Throughout this website, we offer many resources about Mordecai Kaplan’s influential writings and philosophy and how Kaplan’s legacy continues to be woven through contemporary thought and practice.

Rescheduled to May 4

Pirke Mordecai

with Yovel recipients Rabbis Lee Friedlander and Arnold Rachlis

Sunday, May 4, 2025
3 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

More Info Webinar Registration

What’s New ? מה חדש

Read David Teutsch’s article Community: A Contemporary Challenge
Read the latest research on MMK and Death of God theologian Richard Rubenstein
Read Shane Burley’s article Reconstructionist Judaism and the Future of Halakhah
Watch March’s webinar recording “Between Father and Daughter: Exploring the Career and Influence of Judith Kaplan Eisenstein“
Enjoy the Tribute Honoring Mel Scult on his 90th Birthday
Kaplan Center Senior Consultant for Jewish Education, Dr. Jeffrey Schein, explores our upcoming publication The Art of the Spirit and the emerging Kaplanian theology of his 3 year old grandson (aka Caleb and Cosmic Polarities) in this fascinating lecture
“The Educated Kaplanian Jew” Tosafot by Dr. Miriam Heller Stern
Year of Kaplan study flipbook and printable
Sad news: The Mordecai Kaplan Center mourns the passing of Paula Eisenstein Baker

Join the Conversation…

Explore the Kaplan Center’s latest resources

In Conversation: Israel

Kaplan and Democracy

Contemporary Talmud Pages

Webinars and More

Tribute Honoring Mel Scult’s 90th birthday

View Webinar &
Tribute Book Tribute Donation

The Tribute Book was recently published and gifted to Mel.
Tribute Donations are still welcome!

Tu b’Shevat – Judaism and the Environment

with Rabbis Michael Cohen and Fred Scherlinder Dobb

February 9, 2025

View Webinar

Between Father and Daughter: Exploring the Career and Influence of Judith Kaplan Eisenstein

with Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton

March 23, 2025

View Webinar

Upcoming Webinars

Past Webinars

Kaplanian Scholarship

Looking to deepen your knowledge of Mordecai Kaplan’s life and philosophy?

Meet a great companion guide in the form of Mel Scult’s annotated bibliography keep on home page
Read scholarly articles about Kaplan
Watch video reminiscences about Kaplan’s life
Learn about Kaplan on One Foot: Mel Scult’s Eight Core Principles of Kaplan’s Philosophy
Watch Mel Scult’s talk about Kaplan’s Understanding of Naturalistic Prayer
Read Dr. Jeffrey Schein’s article on democracy, “Memory on Trial”

Read Articles

Visit Reconstructing Judaism to explore the way Kaplan’s influence has become woven deeply into the fabric of a major North American Jewish movement.

Kaplanian Voices

Our Kaplanian voices series seeks to sensitize us to the unique ways many of us experience the very notion of Peoplehood in 2023. Below are excerpts from conversation between Rabbis Jeffrey Eisenstat, founding director of our movement’s Camp Havaya, and former camp counselors about their initial exposures to the philosophies of Mordecai Kaplan a decade ago and its present meaning to them as young adult Jews in their thirties.

Yael Kurganoff on the power of Camp Havaya connections to Israel

Josh Davidson on the essence of peoplehood

Watch Full Conversation and Other Interviews

Visit the Ira Eisenstein portal where you will find….

Introductions by Rabbi Richard Hirsh to Ira Eisenstein’s books Creative Judaism and What We Mean by Religion with digital copies of those currently out-of-print volumes now available on our website
Explore the full set of resources related to teaching Mordecai Kaplan through Ira Eisenstein’s writings with these resources

Reflections about Ira Eisenstein as theologian and wise leader by Rabbis Dennis Sasso and Jeffrey Schein

A recording of Rabbi Eisenstein’s contributions that was hosted by the SAJ:Judaism that Stands For All as part of its centenary celebration

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Throughout this website we offer many resources about Mordecai Kaplan’s influential writings and philosophy and how Kaplan’s legacy continues to be woven through contemporary thought and practice.