Explore: Practices for Defending Democracy
November 13, 2024
These 20–plus essays describe, from a Jewish perspective, practices that citizens employ to defend democracy and, if necessary, resist tyranny.
These 20–plus essays describe, from a Jewish perspective, practices that citizens employ to defend democracy and, if necessary, resist tyranny.
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., and Rabbi William Plevan, Ph.D., dive deep into Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan’s thinking on democracy and pluralism and why it matters today.
Tareq Abu Hamed, Ph.D., and Rabbi Michael M. Cohen discuss how the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies continues to bring Arabs and Jews together during wartime.
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer’s essay frames defending democracy as a series of spiritual practices informed by Jewish teachings.
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., traces the Reconstructionist embrace of democracy, laying out the history while positing how best to respond to the present and future.
The song by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld is inspired by Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, a symbol of hope in dark times.
Maria Pulzetti, human rights attorney turned rabbinical student, shares how she approaches Jewish texts that seem to contradict her worldview. She also discusses reproductive justice through a Jewish lens.
Reconstructionists helped coin the term “peoplehood” and Rabbi Bob Gluck has been thinking about what it means in today’s complex times. For deeper insight, he spoke with many Reconstructionist rabbinic colleagues about the past, present and future of Jewish peoplehood.
These new and previously published essays offer a range of perspectives on how to engage with Torah, Revelation, Shavuot and, ultimately, Judaism itself.
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
