Rani Yavin, the head of Beit Midrash Elul, a pluralistic study center in Jerusalem addresses the JRF convention in Philadelphia on November 10, 2006.

Incoming JRF President Bob Barkin (left) and outgoing JRF President Dan Cedarbaum.

Bob Barkin of Adat Shalom in Bethesda Maryland is set to become the JRF president this Friday at the plenary session of the 41st Convention of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.

The JRF Board meeting which occurred yesterday was presided over by outgoing Board President Daniel Cedarbaum.  read more »

Orthodox Jewish ritual slaughter of meat is fraught with problems, from corruption to cruelty to animals. Micah Becker-Klein raises the possibility of reclaiming the art of ritual slaughter for ourselves.

Rabbi Becker-Kleins workshop is in the first slot on Thursday morning at 9 A.M.

Orthodox Jewish ritual slaughter of meat is fraught with problems, from corruption to cruelty to animals. Micah Becker-Klein raises the possibility of reclaiming the art of ritual slaughter for ourselves.

Rabbi Becker-Klein's workshop is in the first slot on Thursday morning at 9 A.M.

JRF Board gushed enthusiasm in their welcome of the youngest member to the Board, Zachary Teutsch. Zachary is a 23 year-old graduate from Brown University who works for the SEIU and the Change to Win Federation in Washington D.C. His job recently has included operational work with get-out-the-vote efforts in Pennsylvania. (Excellent work!)

JRF board members expressed strong interest in reaching out to younger folk and see Zach's appointment to the board as an important step to better outreach to 20-somethings.

Outgoing JRF Board President Daniel Cedarbaum, currently 48, began his board tenure of 16 years (so far) at the age of 32.

Miraj members Juliet Spitzer, Geela Rayzel Raphael and Margot Stein were preparing for the kumsitz (performance) slated for Saturday night of the JRF Convention. In this video below they welcome the convention goers to Philadelphia and sing their song "Zeh Hayom" "This is the day!"

As convention nears, and more than 400 Reconstructionist Jews descend upon Philadelphia to gather, there is indeed a lot of work to be done.

One among many of these jobs was pulling together enough Shabbat prayer books to provide a siddur (prayer book) for everyone.

That's a lot of prayer books.  read more »

Miraj members Juliet Spitzer, Geela Rayzel Raphael and Margot Stein were preparing for the kumsitz (performance) slated for Saturday night of the JRF Convention. In this video below they welcome the convention goers to Philadelphia and sing their song "Zeh Hayom" "This is the day!"