Beneath the Surface: Mordecai Kaplan’s Philosophical Commitments Explored
Sunday, February 11, 2024 – 3pm Eastern
with Dr. Nadav Berman and Dr. Rabbi Vered Sakal
How does Mordecai Kaplan arrive at his understandings of truth and religious experience? Join Drs. Berman and Sakal as they explore Kaplan through the lens of the non-Jewish theologian Jon Hicks. Dialogue with them as they extrapolate from Kaplan’s philosophical commitments to the critical issues of a 21st Zionism and the presence of evil in the world.
What’s New…
- Join the Mordecai Kaplan Facebook group facilitated by Dr. Mel Scult
- The latest Jerusalem Post article by Rabbi Michael Cohen, Kaplan Center board member
- Dr. Joe Riemer of Brandeis University on Teens, Israel, and Kaplan
- Remembering Rabbi Emanuel Goldsmith
- A Reconstructed Vision of Living in Two Civilizations
- Watch the recording of the January 7 webinar on Valley Beth Shalom as a Kaplanian Playground
- From Mel’s Desk: “Right is Might”
- Rabbi Michael Cohen’s article on crossing cultural boundaries during the war
MORE FEATURES:
- Kaplan on One Foot: Mel Scult’s Eight Core Principles of Kaplan’s Philosophy
- Recollections by young adult former Camp Havaya counselors
Israel is on all of our minds and in our conversations these days. Join our conversation through:
- Kaplan, Democracy, and Zionism conference dedicated to the memory of Jack Cohen
- Kaplan & Israel: A New, New Zionism webinar
- Our latest contemporary Talmud page with a new commentary by Rabbi Bob Gluck
- Kaplan Center Stands with Israel, Pursues Peace
- Webinar with Rabbi Michael Cohen & the Arava Institute
A Three-Part Series in Honor of the 40th Yahrzeit of Mordecai Kaplan
and the 90th Anniversary of Judaism as a Civilization
What Remains Revelatory in the 21st Century in Mordecai Kaplan’s Thought?
with Drs. Arnie Eisen, David Ellenson, and Nancy Fuchs Kreimer
Judaism as a Civilization, The Hanukkah Gift to the Jewish People and World that Keeps on Giving
with Dr. Deborah Waxman and a response by Dr. Elias Sacks
The Great Kaplanian Report Card: Valley Beth Shalom as a Kaplanian Playground
with Rabbis Amy Bernstein, Ed Feinstein, and Jeffrey Schein
Kaplanian Scholarship
Looking to deepen your knowledge of Mordecai Kaplan’s life and philosophy?
- Consider Kaplan’s perspective on Free Speech
- Read Dr. Deborah Waxman’s article on “Civilization” and “Culture”
- Meet a great companion guide in the form of Mel Scult’s annotated bibliography
- 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
Our 21st Century Kaplanian vision of Jewish Education unfolds…
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 Perspectives & Scholarship
Dr. Vered Sakal
Realism, Pluralism and Salvation
Dr. Eric Caplan
The True Spirit of Hanukkah
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.
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
- 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