values of the reconstructionist movement
Reconstructionist Judaism is a progressive contemporary
approach to Jewish life. Visit the Reconstructionist
Federation's website for specific questions about interfaith
mariages, GLBT inclusion, women's roles, kashrut, Halakah/Jewish Law,
conversion, sacred texts, etc.
tikkun olam
Our diverse communities emphasize acts of social justice
alongside prayer and study as an essential part of their spiritual
practice. Reconstructionist Judaism affirms that religion can and must
be a powerful force for promoting communal discussion about ethics and
values. The Torah tradition itself is a deep and wide resource for this
project. Yet we know that generations of Jews have sharpened and
distilled the ethical insights of Judaism as a result of the encounter
with other cultures and traditions, and so it is our time.
Tikkun olam at Congregation
Ner Shalom - programs our congregation is involved in to better our
community and our world.
spirituality
 Reconstructionists
hold diverse ideas about God, but we share an emphasis on Godliness --
those hopes, beliefs, and values within us that impel us to work for a
better world, that give us strength and solace in times of need, that
challenge us to grow, and that deepen our joy in moments of
celebration.
gender-neutral language
Reconstructionist prayerbooks speak of God beyond the
gender concepts of male or female, and beyond the traditional metaphors
of "king of the universe." God is addressed as, among other things,
"the Healer," "The Teacher," "The Comforter," and "The Presence." We
are engaged in the spiritual adventure of discovering the many
attributes of God.
tradition
We are deeply respectful of traditional Jewish
observances, but also open to new interpretations and forms of
religious expression. Reconstructionists find joy, wisdom and identity
in Jewish teachings. But we do not feel compelled to follow traditions
that are no longer meaningful or appropriate. As Rabbi Mordecai M.
Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionsism, taught, tradition has "a
vote, but not a veto." Reconstructionism retains a warmly traditional
(and fully egalitarian) approach to Jewish religious practice
For more information about the Reconstructionist
movement, please visit the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation's website and
it's West
Coast page, and the websites of our sister Reconstructionist havurot and congregations.
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