See the file attachment for a listing of news around the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. It is in Word format, intended for newsletter editors to cut and post into their newsletters.

It's also available here for our web site readers. Enjoy.

On January 8, 2007, leaders of the Reconstructionist movement joined with leaders from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and the Union for Reform Judaism in sending a letter to members of Congress calling for an increase in the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. This effort sprang from relationships established at a meeting in November, 2006 in which a joint statement on Israel was released. They come together to issue the following statement:  read more »

Ed. note: Rabbi Rick Brody serves Temple Ami Shalom in West Covina, CA. He is a 2002 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

As a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association I stand in proud and joyful solidarity with the more progressive members of the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative rabbis' group) who have won a major victory for Judaism and humanity. More specifically these beneficiaries include:  read more »

• folks who wish to stand under a chuppah with their gay partner and an officiating Conservative rabbi;
• the folks who, gay or straight, wish to be that rabbi;
• those who wish to be out, real, whole and be Conservative rabbis, cantors, education directors, teachers, administrators etc.

Check out our linkroll which includes mainstream press, blog entries, and basic information regarding the recent actions of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative movement.  read more »

Photo of JTS Courtyard in Snow Storm by John Leys, used with perission.After its two-day meeting in New York, the Conservative movement's Committee of Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly voted to endorse three conflicting teshuvot, or halachic responsa, regarding proposed changes to that movement's policies—two upholding the longstanding ban on homosexuality and one permitting ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis and same-sex commitment ceremonies.  read more »

Today, Dr. Carl Sheingold, JRF's Executive Vice President, Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and Rabbi Richard Hirsh, Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, released a joint statement acknowledging the vote and providing background on the Reconstructionist movement's longstanding history of inclusion of gays and lesbians.

Photo of John RiehlSince its publication in 1994, Shabbat Vehagim—the Reconstructionist Shabbat and Festival Prayerbook—has been used by thousands and of Reconstructionist and non-Reconstructionist Jews for worship, prayer, and study in the synagogue and at home. Shortly after the publication of the Prayerbook Caryn Navy and I began the task of taking an electronic version of the prayerbook and creating a Braille version which would be fully usable and accessible to visually-impaired Jews. The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF) fully supported this work, as did JBI International, which enthusiastically agreed to make copies of the prayerbook available to anyone requesting a copy, at no charge, once a "blind-user-friendly" version of the prayerbook had been produced.  read more »

At a meeting on November 29th, 2006, at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, KY, leaders of three major North American Jewish denominations and the Presbyterian Church affirmed their common vision and pledged to continue to work together with other Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders for a just peace in the Middle East.  read more »

Read the statement.

The following JRF congregations are actively participating:

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Bet Am Shalom, White Plains, NY
Beth Samuel Jewish Center, Ambridge PA
Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
Bnai Israel, Willimantic, CT
Chapel Hill Kehillah, Chapel Hill, NC
Columbia Jewish Congregation, Columbia, MD
Congregation Beth Am, San Antonio, TX
Congregation Beth Shalom, Naperville IL
Congregation Dorshei Emet, Montreal, Canada
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton, MA
Dor Hadash Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA
Dorshei Derekh, Philadelphia, PA
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL
Kehilat Hanahar, New Hope, PA
Kehillat Israel, Lansing, MI
Kehillat Israel, Pacific Palisades, CA
Kol HaLev, Cleveland, OH
Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Or Hadash, Ft. Washington, PA
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Wyncote, PA
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, Plandome, NY
Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel, Maywood, NJ
Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, WA
Temple Beth Sholom in Salem, Oregon
Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, MA
Temple Sinai, Amherst, NY
University Synagogue, Irvine, CA
West End Synagogue, New York, NY

Learn more about this initiative...

A press release has gone out to Jewish and mainstream press nationally. Feel free to download the attached relase and forward it as you see fit. Please email me at ltuttle@jrf.org to let me know that you have done so.  read more »

If you would like a release tailored to a specific city that includes mention of newly elected JRF officers and board members from your region, I am happy to forward one to you.

On Saturday, November 11, as a prelude to the joyful kumsitz (song fest) that would follow, incoming President Bob Barkin shared his vision for JRF.

Read the entire speech.

Here is an excerpt:

We have great contributions to make in repairing the world. In our parasha this week, Vayera, Abraham pleads, even negotiates with Adonai, to spare the lives of the wicked people of Sodom and Gomora if only he can find a few righteous individuals. In fact, Midrash says that Abraham was chosen as the patriarch of our people specifically because he would stand up to even the Highest Power in the defense of justice. And, today we note further that Abraham’s example is even more remarkable because he was working not just for his own family, not just for his own tribe, but on behalf of all humanity. His sense of social justice is a guide for us today.

 read more »