Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Reconstructionist Judaism, a progressive Jewish denomination.
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The Latest
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BINTEL BRIEF We plan to raise our son Jewish, but I’m opposed to circumcision for medical and moral reasons
A Reform Jew wonders how to honor tradition as well as their own sense of what is right
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Fast Forward Reconstructionists become second Jewish movement to support reparations for slavery
'Jewish teachings on accountability and repair and are heeding the voices of people of African descent,' said its president
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News In a first, Jew of color to lead major U.S. rabbinical school
Amanda Beckenstein Mbuvi’s first day of teaching a biblical Hebrew intensive to Sudanese seminary students went great. The second, fairly well. But by the third day it was clear that her pupils were falling behind. “Nobody was studying,” Mbuvi said. “Because when it got dark they didn’t have electricity.” That 2005 trip helped form Mbuvi’s…
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News Pinched by the pandemic, congregants are cutting synagogues dues from their household budgets
Across denominations and across the United States, Jewish families under financial pressure from the coronavirus pandemic are deciding that synagogue dues are an expense they can cut. “More congregations are seeing declines in members than are seeing growth,” said Amy Asin, vice-president of Strengthening Congregations, the synagogue advising arm at the Union of Reform Judaism….
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Fast Forward Reconstructionist Movement Backs Anti-BDS Measure – But 60 Rabbis Disagree
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Over 60 Reconstructionist rabbis and rabbinical students said they were disappointed in the movement for backing a congressional resolution that would condemn the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Reconstructing Judaism, an umbrella body for Reconstructionist groups, on April 3 joined another four progressive groups in backing a bipartisan anti-BDS resolution…
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News A Small, Edgy Jewish Group Gathers – For The First Time In Eight Years
When the Reconstructionist movement voted two years ago to admit rabbinical students with non-Jewish partners or spouses to their seminary, the move triggered a wave of intense reaction, but little surprise at its provenance. After all, Reconstructionism — American Judaism’s smallest and youngest movement — has been over the course of its history the source…
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Life Why Are American Synagogues Of Different Denominations Merging?
For Kathy Jacobs, the decision to join Agudas Achim Congregation wasn’t really much of a decision. The Coralville, Iowa synagogue was the only one within miles of Iowa City when Jacobs and her late husband moved to the area in 1998. This also meant that it wasn’t necessarily her decision to join a synagogue that…
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Fast Forward Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Changes Name
(JTA) — The rabbinical school and umbrella organization for Reconstructionist Judaism has a new name: Reconstructing Judaism. The name, announced Monday, comes along with a new logo of a sprouting tree as well as a new slogan, “Deeply rooted. Boldly relevant.” The rabbinical school in suburban Philadelphia, which serves 39 students, will be called the College…
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Culture Why saying ‘L’shana Tova’ on Rosh Hashanah may not be the correct phrase
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Opinion With killing of Hezbollah’s chief, Israel occupies the inarguable moral high ground
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Culture A Jewish prophet of the 1980s would be horrified to see that we didn’t heed his warnings
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Fast Forward Meet Lev Kreitman, who brought down Tel Aviv shooter and survived Nova music festival on Oct. 7
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion A year after Oct. 7, Israel has the chance to remake its future — for better or worse
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Opinion Campus protests defined the year since Oct. 7. Could they actually change U.S. policy?
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Special Report At the kibbutz hit hardest on Oct. 7, a wrenching debate over how to rebuild
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Opinion Oct. 7 changed Israel. A year later, it must change American Jews, too
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