Events
The "Transformative" in Transformative Jewish Texts
At its core transformative is defined as "A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better." So what does it mean to us in Jewish life? What texts have the potential to change our ethical character and/or our connection to Judaism? What power do we attribute to Jewish texts?
Gems about textual teaching, drawn from a project involving seven Reconstructionist congregations and RRC student rabbis, as well as JRF education and congregational leadership programs (such as PEARL) will be examined for what they both reveal and conceal about Jewish text study, and the implications for the classroom, the boardroom, programming, social justice action and so on.
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
Intro: http://jrf.org/showres?rid=194
2005 Omer Initiative: http://63.115.67.94/pirke-avot/index.html
Sustainability http://jrf.org/omer/2007 (http://jrf.org/files/Omer%20Text%20Study%20Packet%202007.pdf)
Parker Palmer, To Know as Are Known (1993)
Where schools give students hundreds of pages of text and urges them to speed read, the monks dwelled on a page or a passage or a line for hours and days at a time. This method allows reading to open, not fill, our learning space.
When all students in the room have read the same brief piece in a way that allows them to enter and occupy the text, a common space is created in which students, teachers, and texts can meet. It is an open space since a good text will raise as many questions as it answers. It is a hospitable, reassuring space since everyone has walked around in it beforehand and becomes acquainted with its dimensions. Too often we fail to capitalize on the space-creating quality. We hold students individually accountable for what they read on texts, but seldom allow their reading to create a common space in which the group can meet in mutual accountability for their learning.
(The Five Books of Moses. The Schocken Bible: Volume I, commentary and notes by Everett Fox Pgs.256-258, 268.)
Now Moshe was shepherding the flock of Yitro his father-in-law,
priest of Midyan.?
He led the flock behind the wilderness-?
and he came to the mountain of God, to Horev.?
And YHWH’s messenger was seen by him?
in the flame of a fire out of the midst of a bush.?
He saw:
here, the bush is burning with fire,?
and the bush is not consumed!?
Moshe said:?
Now let me turn aside
that I may see this great sight-?
why the bush does not burn up!?
When YHWH saw that he had turned aside to see,
God called to him out of the midst of the bush,
Moshe, Moshe,
he said:?
Here I am.
He said:
Do not come near here,
put off your sandal from your foot,?
for the place on which you stand-it is holy ground!?
and he said:?
I am the God of your father,
the God of Avraham,?
the God of Yitzchok,?
and the God of Yaakov.?
Moshe concealed his face,
for he was afraid to gaze upon God.?(Exodus 3:1-6)
The Dynamics of Growth: Outreach/Inreach, Marketing, Branding and the Covenant of Membership: Good growth isn’t only about numbers; if your congregation is to grow, it must focus also on dynamic changes, starting with the way you build and sustain relationships, both inside and outside of the congregational setting. How do we effectively and authentically articulate those thing which are deeply relevant to our communities in a way that encourages meaningful engagement? This session will share practical ways of applying your community's values to positively affect both internal engagement and outreach to potential members.
"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.
NOTE: To maximize communal learning, congregations are encourage to form a team (including clergy) and sign up for all three sessions designed for your congregational size, see http://jrf.org/pearl/sessions/2012
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
http://jrf.org/pearl/2011/Dynamics-of-Growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2009/dynamics-of-growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2010/Diversity-Sacred-Community
Additional resources: http://jrf.org/keruv-library
The Dynamics of Growth: Outreach/Inreach, Marketing, Branding and the Covenant of Membership: Good growth isn’t only about numbers; if your congregation is to grow, it must focus also on dynamic changes, starting with the way you build and sustain relationships, both inside and outside of the congregational setting. How do we effectively and authentically articulate those thing which are deeply relevant to our communities in a way that encourages meaningful engagement? This session will share practical ways of applying your community's values to positively affect both internal engagement and outreach to potential members.
"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.
NOTE: To maximize communal learning, congregations are encourage to form a team (including clergy) and sign up for all three sessions designed for your congregational size, see http://jrf.org/pearl/sessions/2012
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
http://jrf.org/pearl/2011/Dynamics-of-Growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2009/dynamics-of-growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2010/Diversity-Sacred-Community
Additional resources: http://jrf.org/keruv-library
The Dynamics of Growth: Outreach/Inreach, Marketing, Branding and the Covenant of Membership: Good growth isn’t only about numbers; if your congregation is to grow, it must focus also on dynamic changes, starting with the way you build and sustain relationships, both inside and outside of the congregational setting. How do we effectively and authentically articulate those thing which are deeply relevant to our communities in a way that encourages meaningful engagement? This session will share practical ways of applying your community's values to positively affect both internal engagement and outreach to potential members.
"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.
NOTE: To maximize communal learning, congregations are encourage to form a team (including clergy) and sign up for all three sessions designed for your congregational size, see http://jrf.org/pearl/sessions/2012
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
http://jrf.org/pearl/2011/Dynamics-of-Growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2009/dynamics-of-growth
http://jrf.org/pearl/2010/Diversity-Sacred-Community
Additional resources: http://jrf.org/keruv-library
This call will explore best practices for creating committees and buy-in for effective social justice work in our congregations, including integrated youth and adult education and tikkun programming, as well as service-learning, decision-making and advocacy outside our communities. As well, as part of JRF's ongoing Sustainable Synagogue Initiative, these sessions will focus on Jewish values and successful greening of synagogue life. Special focus on texts and traditions on religious and ecological consciousness and sustainable practices in ritual, programming and policy aspects of Jewish communal life, using alternative energies, and emerging best practices.
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
http://jrf.org/pearl/2008/living-our-values-of-tikkun-olam-inside-and-ou...
http://jrf.org/pearl/2011/Sustainability
This session provides a forum to discuss social justice organizing in faith community, including developing policies and procedures for dealing with advocacy issues in your own congregation. Many Reconstructionist clergy and lay leaders have led the way in their communities to start and grow "CBCO" networks, transforming their own congregations in the process. We will also discuss drawing others to your community who are already drawn to this work, leveraging the larger community of organizations and professional organizers to amplify your potential for success, the benefits of working in diversity, and thinking about your own internal leadership development so as to effectively pursue this work.
Expected Preparation (Written and Audio):
http://jrf.org/pearl/2008/tzedek-tzedek-tirdof-actively-pursing-social-j...
http://jrf.org/pearl/2009/cbco-congregation-based-community-organizing
