Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983) was the founder of our movement, Reconstructing Judaism.  But many of us don’t know much about Rabbi Kaplan’s writings or thought.  Please join us to hear Sydney Nestel, a noted Kaplan scholar and member of Congregation Darchei Noam, Toronto's Reconstructionist synagogue, who will deliver two talks on Kaplan.

Date: Saturday Feb. 23, 2019
Location: 30 Clearly Ave (First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa), NOW Room (lower level)

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm: Judaism Without Supernaturalism: An Overview of the Life and Thought of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Havdallah led by Rabbi Liz followed by Seudah Shlishit, the classic "third-meal" of Shabbat, traditionally associated with learning. Bring a pot luck offering for sharing.

7 pm – 8:30 pm: The Religion of Ethical Nationhood: Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan on Jewish Peoplehood; A Multiculturalist in the Age of Nationalism

Sydney currently sits on Darchei Noam's adult education committee.  He has lead a regular Talmud study group for many years and is currently co-leading a course on Zionism and the Israel-Palestine conflict at the Parkdale Free School.  He lived in Israel for 15 years, is a husband, father, grandfather, and a retired IT consultant.  The material he will present at Or Haneshamah was originally developed as part of a four-part series, "Reconstructionism 101", given at Darchei Noam.

Advanced registration is requested below. This event is free and open to the community, however donations (in any amount) will be accepted at the door to help defray our costs.