Addressing the annual conference of the Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, distinguished Jewish scholar and founder of the Reconstructionist movement, called yesterday for the establishment of an Institute of Applied Research for Contemporary Judaism.
“It is not enough,” he said, “for Jews to possess the know-how of Jewish existence. They must know and be convinced of the know-why. Those of us who are committed to Reconstructionism should realize our moral responsibility for launching the kind of Institute where the various proposals for the why and the how of Jewish existence would be carefully studied, and where their effectiveness or lack of it would be objectively demonstrated.”
The Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, organized in 1940, is dedicated to “the advancement of Judaism as an evolving religious civilization, the role of Israel as the spiritual center of the Jewish people, and the moral obligation of all people to further universal justice, freedom and peace.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
