Virtual Shabbat Box
Your Virtual Shabbat Box holds many ways to celebrate the day. Choose what nurtures you: listen, watch or read.
December 6-7
Andy Levin, a former Congressman and synagogue president, discusses the election, war in the Middle East, his sources of courage and his love of Reconstructionist Judaism.
Rabbi Bob Gluck meditates on the human fascination with humpback songs and the limits of our knowledge. For insight, he turns to the Patriarch Jacob and theologian Martin Buber.
Rabbi Haviva Ner David’s poem is both a dispatch from a street protest focused on the hostages and a heartfelt prayer.
Rabbi Arlene Berger’s teaching on Parshat Vayetzey highlights Jacob’s request for the bare necessities, which can serve as an example during a season of excessive materialism and consumption.
November 29-30
Rabbi Sandra Lawson discusses Thanksgiving from a Reconstructionist and contemporary perspective.
The Reconstructionist prayerbook reprints this classic New Yorker story about an immigrant home and one girl’s desire for an authentic, American Thanksgiving.
Writer and editor Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer offers prompts to share different experiences of gratitude at your Thanksgiving table.
This Thanksgiving Day prayer focuses on gratitude for “hope in uncertainty.”
November 22-23
Rabbi Jacob Staub explores Abraham’s journey to Mount Moriah. What can we learn from Abraham about how to face the uncertainty and anxiety of this moment?
In a conversation with Reconstructing Judaism, Justin Smolen Rosen shares his Jewish journey and how the Thriving Communities team is serving Reconstructionist communities.
Writer Bryan Schwartzman expresses gratitude for one immigrant in his life. The poet aims, in a small way, to counteract too much dehumanizing language about immigrants.
The founding director of the Jews of Color Sanctuary explains her fascination with Bilhah and Zilpah, two enslaved women who didn’t get speaking roles in the Torah.
November 15-16
In honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, Rabbi Sandra Lawson spotlights the Jewish teaching that we are all created in the image of God. Our actions, she writes, must reflect this principle.
This practical list can help you become a better ally to transgender folks.
Invoking the v’ahavta prayer and the work of Salvadoran poet Roque Dalton, Aura Levin Morales’ poem invites the reader to imagine a better world and to set out building it.
These 20–plus essays describe, from a Jewish perspective, practices that citizens employ to defend democracy and, if necessary, resist tyranny.
November 8-9
How do we move beyond bitter divisions or cultivate optimism? Rabbi Deborah Waxman talks with Justin Rosen Smolen about the concept of covenantal community and how it is expressed in the world.
Enjoy these songs of healing and hope today performed by Rabbi Annie Lewis and Rabbi Yosef Goldman — originally recorded during the pandemic but just as relevant today.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, this prayer asks for healing for our veterans and asks that we fulfill our collective responsibility to those who have sacrificed on behalf of the United States.
Rabbi Jonathan Kligler’s commentary on one of the most well-known portions of the Torah — God’s call to Abram to leave his home behind — reminds us that each day presents a chance to grow in awareness and love.
November 1-2
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer’s essay frames defending democracy as a series of spiritual practices informed by Jewish teachings.
This Trisha Arlin poem treats voting as a sacred ritual.
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 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.
October 24-25
Elsie Stern, Ph.D., unpacks what she describes as the downright strangeness of Torah’s conclusion and beginning, in that order.
Rabbi Steven Burnstein discusses Kibbutz Gezer’s plans for Simchat Torah and how he can’t imagine a joyous holiday.
Rabbi Deborah Waxman talks with Justin Rosen Smolen about how the idea of covenant — from biblical narratives to contemporary community-building — emphasizes relationships, mutual responsibility and interdependence.
Rabbi and scribe Rec Richman writes that Simchat Torah is a celebration of our tradition’s endless invitation to keep imagining.
October 16
Rabbi Nicole Fix explores the commonalities between the festival of booths and the ancient tradition of immersive theater.
Rabbi Lilly Solochek shares how, after the introspection of the High Holidays, Sukkot offers a chance to focus attention outwardly.
Writer Randi Rose offers tips for how to build a Sukkah, as well as reflections on the meaning of hands-on practice.
Jodi Rosenfeld’s poem evokes Sukkot’s sensory experience and also serves as a “dare to be happy.”
October 11-12
Rabbi Asher Sofman writes about what each of us can do to facilitate the nourishment and growth of every part of Creation.
Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde describes, in advance of the High Holidays, how thinking about a certain name for God led to surprising insights and questions. Can each of us be more sovereign over the kingdom and universe inside us?
In this High Holiday video, Rabbi Deborah Waxman teaches how Judaism puts covenant and relationships at the center of everything we do.
Rabbi Alex Lazarus–Klein reframes core ideas of Yom Kippur from a Reconstructionist perspective.
September 27-28
Drawing upon the teachings of political scientist Robert Putnam, Rabbi Marjorie Berman explores the themes of loneliness and community. She writes that the High Holidays show how much we really need one another.
Poet Tiferet Welch invokes perhaps the most powerful and well-known of High Holiday liturgies to ask where she might find the hope to find comfort, truth and reassurance. The answer, it seems, is in silence.
How do we pursue teshuvah? To shed light, Rabbi Michael Strassfeld explores concepts from Hasidism and Buddhism.
Sybil Sanchez Kessler’s poem reads like the blast of a ram’s home, a focused intention for the High Holidays and every day of the year.
September 20-21
The point of Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays isn’t necessarily to repent sin, it’s to embrace an opportunity for personal growth and change, writes Rabbi Gregory Hersh.
Cathleen Cohen’s poem and watercolor painting are a call to rise above the fear that divides us and truly see our fellow human beings.
Rabbi Nathan Martin reframes the Rosh Hashanah practice of tashlikh as a method of realigning with our compassionate, loving selves while letting go of negativity.
Create new memories with loved ones and possibly expand your palette by learning to cook a traditional Mizrachi fish delicacy.
September 13-14
Rabbi Deborah Waxman offers an Elul message responding to the murders of six Israeli hostages. It’s a prayer and invitation to crack our hearts and minds open with empathy and compassion.
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.
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.
This poem by Rabbi Yael Levy reads like a shofar blast, a spiritual wake-up call to hear the wisdom within.
September 6-7
Rabbi Shelly Barnathan’s poetic words of condolence to mourners speak powerfully to this raw moment.
In this piece, developed in a Ritualwell Mussar poetry workshop, Bryan Schwartzman connects the pain of losing a family member on 9/11 with seeing the loss of life in Israel and Gaza — and makes an unexpected human connection.
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.
Rabbi Bec Richman teaches how the rituals of Elul, specifically hearing the shofar blast, rouse us from our routines, awakening us to take stock and set intention in advance of the High Holidays.
August 23-24
In this Reconstructionist take on the month of Elul, Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein uses a metaphor from his stint in journalism.
Using the Yiddish word for wander, this experimental immersive theater piece and walking meditation uses a Ladino song to craft a soundscape that engages the listener’s heart and mind. It borrows from the tradition of walking around the block at the end of shiva.
In this packed interview, Professor Marc Dollinger, among many topics, makes a case for the importance of DEI work in Jewish communities after October 7 and places some of the current debates in historical context.
Learn about Rabbi Mira Wasserman, Ph.D., RRC’s new interim vice president for academic affairs, a beloved teacher of Talmud and Jewish ethics.
August 9-10
Rabbi Lily Solochek writes about how Tisha B’Av can help us find strength in one another.
This excerpt from “The Guide to Jewish Practice, Volume 2” outlines the history of this most solemn of Jewish holidays.
With immigration sure to be a key election issue, the Tisha B’Av lament serves as a reminder for Jews everywhere to care for immigrants, refugee issues and asylum seekers.
Rabbi Jill Hammer offers a feminist Tisha B’Av tale, one that may help us find new appreciation for the beauties of the world, even as we mourn the sorrows.
July 26-27
Amy Kopkin Atkins’ prayer for welcoming Shabbat can set you on “a journey of awakening the best version” of yourself.
Looking to make sense of all that’s unfolding in American democracy and absorb it through a Jewish framework? Hoping to add new meaning to Tisha B’Av? Read on.
Rabbi Sandra Lawson reflects on her identities as a Black, Jewish, queer rabbi and what her own journey has taught her about the importance of building bridges across diverse communities.
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.
July 12-13
Rabbi Asher Sofman argues that, by pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion, congregations can be addresses for “shared experiences, shared relationships, shared practices, stories” and “the foundation for shared living.”
In these videos and written Q & A, one young mother shares about the heartbreaking loss of her 2-year-old daughter and how creating a new Jewish ritual, one steeped in Shabbat, helped her family celebrate love and face grief.
This meditation will help you explore, and maybe even unlock, the hidden messages in your dreams, messages only you can decode.
Louis Newman, Ph.D., discusses how Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza have shaken the core beliefs of many Diaspora Jews. He also offers his take on campus antisemitism and the steps colleges should take to ensure safety and free expression.
June 28-29
“Moving Through the Wilderness: Recommitting to Equity After 10/7” is a collection of brief essays originally published in the Forward. Rabbis Sandra Lawson, Asher Sofman and Deborah Waxman explain Reconstructing Judaism’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Pride month is drawing to a close. This prayer is a year-round reminder that everyone is created in the divine image. Each of us is responsible to defend the most vulnerable.
Learn how a group of writers are creating a ripple effect by crafting new Jewish rituals and liturgy and helping to increase Jewish relevancy in today’s world. And it’s not too late to register for their June 27 book launch!
In need of equanimity? A mantra to focus on during meditation or prayer? Listen to the voice of Rabbi Jacob Staub as he chants the most versatile of Hebrew words, shalom.
June 11-12
Moses might never have ascended Mount Sinai if he hadn’t received advice from his non-Jewish father-in–law, Yitro. We, too — especially during difficult times — can learn from those whose beliefs differ from our own.
These new and previously published essays offer a range of perspectives on how to engage with Torah, Revelation, Shavuot and, ultimately, Judaism itself.
Sure, you’ve savored cheesecake during your Shavuot celebration, but have you tried Persian rice pudding, courtesy of Adva Chattler’s grandmother? Here’s your chance.
In this inspiring blessing, Rabbi Lily Solochek asks that “the One who delivered our ancestors from oppression to freedom, redeem us and all marginalized peoples.”
June 7-8
Want to continue learning Torah after your community’s tikkun or without leaving home? We’ve specially curated hours of digital resources to learn on your own or with a group.
How do Reconstructionists understand the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai in light of modern biblical criticism? Rabbi Jacob Staub explains it in this essay adapted from A Guide to Jewish Practice.
For a Shavuot treat, follow along this step-by-step guide on baking a cake as rich in symbolism as it is in flavor, one shaped like Torah scrolls.
This poem captures the joy of receiving the Torah, both physically and spiritually.
May 31-June 1
This stunning poem by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein captures so much in so few words, reminding the reader that “it is very, very easy to destroy, but infinitely harder to build. May we remember that there is no future for any of us without all of us.”
Rabbi Katie Mizrahi, a Zionist who reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself, explains why she has joined calls to end the war in Gaza. She also shares some of her formative Israel experiences.
With Shavu’ot approaching, Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein reminds us that we can gain wisdom, and even joy, in studying the parts of the Torah that we’d prefer to avoid or ignore.
Who knew that both Taylor Swift’s music and the counting of the Omer offer pathways to personal growth and reflection? Future rabbi LilyFish Gomberg offers a Swift song for each day of the Omer (we’re a little more than halfway through.)
May 24-25
When was the last time you stopped to slowly take in a poem, in all its sounds, metaphors and meanings? Trisha Arlin’s poem describes how the act of counting can help us make sense of the mysteries of life and help each of us cross our personal Sea of Reeds.
By listening closely to the similarities between human music and the voices of birds, Rabbi Bob Gluck says we’ll see the world in a new way and move beyond speciesism and the traditional Jewish concept of chosenness.
Where do you turn when you lose faith in what you held firmly? Ethicist Louis E. Newman, Ph.D., argues that, after October 7, Jewish-American civic religion, and its relationship to Israel, will never be the same and that we are in a time of “unsettling transition.”
In this meditation and teaching, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein helps us imagine the divine mystery as a loving parent and, through that, the embrace of something profound, powerful and outside of ourselves.
May 17-18
Wrapping up nearly a decade as CEO of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Rabbi Elyse Wechterman chats with Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president & CEO of Reconstructing Judaism, about leadership, managing one’s inbox, the pace of change in Jewish life and the evolving role of rabbi.
LilyFish Gomberg’s guide to counting the Omer focuses on personal growth, reflection and a deeper connection with the world, augmented with selected lyrics by the one and only Taylor Swift.
Interested in stepping away from your screen? Want to gather in person to learn, connect, create new rituals and works of writing or art? Learn about this exciting opportunity in advance of Shavu’ot.
Confused? Looking to untangle where antisemitism and anti-Zionism diverge and overlap? Dive into this thoughtful, engaging and sometimes proactive discussion with Rabbi Tova Spitzer and Rabbi David Teutsch, Ph.D.
May 10-11
Created primarily for educators, these program ideas and reading lists offer myriad ways to explore many perspectives on Israeli Memorial Day and Independence Day in the shadow of war.
Geared At a time when social media is essentially another front in the Israel-Hamas War, Naomi Barnesky’s prayer calls for compassion for self and others in the face of “destruction and closed-mindedness.”
Rabbi Yael Levy’s guide through the Omer will take you on a healing journey.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This video highlights SAJ’s Mental Health and Resiliency Task Force and how it demonstrates a Reconstructionist approach to Judaism.
May 3-4
Rabbi Phillip Lazowski, who survived the Holocaust as a child, shares about the experiences that have shaped his vision and sense of purpose.
In this powerful poem, Anne R.Z. Schulman, a member of Ritualwell’s ADVOT community of writers, paints a picture of her experiences as a child of survivors.
Ariel Neshama Lee offers a guided meditation that can be used to reflect on the resiliency of our people through difficult times.
Rabbi David Katz shares a prayer to help us remember and to be gentle with our souls.
April 26-27
As we seek rest from the bustle of sederim and the tumult of our times, find comfort in Rabbi Shawn Zevit’s original song calling for a day or even an hour to “Let me cool and recover.”
Rabbi Janet Madden offers a way to express grief and loss at Yizkor with the basic elements of fire, water, salt and stone.
This meditation, created by Ariel Neshama Lee, invites you to embark on a journey of reflection and introspection by focusing on emanations of God described by the Kabbalists as sefirot.
Rabbi Nathan Kamesar reveals what it is like to be a pulpit rabbi and spiritual leader during wartime. Later, Rabbi Maurice Harris discusses all things Moses.
April 19-20
Rabbi Deborah Waxman delves into the nature of freedom, teaching that Passover brings our freedom to life by enacting our highest values and our deepest commitments.
Rabbi Malka Binah Klein’s chant sets the tone for searching for hard-to-find hametz, both physical and metaphysical.
Imagining ourselves into this story involves us in an ever unfolding creating process, write Rabbis Mychal Copeland and Margie Jacobs.
The voices of Jews of Color have largely been missing from the pages of Passover Haggadot. These supplements offer the beginnings of a corrective.
April 12-13
The voices of Jews of Color have largely been missing from the pages of Passover Haggadot. These supplements offer the beginnings of a corrective.
Rabbi Joshua Boettiger, a poet and Mussar teacher, explores how retelling the Passover story illuminates the nature of suffering and has the potential to cultivate empathy.
Rabbi Isaac Saposnik shares poetic wisdom for your seder table about what one can say to our children—and to the adults at a seder held in this confounding year 5784.
The Virtual Passover Box is a trove of digital resources designed to help you experience, and retell, the central story of the Jewish age. These resources enhance all 15 parts of your seder.
April 5-6
The mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam isn’t given much character development in Exodus. Here, Rabbi Sonja K. Pilz’s stirring poem imagines Yocheved’s voice in its full power and complexity.
With Passover approaching, it’s the perfect time for this blessing for the simple joy of bread. Leavened bread.
During the weekly Ritualwell “Holding Each Other” gathering, Rabbi Shawn Zevitt strums his acoustic guitar, performing an ancient prayer for healing.
Rabbi Rebecca Lillian analyzes the state of antisemitism in Sweden and Denmark, offering both sobering and hopeful observations.
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These resources were drawn from:
- Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations
- Hashivenu: Jewish Teachings on Resilience
- Recon Connect Beit Midrash
- Reset: Providing Jewish activists with accessible spiritual practice and teachings
- Ritualwell
- The Center for Jewish Ethics
Previous Virtual Shabbat Boxes by month:
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
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- December 2022
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- December 2021
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- December 2020
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