CKS is offering a wonderful opportunity to participate as a community in Reconstructing Judaism's once-a-month virtual virtual learning program Through A Reconstructionist Lens. Designed to engage adult learners in exploring evolving Reconstructionist thought and practice, each class includes a discussion by Reconstructionist rabbinical and community leaders about a topic relevant to contemporary Judaism. Please join Rabbi Jake and fellow congregants as we watch together and then discuss each session. 

If it is more convenient for you, you are welcome to watch the recording any time prior to the meeting and then join us for the discussion.

• 7:15-7:30: Introduction
• 7:30-8:15: Watch video
• 8:15-8:45: Discussion
• 8:45-9:00: Conclusion

Sign up below to receive emails containing the link for each video and discussion. You only need to sign up once to receive the links each month. These sessions will be held on the last Wednesday of each month for one year, and the emails will be sent out approximately one week before each discussion.

DECEMBER Session: Israel.

NOVEMBER Session: Food: An Approach to Food, Kashrut and Justice. Just in time for Thanksgiving, this month’s session brings us a discussion by three fascinating presenters about how they use values-based decisions and mindfulness to guide their eating practices. Aliza Green, chef and food educator, Rabbi Michael Becker-Klein, owner of Rabbi Roasting Coffee and mash’giach (person who oversees Kosher food production), and Rabbi James Greene, whose family produces much of their food on their own farm, talk about how Jewish values underscore their relationship with food and the animals, land and workers who provide that food, including how the contemporary practice of Kashrut enriches their Jewish lives. Why not take this wonderful opportunity to assess your own journey with food? 

OCTOBER Session: SHABBAT. In this program, Rabbi Jamie Arnold, Congregation Beth Evergreen in Evergreen, Colorado, Rabbi Yael Ridberg. Congregation Dor Hadash in San Diego, and Rabbi Hazzan Rachel Hersch, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda delve into three important Shabbat rituals: lighting the Shabbat candles, the Kiddush, and the Challah as they share the Reconstructionist view of Shabbat. 

AUGUST Session: CLASSICAL JEWISH TEXTS. Four RRC faculty members teach us
how Reconstructionists study and interpret classical Jewish texts. 

JULY Session: CLIMATE JUSTICE. Rabbis Bec Richman and Fred Scherlinder Dobb, environmental justice advocates and activists, explore "eight main reasons and ways to make climate change central in our Jewish identities" and includes a fascinating "deep dive" into environmental justice and environmental racism.

JUNE Session: VALUES-BASED DECISION MAKING. In this month’s program, Values-Based Decision Making (VBDM) Through A Reconstructionist Lens, Rabbi David Teutsch, founding director of RRC’s program on Jewish ethics and author of Guide to Jewish Practice, and his son Zach, explain the VBDM process and how it can help us as a community, and as individuals, make careful, thoughtful, ethical decisions while minimizing controversy.

MAY Session: LITURGY AND PRAYER. This session is moderated by Ritualwell Director Hila Ratzabi, and presented by four rabbis, including Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner RRC’16, well-known to many CKS members as our former student rabbi. The rabbis share their wisdom with us, as they examine the role and relevance of both traditional and contemporary liturgy and prayer.

APRIL Session: REPAIRING THE WORLD. This session is led by Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, and Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador at American Jewish World Service.