RCBI

Reconstructionism at a glance…

Judaism as a civilization

Reconstructionists define Judaism as more than a religion. For us it is a civilization encompassing history, literature, art and music, land and language.

Our religious tradition is the reflection of our ancestors’ search for meaning, purpose and value. In our own search, we are egalitarian, participatory, and open to varying viewpoints.

Belonging before believing

Belonging to the Jewish people comes before behaving or believing — through our shared past and through our communal experience of worship, study and celebration, we affirm our sense of belonging.

We are respectful of traditional Jewish practice but also open to new interpretation and forms of religious expression; tradition has “a vote but not a veto.”

Diverse views of God

Our diverse views of God share an emphasis on godliness rather than on the supernatural. We value that power in the universe which infuses all of creation with a sense of transcendence and impels us to improve the world and ourselves.

Evolving Jewish practice

We believe we are involved in the evolution of Judaism right now, and are responsible for shaping the spiritual and cultural legacy we will leave to future generations.

RCBI—Bergen County’s only Reconstructionist congregation

As a Reconstructionist community, RCBI seeks to make Jewish observance, tradition and ritual accessible to each generation. We offer many opportunities on the community level to engage in Judaism and Jewish study, for through education, through doing, we can connect with our heritage and history, and continue to evolve.

Many people come to RCBI and say they feel at home spiritually, that the wonderful readings in our prayer book provide a portal to a new understanding of Jewish prayer and liturgy. Some people like the democratic, community-driven model of  governance, our concern for social justice, and our attention to authentic Jewish expression and observance that reflects our community. We hope you will visit and see for yourself.

Perhaps you are a Reconstructionist and just don’t know it. Join us at a service or program and find out!

Many people come to RCBI and say they feel at home spiritually, that the wonderful readings in our prayer book provide a portal to a new understanding of Jewish prayer and liturgy. Some people like the democratic, community-driven model of  governance, our concern for social justice, and our attention to authentic Jewish expression and observance that reflects our community. We hope you will visit and see for yourself.