The Tikkun Olam Commission (TOC) is a structure of the Reconstructionist movement comprised of rabbis and lay people who work on social justice issues on behalf of the movement. It is the primary body vested with responsibility for formulating and vetting positions for the Reconstructionist movement, for consideration by the board of governors and the plenum, and for coordination of tikkun olam work with the RRA and other bodies. Â
The founding commissioners of the TOC have determined that its primary work will be to develop resources and programs, in partnership with all appropriate stakeholders, to support movement-wide engagement on the issue of racial justice and the impact of racist attitudes and policies on non-white populations. This work will include, but not be limited to, consideration of the resultant disproportionate impact of climate change and immigration policy on communities of color. Â
For more information about the TOC, or to share feedback on Racial Justice-related matters involving the Reconstructionist movement with the TOC, please contact Rabbi Micah Weiss at mweiss@reconstructingjudaism.org.  Â
The mandate document which serves as the founding document for the TOC can be found at this link. Â
Commission Activity
- Reparations Shabbaton – January 31-February 2, 2025
- 1299 Reckoning Class – Summer 2024
- Adding JOC Voices to your Haggadah: A New Reconstructionist Haggadah Supplement – Spring 2024
- Striving to Become Anti-Racist Congregations. A Report of the Tikkun Olam Commission – Summer 2023  
- Reckoning Together: A Reconstructionist Pilgrimage Towards Racial Justice – March 2023 
- Passage of the Reconstructionist Reparations Resolution – January 2023 
- Reconstructionist Leaders of African Descent Pilgrimage to the South – October 2022 
- Commissioned reparations artwork 
- Day of Learning on Reparations – August 2021 
Commission Composition
There is an annual call for nominations every January for open lay member seats on the TOC. Nominees who are approved by the Board of Governors of Reconstructing Judaism then go on to serve a 3-year term beginning the following fall. Rabbinic members are voted on by the Board of the RRA and do not have specific term lengths. The RRC student and faculty representatives are approved by their respective bodies once a year. Rabbi Micah Weiss and Rabbi Ash Sofman staff the TOC.
