The Kaplan Society
A Legacy for the Future of Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
For more than a century, the Reconstructionist movement has shaped a Judaism that is intellectually alive, ethically grounded, and responsive to the evolving needs of Jewish life. Rooted in Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan’s vision of Judaism as an evolving religious civilization, the movement has strengthened communities, prepared generations of rabbis, created enduring ritual and learning resources, and served as a moral voice in the Jewish world.
Through change and challenge, the movement has remained committed to inclusion, democratic values, and the belief that Judaism flourishes when people are empowered to shape it together.
The Kaplan Society invites supporters, clergy, alumni, and friends to help ensure this work continues for generations to come. Members of the Kaplan Society have made a bequest or other planned gift to Reconstructing Judaism or the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, affirming their commitment to a vibrant, evolving Jewish future.
Kaplan Society members are recognized as devoted sustainers of the movement and its future and know that their legacy gifts carry forward the values of Reconstructionist Judaism l’dor v’dor — from generation to generation.
Join the Kaplan Society
The Kaplan Society is a community of individuals and families who have made a lasting commitment to the future of Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College through a planned gift.
We invite you to join us in sustaining a movement that nurtures meaning, builds courageous leadership, and helps Judaism meet the challenges of its time with integrity and hope. Your legacy will help ensure that Reconstructing Judaism continues to thrive—for generations yet to come. Our movement has been built with the help of generous donors who have provided support through a variety of means. This includes:
A gift in your will can help secure the future of the Reconstructionist movement. The opportunity to make a lasting contribution is not just for those of significant means. People from all walks of life leave charitable gifts—because a bequest can be designed to fit any budget. All it takes is a legal will or a simple codicil. Sample bequest language: I give to the Reconstructing Judaism, Wyncote, Pennsylvania, the sum of (or % of, or describe a specific piece of property) to be used for such charitable purposes as the governing board of Reconstructing Judaism may determine.
Your life insurance policy may be a hidden asset that you can use to make a difference. If you are maintaining life insurance that you and your family no longer need, consider donating your policy to Reconstructing Judaism. Making Reconstructing Judaism the owner and beneficiary of your policy gives you an immediate income tax deduction and does not affect your investment portfolio or cash flow. And signing over your policy is easy to do.
Sharing your retirement savings (in an IRA or 401K) can benefit Reconstructing Judaism and your estate. If you leave the assets in these plans to a non-spouse beneficiary, such as your children or grandchildren, they will be taxed at current income tax rates. But designating Reconstructing Judaism as the beneficiary will help you to avoid taxes, remove the asset from your estate, and provide needed funds to help strengthen the Reconstructionist movement.
This is a planned gift that can provide income for you during your lifetime or the joint lifetime of you and your spouse. Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA’s) can be funded with cash or appreciated assets like stocks and bonds. This gives you an additional benefit—avoidance of the capital gains tax. A CGA gift can be a way of converting an underperforming asset into additional income, while funding our important work.
RRC accepts gifts of land and other personal property such as valuable artwork, rare books or special collections. Please get in touch with Sophia Barrett, Associate Director of Development (sbarrett@reconstructingjudaism.org) to discuss this further. This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, RRC recommends consultation with a qualified attorney, tax advisor, CPA, financial planner or investment manager.
When supporters of the Reconstructionist movement and Reconstructionist Rabbinical College make significant contributions to endowed programs, Reconstructing Judaism prospers and grows. In turn, this enables us to provide the high level of rabbinic education the Jewish community requires for its future leaders. Your endowed gift to Reconstructing Judaism provides a broad spectrum of opportunities to support our movement in ways that are personally meaningful to you. Endowment opportunities include scholarships and fellowships, prizes, academic programs, library programs, community support and general endowment. An endowed gift can be arranged through a legacy gift such as a bequest or initiated with a current gift of cash or securities. Endowment gifts are directed toward a purpose or program that is selected by you and may carry your name or the name of someone whom you wish to honor or memorialize. General endowment funds allow for income to be directed to areas where additional funds are needed and maintain your annual support in perpetuity. Contact Sophia Barrett, Associate Director of Development, at sbarrett@reconstructingjudaism.org to learn more about endowment opportunities that will best match your interests.
Complete a Letter of Intent
Kaplan Society Members are donors who have made a bequest or planned gift as part of their estate plans of any size, as well as those who have created an endowment fund of more than $10,000.
To join us, simply complete a Letter of Intent and return it to our office by emailing it to sbarrett@reconstructingjudaism.org or mailing it to: Reconstructing Judaism, c/o Sophia Barrett, 1299 Church Road, Wyncote, PA 19095.
If you have already named Reconstructing Judaism or the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in your will or estate plan, thank you! Please take a moment to send us a Letter of Intent so we can ensure our records are current and welcome you to the Kaplan Society.
