What We Are & How We Explain It

We believe that Judaism is the unique creation of the Jewish people. We define Judaism as an evolving religious civilization. Evolving means that Judaism changes from generation to generation and that each generation is responsible for continuing that creative process by studying and adapting the traditions of our people to the modern world. Religious means that Judaism is a way of living that infuses life with meaning, justice and compassion. Civilization means that Judaism is a culture that includes art, politics, ethics, food, music, literature, community, etc.

Reconstructionism, the only American-born Judaism, began in the 1920's by Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, blending love of tradition with freedom to change. We believe that tradition has a vote but not a veto over our behavior. Further, we believe that traditions can be reconstructed, rather than set aside.

At Beth Or we do not seek to fit people into a fixed mold of Jewish observance, rather we offer a spectrum of Jewish options and help people find those that serve them best.