Reopening Our Institutions
May 1, 2020
Framework for Jewish communities to consider in returning to in-person communal activity
Framework for Jewish communities to consider in returning to in-person communal activity
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association joined a group of 20 faith groups urging federal and state prison systems to accommodate the religious needs of all prisoners and avoid using the coronavirus crisis to restrict their constitutional right to worship, particularly drawing attention to the needs of Muslim prisoners with Ramadan projected to begin on April 24. The full letter is attached.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association were about 180 Jewish communal organizations issuing a statement urging our political leaders and all our fellow Americans to treat this public health crisis as a moment for kindness and solidarity, and to make extra efforts to reach towards one another in support, not look to blame or scapegoat.
Based on our understanding of the science and the advice of experts, we, rabbis of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, strongly come down on the side of pikuach nefesh – preserving lives. Therefore, we are issuing these guidelines in preparation for the upcoming Passover holiday and in awareness of the likelihood of continued concern over disease spread at this time.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association joined more than 650 Jewish organizations and clergy in a letter calling for increased and expanded nutrition assistance in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Organization were among 153 signatories to a letter urging the Department of Homeland Security to end its “Migrant Protection Protocols” preventing asylum seekers from seeking refugee protection in the United States.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association are alarmed by the Netanyahu government’s recent announcement that seeks to expand settlements in a way that would cut through Palestinian population centers and deny contiguity to a future Palestinian state. Previous Republican and Democratic US administrations have rejected similar plans with good reason. We call on the Netanyahu government to cancel these plans, and we call on all American Jewish organizations that support a two-state solution to join in this urgent message. We continue to oppose unilateral territorial annexation on the part of the Israeli government, and we remain committed to a just, democratic, and peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians within a framework of two states for two peoples.
We urge every Reconstructionist community to stand with Dor Hadash and HIAS this coming March by participating in National Refugee Shabbat. In this way, we act on our values and gain strength from each other to create the world in which we want to live.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association were among 156 signatories to join a letter from the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, calling on Secretary Pompeo to end the US policy targeting pregnant people of color and making it harder for them to travel and visit their families.
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
