Belonging to Something Larger
Your dues to the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities help:
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Nurture communities that are inclusive, participatory, and dynamic
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Run Camp JRF
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Print prayer books
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Educate Jewish leaders
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Renew Jewish thought and philosophy at large
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Expand the presence of progressive Jewish communities throughout North America and the world
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Represent the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities in larger Jewish settings
Affiliated Congregations and Havurot:
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Identify as Reconstructionist congregations
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Participate in our movement-wide Plenum
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Receive help searching for, hiring, and retaining a Reconstructionist rabbi
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May apply for an Aviv no-interest loan, designed to help grow individual congregations and the Reconstructionist movement
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Receive regular news of the movement electronically, including a relaunched Reconstructionism Today!
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Qualify for discounts on Reconstructionist Press publications, including the Kol HaNeshamah prayer book series
and the three-volume Guide to Jewish Practice
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Receive help marketing their congregations and growing membership
Resources
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Congregational Marketing Resource Kit
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New in 2016: a preferred partnership with Israel Experts to support Israel engagement and Israel travel
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JewishRecon.org, relaunching in 2016
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Ritualwell.org
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Jewish distance learning
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Peer listservs for Reconstructionist community leaders
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Experts among the RRC faculty and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities staff in such areas as Israel engagement, ritual and theology, marketing, communications, and modern Jewish identity
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Assistance with experiential and informal education
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Information about best practices for congregational administration and governance
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Participation in local presidents’ and/or rabbis’ groups where available
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Membership for your executive director in CEDAR, the professional organization for Reconstructionist executive directors
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Membership for your educators in RENA, the Reconstructionist Educators of North America
Programs and Education
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Participation in peer-to-peer networks on topics of shared concern and facilitated by RRC/JRC staff
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Participation in local programs organized by movement staff and crafted to match local interest (Program planning and execution will require local volunteers)
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Leadership training for presidents and rabbis
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Access to visiting scholars (Scheduling to be mutually agreed upon. Fees depend upon the length and format of the visit and the scholar. A listing of RRC faculty can be found at www.rrc.edu/faculty)
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Jewish distance learning
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Reconstructionist youth retreats designed for grades 4–12
Knowledge of the Movement
Affiliated communities have access to the expert knowledge of RRC/JRC faculty and staff on topics such as:
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Reconstructionist thought and practice
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Assistance in searching for, hiring, and retaining a Reconstructionist rabbi
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Governance (e.g., budgets, dues, bylaws, personnel policies)
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Leadership development and board training
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Communications and new media
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Curriculum development and teacher training
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Lifelong learning programs
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Experiential education
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Membership growth strategies and congregational marketing
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Liturgy and ritual, including use of the Kol HaNeshamah prayer books
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Israel programming, politics, and culture
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Jewish spiritual practice
A fuller description of the benefits of Reconstructionist affiliation is included in the materials that can be downloaded here:
2016-2017 Affiiation Benefits Package.pdf