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Marking Life’s Joys and Sorrows

Reconstructionist Judaism is all about a negotiation between the past, the present and the future. Reconstructionism cherishes the human need to mark life’s joys and sorrows through the performance of ritual. Some of this power comes from the fact that the ritual connects us to centuries of practice and to the Jewish story itself. Just as important is the fact that rituals bring supportive communities together.

Ever-Evolving Rituals, Rooted and Relevant

Ritual innovation is part of the Reconstructionist DNA starting with the first bat mitzvah, in 1922, and leading to gender transition ceremonies and non-gendered B mitzvahs today. 

Reconstructionist communities prioritize rituals inherited from our ancestors. (When) If the meaning behind a ritual no longer resonates with contemporary sensibilities, Reconstructionist communities have been (are) empowered to collectively create new meanings. 

Communities and individuals may decide that certain rituals can no longer be reconstructed. And they are empowered to create new rituals for the many moments that tradition has not recognized. Reconstructionist Judaism offers the encouragement to create new rituals and liturgy.

Ritualwell

Rituals provide an occasion for us to be surrounded by supportive communities in an act imbued with contemporary meaning.

Since 2001, Ritualwell has helped hundreds of thousands of users find, adapt and create rituals expressing their Jewish lives and practices, – offering resources for moments for which Jewish tradition has been silent.

The Reconstructionist Network