Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Welcome to JRCJRC is a diverse, participatory, and sacred community dedicated to a daring, deeply-rooted Judaism.
Welcome to JRC
All Together, We are JRC. Daring, Inclusive Judaism.
Our 400-plus household congregation is known for joyful spirituality, intellectual curiosity, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to social justice. JRC is about people – our members- and providing them with meaningful rituals and services and Jewish learning experiences, special events, and many opportunities to make lifelong friends. Come to schmooze, learn, eat, grow, dismantle the status quo, or even pray.
You’ve never known Judaism like this before.
Recon-what?
Reconstructionist Judaism Was Made For This Moment: Rabbi Rachel Weiss
Reconstructionist Judaism is both deeply rooted in Jewish traditions and boldly relevant to the complexity and plurality of the times in which we live. We balance customs and long-observed traditions with the needs of contemporary Jews today. Core to Reconstructionism is the belief that Judaism is the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people; such a civilization contains ritual, music, text, art, history, sociology, food, literature, politics, and most importantly, Jewish Community.
JRC MEMBER QUICK LINKS
Who can I call in the event of a death or other pastoral emergency?
Call 847-497-5201 and one of our Clergy Team will get back to you.
How can I add someone to the Refuah Sheleymah/Healing Prayer list?
Email the details to JRC’s Operations Director, Leslie Brown at lbrown@jrctogether.org.
How can I share my family’s good news for the newsletter?
Email all the details to info@jrctogether.org.
Who can I contact if I have a question about my JRC account?
Email JRC’s Operations Director, Leslie Brown at lbrown@jrctogether.org
Where should I mail my payment or donations?
You can mail payments to JRC at our home address in Evanston or to Kesef, our bookkeepers in New Jersey:
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
303 Dodge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation,
P.O. Box 418,
Montvale, NJ 07645-0418
How do I start to plan a family lifecycle event (wedding/b’nai mitzvah/etc.)?
Email info@jrctogether.org and we’ll start collaborating!
Who can I contact if I have an idea about a program?
We have a form for that! Visit https://jrctogether.org/about-us/board-of-directors/have-an-idea/ to send your idea to our Dream & Plan team!
From Our Director of Education
A Welcome to Families from Director of Education, Lauren Reeves
Kehillah, JRC’s boldly reimagined religious school, supports learners of all ages & abilities in cultivating joy & resilience by teaching sacred practices & values. Our Shabbat-based program is infused with joy, allowing us to experience Shabbat together as a multi-generational community, while our Kehillah learners engage in a project-based curriculum.
Every individual in our community is loved for who they are, celebrating their gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, racial identities, degree of Jewish knowledge, or their multifaith families. We partner with parents to cultivate the Jewish values that will serve our children throughout their lives, in their personal relationships and as global citizens. We are a community of learners, with the emphasis on the word “community.”
Voices: JRC’s Congregational Blog
How Are You? (Rosh Hashanah 5785 Sermon by Rabbi Rachel Weiss)
This year, the most difficult question to answer has been, “How are you?” We often simply connect with “fine, how are you?” but reality for many of us has felt far from fine and connections far from simple. What underlies this casual interaction is the fact that many usual relationships have become fraught and heavy. Not only the world post October 7th, but largely because what has emerged is a new wave of permeating fear and antisemitism.
Pride Shabbat Dvar: Sh’lach Lecha (Summer 2024 JRC Member D’vrei Torah Series)
June 28, 2024 D'var by Bruce Koff Good evening and Shabbat Sholom! Thank-you for this opportunity to celebrate Pride with my JRC community, and to find in tonight’s parshat what I hope is a bit of wisdom for our times, times in which the queer community is under...
Parshat Beha’alotecha (Summer 2024 JRC Member D’vrei Torah Series)
June 21, 2024 D’var by member Andrew Segall Good evening! My name is Andrew Segall and it is a delight to be outside with you on a gorgeous evening at the lakefront. We have been treated to amazing weather and the comforting and familiar sounds of Cantor Howard. ...