Events
Herb Tobin will focus his session on fundraising and build on the more basic fundraising PEARL session he offered last year. In this session, he will provide more advanced ideas about the realities of congregational fundraising. His presentation will also focus on the larger contextual challenges of congregational fundraising in this challenging economic climate.
Listen to the audio recording of this call by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2584
"In Reconstructionist circles, making our communities inclusive is one of our chief goals. We are acutely aware of the barriers that people encounter when they contemplate belonging to the Jewish community.. the Reconstructionist commitment to inclusivity is not only based on a desire to be warm and welcoming. It is deeply rooted in a commitment to democratic values and an understanding of the evolving nature of Jewish civilization." Exploring Judaism (200), Staub and Alpert, p. 118-9. http://jrf.org/resolutions
Our Passover tradition teaches us that a mixed multitude went up together with the Israelites out of Egypt and that we are to open our doors to the stranger and needy especially as we contemplate our own freedom. This call will look at how we can grow our communities in terms of inclusion in multiple area of Jewish life (e.g. Intermarried, GLBT, physical needs).
Listen to the audio portion of this call at http://jrf.org/node/2591
Packet material is attached below.
Jewish Spiritual Direction or Hashpa'ah is a process for exploring our connection with what we experience as God, Spirit, Truth- however we express and understand the Sacred in our lives. Through these explorations, those engaged in spiritual direction, try to discern the presence of the Sacred, in their everyday lives, work, celebrations, and struggles. Since 1998, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College has offered this form of spiritual support to rabbinical students, independent Jewish spiritual direction training programs have developed around the United States, and some Reconstructionist communities have begun offering group spiritual direction for their members through trained clergy or spiritual directors. This call will explore the historic and current evolution of Jewish spiritual direction, some of the key elements of the experience, and how this sacred practice can help individuals and communities deepen their connections to God, self, community and the world.
RRC Program: http://www.rrc.edu/site/c.iqLPIWOEKrF/b.2838473/k.3016/Notes_on_the_Spiritual_Direction_Program.htm
You can listen to the audio recording of this call by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2599
As part of JRF's ongoing Sustainable Synagogue Initiative, this call is a follow up to the very successful synagogue greening calls of the last two years, which had over 60 participants from 40 JRF congregations. This call will feature some of JRF's leading communities and their work in creating financially, socially, environmentally and spiritually sustainable Jewish communities as a way of growing in individual and home life as well as community and the planet at large. This year's call will focus on individuals and communities who are taking a spiritually-centered approach to their environmental practices within and outside the walls of congregational life.
To prepare for the call please see previous Omer sessions on Sustainability at:
http://jrf.org/omer2008-enviro
For Sustainable Synagogue Initiative Resources see:
http://jrf.org/Sustainable_Synagogue_Resources
http://jrf.org/Jewish-Climate-Change-Initiative
The audio recording of this call can be accessed here: http://jrf.org/node/2610
As our communities grow and explore a variety of approaches to compliment tradition-based egalitarian Jewish practice, many Reconstructionist communities have begun integrating ethical conduct agreements, spiritually centered decision making processes, meditation, mussar study, "Torah" yoga, healing services, chant and other forms of spiritual experience into our core offerings. This call we explore some of these forms and their connection to personal and communal growth.
The audio recording of this call can be found by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2620
"When we worship in public we know our life is part of a larger life, a wave of an ocean of being- the first-hand experience of that larger life which is God." Mordecai Kaplan
This session will explore the dynamics of worship and the human impulse to pray (l'hitpalel, daven) in and of itself, some of the deep structures of Jewish prayer services (esp. the morning service, Shacharit), as well as the liturgy that has evolved in the Reconstructionist movement, from the revolutionary 1945 Shabbat Prayerbook to the expansive Kol Haneshamah prayer bookseries developed by the Reconstructionist movement Prayer Book Commission in the 1990's, chaired by Dr. David Teutsch.
You can listen to the audio recording of this session by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2663
"Each civilization produces its own form of art, which expresses most articulately the way that reality is structured in that culture. Over the thousands of years of the evolution of Jewish civilization, artists have written poetry and music, desigend synagogues and ritual objects, crafted clothing and stories, composed folk dance, and illuminated manuscripts. Jewish art plays an important role in the spiritual lives of Reconstructionists in several different ways." (exploring Judaism, p.86, http://stores.jrfbookstore.org/-strse-30/Exploring-Judaism-cln--A-Reconstructionist/Detail.bok)
This session will explore the various ways art and Jewish life are being expressed and developed by individuals and communities with a Reconstructionist perspective.
The audio recording of this call can be found here: http://jrf.org/node/2670
What role do executive directors play in Reconstructionist congregations, and how do you know when your congregation is ready to explore the idea of hiring one? Join executive director/lay leader teams from two JRF affiliates: Chapel Hill Kehillah (Chapel Hill, NC) and Congregation Beth Evergreen (Evergreen, Colorado) to hear the process by which these two congregations developed a position, interviewed, hired and maintain an executive director position. Also learn about the newly formed group, CEDAR (Congregational Executive Directors and Administrators in Reconstructionism), which provides informal professional networking for JRF executive directors and senior administrators.
You can listen to the audio recording of this call at http://jrf.org/node/2680
Spiritual Development, the arch of the Soul, is a lifelong journey. How we learn across the lifecycle and how we make connections to developing greater mindfulness, educate ourselves and teach others in a spiritually dynamic way whether our constituency is children, teens, young adults, middle-age adults or elders is the focus of this call.
You can listen to the audio recording of this call by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2681
In this preparatory session for Shavuot, we will look at the spiritual practice of studying sacred text, with emphasis on the traditional themes of revelation (both of the earth's bounty and of Torah from a Reconstructionist perspective), of faith (The Book of Ruth) and how we come "down from the mountain" of peak experiences to live ethical and spiritually conscious lives in connection with our faith communities and the world-at-large.
You can listen to the audio recording of this call here: http://jrf.org/node/2686
New, exciting, and innovative experiential learning programs are cropping up across the Jewish world; some are happening within our own Reconstructionist movement. This class will focus on exciting experiential youth education programs that combine the best of camp experiential learning and non-traditional congregational schools.
You can download the audio recording of this call by clicking here: http://jrf.org/node/2704
Do you wonder how many different types of prayer services your congregation can effectively offer given your particular rabbinic and/or lay leadership, the physical space in which your community holds services, or the number of people who attend any or all of your services? Does your congregation struggle to balance the needs of “regular davenners” and “b’nai mitzvah guests?” Is there a Shabbat school that you try to integrate into the main congregational Shabbat service? Are there ongoing efforts to offer family services, children's services or a "junior congregation?"
Most congregations face the challenge of members with varied communal prayer service priorities. This class will explore several models that JRF congregations have adopted to balance different communal prayer needs and interests. We will delineate the challenges each service structure addresses and the values they reflect. Participants will be able to explore how different prayer service configurations might respond to challenges their congregation seeks to address.
You can download the audio recording of this call here: http://jrf.org/node/2765
Creative “branding” and marketing of Reconstructionist Judaism is crucial to the growth of individual Reconstructionist congregations and havurot and to the movement-as-a-whole. The work of the new JRF Marketing Advisory Group, which consists primarily of five professionals in marketing or related fields, all of whom are members of JRF congregations and generously donating their time to this project, is focusing on this important goal. This interactive conference call will share some of the wealth that is being developed by this committee.
The audio recording of this call can be found here: http://jrf.org/node/2778
Before a congregational lay leader, such as a board president or committee/project chair, delegates to others, an appropriate structure, clear goals and satisfactory lines of communication need to be in place in the congregation. This session will explore these key elements along with the importance of engaging people with the right skills and talents for appropriate positions and cultivating them as potential new leaders for the congregation. The basics of what to delegate, to whom, when and how to follow up successfully will also be addressed.
The audio recording of the call can be found here: http://jrf.org/node/2779
JRF invites our Midwestern Region's congregants to join us for our annual celebration, this year to be held at Ravinia. The event is on Tuesday, July 20 at 6:00 pm, and will feature Peter and Paul in a tribute to Mary.
We will be honoring our Moreh Derekh (Those who show us the path) Honorees:
Steve Blonder - Four term president of Ezra Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation, Steve led the synagogue through a significant transition and transformation.
Deborah Newberger - Deborah Newberger is a two-term past president of Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue in Northbrook, IL. A member since 1997, Deborah has served on the board of directors, youth group committee, fundraising committee, sabbatical committee, and is currently chairing the capital campaign committee -- working to secure a permanent home for Shir Hadash.
Carole Caplan - Carole Caplan is proud to be president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, IL, and to have helped build their new building as the "greenest" house of worship in America
Marc Hurwitz - Two-term President of Congregation Shir Hadash synagogue in Milwaukee, WI, has been a member since its founding in 1989. He chaired the Membership committee for 10 years, and has been actively involved in special programming and the development of the congregational school.
Mayyim Hayyim (http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/) Community Mikveh and Education Center is hosting the international Mikveh Conference, “Gathering the Waters” in Boston, October 10-12, 2010. JRF is a partner for this event, and we encourage you to attend this exciting program.
The conference will provide an in-depth exploration of the contemporary mikveh in theory and practice. Internationally renowned scholars, clergy, and educators will teach about immersion as a powerful tool for spiritual renewal, marking life transitions, and observing mitzvot.
Mayyim Hayyim (http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/) Community Mikveh and Education Center is hosting the international Mikveh Conference, “Gathering the Waters” in Boston, October 10-12, 2010. JRF is a partner for this event, and we encourage you to attend this exciting program.
The conference will provide an in-depth exploration of the contemporary mikveh in theory and practice. Internationally renowned scholars, clergy, and educators will teach about immersion as a powerful tool for spiritual renewal, marking life transitions, and observing mitzvot.
Mayyim Hayyim (http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/) Community Mikveh and Education Center is hosting the international Mikveh Conference, “Gathering the Waters” in Boston, October 10-12, 2010. JRF is a partner for this event, and we encourage you to attend this exciting program.
The conference will provide an in-depth exploration of the contemporary mikveh in theory and practice. Internationally renowned scholars, clergy, and educators will teach about immersion as a powerful tool for spiritual renewal, marking life transitions, and observing mitzvot.
