Tag Archives: Mordecai Kaplan

Judaism As Aesthetic Civilization (Mordecai Kaplan)

Posted on January 23, 2014 by zjb

(Enrico Glicenstein) It turns out that Kaplan thought at least a little bit about art in relation to Judaism, which is very interesting. There are two facets to his thinking, in general, and we see it here as well. The … Continue reading →

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Mordecai Kaplan on a Donkey in Palestine (1925)

Posted on January 22, 2014 by zjb

This photograph of Mordecai Kaplan on a donkey in Palestine was taken in 1925. Kaplan went to Palestine to represent the ZOA at the opening ceremonies for the Hebrew University. It appears on p.203 of Communings of the Spirit, Mel … Continue reading →

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Unhappy Place — Mordecai Kaplan– The Jewish Theological Seminary (1913-1934)

Posted on January 22, 2014 by zjb

What an unhappy place the Jewish Theological Seminary was for Mordecai Kaplan, and what an unhappy place he must have made it in turn. From this there is a lot to learn about Conservative Judaism and institutionalized liberal religion in … Continue reading →

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Angry Mordecai Kaplan

Posted on January 21, 2014 by zjb

Did the truth set Mordecai Kaplan free or did it just make him angry? When I first read Judaism as a Civilization, I was excited as can be, drawn to a social theory of Jewish culture that did not bog … Continue reading →

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Reading Mordecai Kaplan – “Religion of Ethical Nationhood”

Posted on January 20, 2014 by zjb

When asked what one should read next, my advisor in graduate school advised me to read next what I’d be embarrassed to admit to someone, a colleague, that I haven’t read. Given the infinity of what there is to read, … Continue reading →

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Reading Mordecai Kaplan Journals (1913-1934)

Posted on January 15, 2014 by zjb

Truth be told, the study of Mordecai Kaplan will depend upon the indefatigable efforts of Mel Scult, who has edited for us Communings of the Spirit, The Journals of Mordecai M. Kaplan volume I 1913-1934. As Mel gently reminds us, … Continue reading →

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