An American Jewish denomination: Reconstructionist Judaism

Reconstructionist Judaism that emerged in America in the 20th century under the leadership of Mordecai M. Kaplan, is a modern interpretation of Judaism. The fundamental teachings of the movement are the recognition of Judaism as an evolving religious civilization, the rejection of supernatural theology, the acceptance of Torah as a record of the divine quest of Jewish people and the adoption of its commandments as mores and folkways of this people. The movement, which corresponds to a small group in number, has had a significant impact on American Jewish life, and many concepts developed by Kaplan, such as the synagogue center and the bat mitzvah ceremony, are now accepted by almost all American Jews. This study aims to reintroduce Reconstructionist Judaism within the framework of available information in its own sources and to show its influence on American Judaism. The vast majority of American Jews accept the basic principles of the movement, even though they are not affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism and have never even heard of it. This fact is based on the fact that Kaplan described the true beliefs and behaviors of American Jews. In this respect, the study of Reconstructionist Judaism also contributes to the understanding of American Judaism.