Category: Secular Holidays

Call for Submissions: Presidents' Day
By Ritualwell
February 4, 2018
Presidents come and go, but the words of the people will (hopefully) last a very long time. What does Presidents' Day mean in 2018? Is it merely a day off work or a moment that invites response through ritual? Is it possible to honor this holiday while acknowledging the wide variety of presidents this country has seen in more than 200 years? Ritualwell invites you to submit new content related to Presidents' Day. We are seeking guest blog posts, rituals, poems, prayers … whatever you can imagine. 
Black Jewish Prayers for Dr. Martin Luther King
By Dr. Tarece Johnson
January 15, 2018
In the traditional liturgy, I did not find Shabbat meditation books that were focused on conversion, social justice, and the Black Jewish woman experience. So I did what Jewish women have done through the generations: I wrote a book. 
Stumbling into Gratitude
By Stacey Zisook Robinson
November 22, 2017
How can I possibly give thanks to God if I stumble on the thanks I give to the people most important to me?
Counting Down to Rosh Hashanah
Ariana Katz
September 8, 2017
For me, living in two civilizations means that they inform one another. When I blow my New Year's Eve party horn in the winter, I remember the echoes of the shofar in the fall.
A Reflection on Jewish Masculinity for Father's Day
By David Eber
June 15, 2017
We boys did not know how to comfort other boys, an example of a culture of male toughness, silence, and violence. 
In Search of a Prayer for the New President
By Alden Solovy
January 10, 2017
Perhaps no single line from Jewish literature sums up the Jewish attitude about prayer and politics than the berakhah in Fiddler on the Roof: “May God bless and keep the Czar … far away from us.”
Why I Don't Set New Year's Resolutions
By Maya Northen
January 5, 2017
Let’s just put it this way: January 17th is National Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day. 
Dead of a Broken Heart
By Alden Solovy
November 7, 2016
Torah, prayer, and politics mix. Even in an elections season that has been characterized as bitter and nasty, void of civility or compassion, the Torah does not let us off the hook.
Why We Need a Prayer for the Electorate
By David Zvi Kalman
October 31, 2016
A Prayer for the Electorate allows us a moment in services to recognize that civic engagement can be religious engagement, that tzedek is often fulfilled through public policy.
Living in Two Civilizations
By Alex Rubin
June 2, 2016
Camp is a microcosm of an ideal Jewish, American life. There, we celebrate both American and Jewish holidays, we are able to connect to each other socially and spiritually, and even when participating in a “secular” activity, we are still learning and exhibiting Jewish values. For example when playing sports, we treat each other fairly and respect our teammates and opponents. When we are working on an art project, we are sharing our materials with friends and beautifying the world.

The Reconstructionist Network

Jewish tradition is a storehouse of wisdom and practical application on how to navigate the world of conflict and how we respond to it. In this Immersion, we will explore what conflict transformation might look like in our times. Six sessions starting April 4th.

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