagination changes to the Mahzor, so Mahzors from previous printings can be used easily at the same service in which the new, lighter, Mahzor is used.

Siddur Kol Hano'ar Voice of Children Siddur. Base price on purchase of the non-transliterated version reduced by 30%.

Again, don't forget that any purchase made by credit card will be reduced by 10% in addition to any other discounts.

Call the JRF Press at: 877-573-7827. And spread the word!

See Hattie's Video.

Call Hattie toll free at: 1-877-573-7827.

Until the new "store" goes on line, get more online information at our old web site.

Special: For orders made before March 12, you will receive free shipping and a free companion CD of Pesach songs for any orders of 12 or more copies of "A Night of Questions" Hagaddah by Rabbis Joy Levitt and Michael Strassfeld.

Please explore these resources for Hanukkah from our online resources library.

• Bibliography: Holiday Book List for Educators
  By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
  Great books for teaching kids about Jewish holidays. Contains a section of general books covering multiple holidays, books to teach about God and the holidays as well as special sections for books about Hanukah and the High Holy Days.
  
  
• Dvar Torah: December and Dedication
  By Rabbi Toba Spitzer
  December is that time of year when being a Jew in America feels particularly complicated. Whether we are dealing with the "December dilemma" or are just a bit overwhelmed by the ubiquity of ...
  
  
• Dvar Torah: The United States of Hanukah
  By Rabbi Steve Segar
  In a 2002 RT article, Rabbi Steve Segar notes, "The Hanukah story contains thematic elements that create cognitive dissonance or even undermine the cultural messages that our communities are attempting to cultivate through the observance of this holiday." Many American Jews might relate to the Helenizing forces more than the Maccabean tendency to root them out. Resonant within the story for many Reconstructionists and others is the struggle to live in multiple "civilizations" simultaneously with integrity.
  
  
• Dvar Torah: Three Reasons
  By Rabbi Howard Cohen
  Along with selecting special haftorot for each week to highlight an aspect of the Torah portion, the rabbis also chose special readings for the holidays. For the first Shabbat of Hanukah the rabbis selected Zechariah 2:14 -4:7. ...
  
  
• Essay: A Hanukah Story for the Children of Dor Hadash
  By Barbara Carr
  A story about a family's struggle to redefine their relationship with Hanukah and rededicate their intentions to the meaning of the holiday. Inspired by Kerry Olitsky's book, Eight Nights, Eight Lights.
  
  
• Essay: Who Can Remember?: A Hanukah Story
  By Sandy Brusin
  An empowering retelling of the Hanukah story that emphasizes theology and remembering rather than miracles or military might.
  
  
• How to: Video Demonstration of Lighting the Hanukah Menora and Singing the Blessings
  By Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat
  Listen and watch Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat as he demontrates lighting the Hanukah menorah. He's also thrown in "O' Hanukah, O' Hanukah" whose famous English words were written by Mordecai Kaplan's daughter, Judith Eisenstein.
  
  
• Listserve Thread: Teaching Hanukah: The Myth or the Miracle?
  By Sara Mosenkis
  Toni Bloomberg Grossman asks the edtalk listserv about how to teach young children about Hanukah, taking into account both the common story of the miracle of the oil and the fact that this is a midrash. Many educators respond with their practical and ideological thoughts about how to teach about Hanukah in a Reconstructionist fashion.
  
  
• Music: Light and Dark
  By Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Rabbi Margot L. Stein
  Words and sheet music for three-part vocal harmony for a Hanukah song about differences between dark and light, good and evil. Music and Lyrics by Margot L. Stein. Arrangement by Elizabeth Bolton.
  
  
• Program Description: Tzedakah And The Jewish Holidays: Giving For Social Change
  By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
  Ideas for giving opportunities throughout the Jewish year. Connects each Jewish holiday to the concept of tzedakah and recommends a relevant type of benficiary to support.
  
  
• Ritual: One for Each Night: A Hanukkah Study Guide for a Brighter Future
  By Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta, GA
  This award winning Hanukkah home guide includes a nightly ritual of replacing a light bulb in your house with an energy efficient CFL bulb, short teachings about the importance of saving energy, a light bulb joke, and a blessing. A great way of giving focus to Hanukkah at home.
  
  
• RT Article: The United States of Hanukkah
  By Rabbi Steve Segar
  Integrating the themes of bicultural identity