Coming Together
March 16, 2017
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan once taught that religious identity is based on the “three Bs” of believing, belonging, and behaving. Most religious traditions begin with a
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D., is Rabbi Emeritus of Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation in Pacific Palisades, California. A past president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, Steven has served on the boards of many non-profit organizations, including Chrysalis, Global Children’s Organization, I Have a Dream Foundation, and The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring. He is the recipient of numerous community awards, including the Micah Award for founding the largest full-service homeless shelter in Los Angeles. A nationally recognized expert in the field of moral education, he has written numerous books on the topic, as well as on interfaith family issues. His latest book is A Year With Mordecai Kaplan: Wisdom on the Weekly Torah Portion. Steven’s earned degrees include two bachelor’s degrees, in philosophy and political science, from the University of California, Davis; a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California; and a Ph.D. in religion from Sierra University. He was ordained in 1976 by the Hebrew Union College.
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan once taught that religious identity is based on the “three Bs” of believing, belonging, and behaving. Most religious traditions begin with a
In a famous Hasidic saying, the Kotzker Rebbe was once asked: “Where does God dwell?” to which he replied, “Wherever you let Him in.” So
The words we find this week in chapter twenty of the Book of Exodus have undoubtedly influenced more individuals in the Western world than any
“How do you know when you have really grown up?” I remember being asked that question one evening by one of my 10th grade Confirmation
Names are very important. They have a power all their own. There are names that inspired revolutions and overturned entire civilizations. There are names that
A woman in our congregation once came to see me with a heavy heart. Her son was soon to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. She told
When I was sixteen my family moved from Santa Monica to Sacramento. I had just finished my first year of high school and had been
“All dreams follow the interpreter.” Talmud, Berakhot 55b Everyone has dreams. Some of us dream of heights we intend to scale, battles we intend to
What is Reconstructionist Judaism? Its essence is contained in the phrase, “Judaism is the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people.” Unpacking this phrase, we find five simple keys to understanding the philosophy and beliefs of Reconstructionist Judaism.
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
