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Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach
This substantially revised and updated edition of the 1985 classic is ideal for everyone who wants to know more about Judaism. Whether you are a long-time participant in the Jewish community, a newcomer or someone who has struggled to find a home in Jewish life, this introduction to Jewish thought and practice from a Reconstructionist perspective will offer inspiration and guidance. From Kaplan's belief through contemporary innovations, this engaging text explores Reconstructionist views on God, ethics, Zionism, spirituality, text study, Tikkun Olam, life cycle ritual, intermarriage, gay and lesbian issues... and more! A must-read.
185 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 19, 2021
I feel the need to justify my negative review of this book, as someone who was raised at a Reconstructionist synagogue and who still considers myself a Reconstructionist. I think that this is a clear, relatively concise introduction to Kaplan-derived ideology, albeit a little out of date in the twenty years since its come out.
My negative review is due to the flippant zionism of this book. It is almost painful how wide the social justice minded, Tikkun Olam-loving authors miss their own mark. They give a weak, factually dubious defense of the Israeli occupation, before reinforcing a hegemonic and ultimately anti-Reconstructionist stance of continued (expanded, even!) settler colonialism in the service of the “defense” of the Jewish state.
A stance so jarrinngly antithetical to my Reconstructionism presented as the big make-or-break issue of Judaism makes it hard to forgive this book, but because it is mostly factual outside of that, I’ll grudge two stars.
My negative review is due to the flippant zionism of this book. It is almost painful how wide the social justice minded, Tikkun Olam-loving authors miss their own mark. They give a weak, factually dubious defense of the Israeli occupation, before reinforcing a hegemonic and ultimately anti-Reconstructionist stance of continued (expanded, even!) settler colonialism in the service of the “defense” of the Jewish state.
A stance so jarrinngly antithetical to my Reconstructionism presented as the big make-or-break issue of Judaism makes it hard to forgive this book, but because it is mostly factual outside of that, I’ll grudge two stars.
December 21, 2017
This introduction to Reconstructionist Judaism is easy to read and makes it clear the differences between Orthodox and Conservative Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism as well as the differences with classical Reform Judaism. However, the incorporation of halakhah as option and tradition into Reform has made some of the differences between Reconstructionist Judaism and Reform less separated than in the 1980s when this book was written. Alpert and Staub do an excellent job of distilling the basic project of Mordecai Kaplan and explain some of the key and unique elements to the Reconstructionist approach.
July 31, 2021
I liked that it got into the history of things. It put down other sects a lot which was irritating to me, even though I'm not Jewish. It also ignored that responsa are a thing now in one chapter, saying that for other denominators Jewish Law is final and not ongoing. And then it brought responsa up in another chapter. It also had conflicting beliefs about Gd which didn't help the reader understand a Reconstructionist's view. I found a lot of it to be contradictory when it came to theology. For the most part it was straight forward, but the above issues diminished it for me.
February 18, 2021
I wanted to know more about Reconstructionist Judaism.
Now I do.
Now I do.
August 13, 2024
Absolutely amazing. I loved this book. This short overview of the Reconstructionist Approach to Judaism is filled with gems. Contained within are a rundown of the movement, main theological points and tenets, and a list of common practices and resources. I found the Reconstructivist view on God really interesting, as well as the motivation behind performing mitzvot. I also liked viewing Judaism as an evolving civilization rather than just a religion. Really thought-provoking and engaging. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, not just Jews or religious people.
January 30, 2020
I am converting reconstructionist so I wanted to learn more about the movement and this was the perfect introduction! It is mostly an overview so it doesn’t teach you everything, but it is certainly a good start if you want to know more about the movement.
June 3, 2024
Clearly thought out and easy to read. The movement isn’t for me. Finding that out is why I read the book.
August 12, 2024
Great overview, but could use some updating.
June 21, 2016
This book is a simple introduction to Reconstructionist Judaism. A few key points:
*Unlike Conservative and Orthodox Judaism, Reconstructionism does not accept halakhah (traditional Jewish law) as binding. But unlike Classical Reform, it accepts halakhah as relevant. The ideal Reconstructionist Jew or congregation researches halakhah and then decides how and whether to apply it. The authors write: "If God is not the commander of these [ritual] acts, God nonetheless is reflected through them." What I didn't understand, however, is how Reconstructionism differs from modern, more traditional versions of Reform Judaism.
*The authors struggle to describe the Reconstructionist concept of God- not as a intervening, punishing entity, but as a force or power working through us to create goodness.
*The authors tend to emphasize liberal (in the late 20th-century sense, rather than in the "19th-century liberal" sense) values. For example, they write "Most Reconstructionists take their stand ... with the signers of the Oslo accords and proponents of peace." I think it would be harder to be a Republican in most Reconstructionist congregations than in most Reform congregations.
This book gave me a pretty good sense of how Reconstructionism differs from Orthodox and Conservative Judaism- but less of a sense on how it differs from Reform. It seems like Reconstructionism suffers from the same problems as centrist third parties in the political arena; just as the 1990s Reform Party failed in part because the major parties adopted some of its ideas, Reconstructionism seems squeezed between a Reform movement that is becoming more traditional and a leftward-moving Conservative movement.
*Unlike Conservative and Orthodox Judaism, Reconstructionism does not accept halakhah (traditional Jewish law) as binding. But unlike Classical Reform, it accepts halakhah as relevant. The ideal Reconstructionist Jew or congregation researches halakhah and then decides how and whether to apply it. The authors write: "If God is not the commander of these [ritual] acts, God nonetheless is reflected through them." What I didn't understand, however, is how Reconstructionism differs from modern, more traditional versions of Reform Judaism.
*The authors struggle to describe the Reconstructionist concept of God- not as a intervening, punishing entity, but as a force or power working through us to create goodness.
*The authors tend to emphasize liberal (in the late 20th-century sense, rather than in the "19th-century liberal" sense) values. For example, they write "Most Reconstructionists take their stand ... with the signers of the Oslo accords and proponents of peace." I think it would be harder to be a Republican in most Reconstructionist congregations than in most Reform congregations.
This book gave me a pretty good sense of how Reconstructionism differs from Orthodox and Conservative Judaism- but less of a sense on how it differs from Reform. It seems like Reconstructionism suffers from the same problems as centrist third parties in the political arena; just as the 1990s Reform Party failed in part because the major parties adopted some of its ideas, Reconstructionism seems squeezed between a Reform movement that is becoming more traditional and a leftward-moving Conservative movement.
September 19, 2016
Perhaps nothing made me feel more Jewish at my BCI retreat than choosing, on my own, to order this book, have it shipped to me, and read it while my contemporaries practiced their Torah portions for Shabbat or what have you. I don't read Hebrew, but this was something. :p
I was born into Reconstructionist Judaism and still have a deep affinity for it, though I remember this book feeling a little alien at BCI. Maybe because the experience was so overly spiritual, and Alpert and Staub spoke to a Judaism that is more utilitarian. They talked about Kaplan seeing Judaism as a "civilization" that transcended mere religion, and I remember pondering whether Jewish Comminity Centers were kind of his utopia. The type of place where a Jew would more likely go to work out than to lay teffilin. Also bears reference, perhaps, that Jews were less assimilated in Kaplan's time, and we stuck together more for secular life, too. Kaplan believed in belonging to a People, and that's a big part of my connection to Judaism. I now belong to a Conservative synagogue but the rabbis have started referencing Kaplan. Back at BCI, I'm pretty sure a couple of Conservative compatriots gave me the side-eye when I said I was Reconstructionist. :p. Times change. So do many facets of Jewish living and understanding.
I was born into Reconstructionist Judaism and still have a deep affinity for it, though I remember this book feeling a little alien at BCI. Maybe because the experience was so overly spiritual, and Alpert and Staub spoke to a Judaism that is more utilitarian. They talked about Kaplan seeing Judaism as a "civilization" that transcended mere religion, and I remember pondering whether Jewish Comminity Centers were kind of his utopia. The type of place where a Jew would more likely go to work out than to lay teffilin. Also bears reference, perhaps, that Jews were less assimilated in Kaplan's time, and we stuck together more for secular life, too. Kaplan believed in belonging to a People, and that's a big part of my connection to Judaism. I now belong to a Conservative synagogue but the rabbis have started referencing Kaplan. Back at BCI, I'm pretty sure a couple of Conservative compatriots gave me the side-eye when I said I was Reconstructionist. :p. Times change. So do many facets of Jewish living and understanding.
February 12, 2009
This book describes and illustrates comprehensively yet pithily the major facets of Reconstructionist Judaism. It is written by Rebecca Alpert, a Rabbi who was formerly Dean of Students and current member of the faculty at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and currently also Director of the Women's Studies Program at Temple University. And its co-author is Jacob Staub, Dean and Director of Medieval Civilization at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
This book is short (88 pages) and simply written, but contains a wealth of information about this crucial Jewish voice in our global community.
I've only browsed it myself, but am aware of its contents through membership in a reconstructionist shul, attendance at services etc.. plus within my 'Introduction to Judaism'/conversion class in 2000 and my participation in a program for new converts which was a contrast-and-compare involving all the local synagogue options. Highly recommended for anyone interested, including anyone who thinks that the Jewish community is monolithic. It's not, any more than any other community.
This book is short (88 pages) and simply written, but contains a wealth of information about this crucial Jewish voice in our global community.
I've only browsed it myself, but am aware of its contents through membership in a reconstructionist shul, attendance at services etc.. plus within my 'Introduction to Judaism'/conversion class in 2000 and my participation in a program for new converts which was a contrast-and-compare involving all the local synagogue options. Highly recommended for anyone interested, including anyone who thinks that the Jewish community is monolithic. It's not, any more than any other community.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews