Our Mission & Values Statement
Our Mission
Bnai Keshet (Children of the Rainbow) is a vibrant congregation affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism that values the diverse backgrounds, identities, and beliefs of our members and our shared historical traditions. We celebrate our role as participants in the evolution of Judaism; we engage our tradition thoughtfully, so Judaism remains meaningful and relevant to each of us. In this spirit, we are committed to deepening our religious and spiritual life, to hesed (caring), to life-long learning, to tikkun olam (repairing the world), and to sharing important life events. We are an informal and respectful community moved by prayer, fired by lively discussion, enlivened by laughter and song.
Values Statement
- We create and foster a caring community that supports and embraces diversity, democratic decision-making, the volunteer work of our members, the search for spiritual fulfillment and the development of Jewish identity for people of all ages;
- We understand Judaism to be an evolving religious civilization and actively engage in the struggle to define and redefine our practices and heritage, while honoring our shared traditions and history;
- We see holiness (kedushah) as the sacredness we recognize within each human being and in the natural world;
- We approach Judaism from our varied backgrounds, and know that our community (kehilah) is strengthened by embracing our differences. Our community is made up of people of all races, family structures, ages, genders, sexualities, abilities, and educational, class, and ethnic backgrounds. We celebrate the fact that holiness is found in people of all colors; single, married, divorced, widowed, younger and older adults with and without children, LGBTQ+, straight, and searching; Jews by birth, by choice, the curious, and the returning; single-faith and interfaith families;
- We strive for respect and civility (derech eretz) towards one another and our broader community;
- We work to repair the world (tikkun olam) through social activism, thoughtful debate, and a mindfulness of social justice that permeates our community;
- We care for one another (hesed) and share communal experiences of pain and joy that include ritual, prayer, song and personal connection;
- We welcome being part of Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people, and are mindful of our connectedness, despite our many differences;
- We view Israel as central to Judaism, promote the connection between our community and Israel, and encourage respectful and open discussion of all aspects of our relationship to Israel as American Jews; and;
- We provide opportunities for lifelong Jewish learning and foster and fortify the next generation of Reconstructionist Jews through Jewish education, celebration, ritual and community for children and families.
Adopted Aug 8, 2007 / Revised Mar 24, 2014
Sat, September 30 2023
15 Tishrei 5784