Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstructing Judaism
TheologyProgressive Judaism
AssociationsWorld Union for Progressive Judaism
Region7 countries
Origin1955
Official websitewww.reconstructingjudaism.org

Reconstructing Judaism is a Reconstructionist Judaism federation, serving more than 100 congregations in 7 countries.

History

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation was founded in 1955. In June 2012, the Reconstructionist movement underwent a restructuring that merged JRF with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College to form a new national organization initially named RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities. The merged organization was initially headed by Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, a 1989 graduate of the College.. Rabbi Deborah Waxman took over in 2014. In January 2018, the merged organization changed its name to Reconstructing Judaism. In 2026, Rabbi Elliott Tepperman was named the organization’s president and chief executive officer. Tepperman previously was rabbi of Bnai Keshet in Montclair, New Jersey.

In 2025, tensions over Israel led the largest Reconstructionist synagogue in the U.S., Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, California, to announce plans to disaffiliate from the movement. The congregation cited dissatisfaction with the national leadership’s perceived lack of support for Zionism and failure to adequately address rising anti-Zionist sentiment among Reconstructionist rabbis and institutions.

See also

References

  1. ↑ RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities Archived 2020-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Movement Restructuring FAQs". Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. June 4, 2012. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Do the Jewish Streams Have a Future?". The Jewish Exponent. May 9, 2012. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  4. ↑ Elkin, Michael (2014-10-27). "Waxman Inaugurated as Head of Reconstructionist Rabbinical College". Jewish Exponent. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  5. ↑ "Forward 50 2015: Deborah Waxman". The Forward. 2015.
  6. ↑ "Our New Name: Frequently Asked Questions". January 29, 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  7. ↑ Waxman, Deborah (January 30, 2018). "Why the Reconstructionist movement is rebranding". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  8. ↑ Saffren, Jarrad (June 2, 2026). "Reconstructing Judaism Names New President and CEO". Jewish Exponent.
  9. ↑ Elia-Shalev, Asaf (2025-07-23). "The largest Reconstructionist synagogue is set to cut ties with the movement over Israel tensions". The Forward. Retrieved 2025-07-23.