Jewish Thought

Redeeming God's Wrath - A Poem

Poem written from the perspective of a Jewish woman about to be liberated from slavery in Egypt. She is struggling with her conflicting emotions of joy at her impending freedom and sadness with the loss surrounding her.

Topics: Jewish Life, Divrei Torah, Jewish Thought

Type: Dvar Torah

Being a Politically Conservative Reconstructionist

It's not an oxymoron

Topics: Jewish Life, Reconstructionism Today, Jewish Thought, Holy Days and Rituals, Reconstructionist History, Philosophy and Theology, Reconstructionist Judaism

Type: RT Article

The Tension Between Law and Redemption on Passover

Rabbi Gluskin argues that the tension between law and rebellion, between status quo and the desire to bring redemption now, is played out richly and artfully in the liturgy of the Passover Seder. Specific references to the text are explained in this light.

Topics: Jewish Life, Divrei Torah, Jewish Practice, Jewish Thought, Tikkun Olam, Pesach

Type: Dvar Torah

The World As Sacred Space: Judaic Teachings and Ecological Consciousness

Rabbi Fred Sherlinder Dobb lays out the Jewish case for environmental awareness and action. Providing sources and viewpoints from classic and modern Jewish sources, Dobb wants us to see contemporary concerns in the context of Jewish concerns over time. He also raises questions about views within Judaism which may be counter to his case.

Topics: Education, Jewish Life, Jewish Thought, Tikkun Olam

Type: Article

Judaism and Justice

This is a reprint from a Fall, 2003 article published in The Reconstructionist. The article emphasizes the important connection between Judaism and justice and argues that making those connections for our communities will draw Jews to Judaism.

Topics: Jewish Life, Jewish Practice, Jewish Thought, Tikkun Olam, Jewish Community

Type: Article

Is Reconstructionist Judaism For You?

This introduction to Reconstructionist Judaism explores the philosophy, theology, values, practice and organization of the movement.

Topics: Education, Jewish Life, Teaching Reconstructionism, Jewish Practice, Jewish Thought, Jewish Community, Reconstructionist History, Philosophy and Theology, Religious Values, Reconstructionist Judaism

Type: Article

Abraham's Second Life

Noticing that the Torah is pretty much finished with Abraham thirty-five years before he dies, this dvar-Torah goes on to discuss the kinds of blessings that a "second life" can bring us.

Topics: Jewish Life, Divrei Torah, Jewish Thought

Type: Dvar Torah

The United States of Hanukah

In a 2002 RT article, Rabbi Steve Segar notes, "The Hanukah story contains thematic elements that create cognitive dissonance or even undermine the cultural messages that our communities are attempting to cultivate through the observance of this holiday." Many American Jews might relate to the Helenizing forces more than the Maccabean tendency to root them out. Resonant within the story for many Reconstructionists and others is the struggle to live in multiple "civilizations" simultaneously with integrity.

Topics: Jewish Life, Divrei Torah, Reconstructionism Today, Holiday Resources, Jewish Thought, Holidays, Hanukkah

Type: Dvar Torah

How Should We Respond To Human Need?

Psalm 41:2: Happy are those who give to the needy. The Hebrew verb for the word give, maskil, has multiple meanings. This ambiguity of meaning provides an opportunity for one of the rabbinic sages, Rabbi Jonah to think differently about taking care of the needy. Three differing versions of Jonah's "think different" approach are presented in this text study.

Topics: Jewish Life, Jewish Thought, Tikkun Olam, Jewish Community

Type: Text Study

Eulogy for Rabbi Ira Eisenstein z"l

Eulogy delivered by Rabbi Richard Hirsh at the funeral of Rabbi Ira Eisenstein On July 1, 2001.

Topics: Jewish Life, Jewish Thought, Reconstructionist Judaism

Type: Speech

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Redeeming God's Wrath - A Poem

Being a Politically Conservative Reconstructionist

The Tension Between Law and Redemption on Passover

The World As Sacred Space: Judaic Teachings and Ecological Consciousness

Judaism and Justice

Is Reconstructionist Judaism For You?

Abraham's Second Life

The United States of Hanukah

How Should We Respond To Human Need?

Eulogy for Rabbi Ira Eisenstein z"l

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Jewish Thought

Pages

This is the archival site for Jewishrecon.org. It is no longer updated.

For the new site, please visit https://ReconstructingJudaism.org