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About Keddem Congregation

Keddem* Congregation was founded in Palo Alto in March, 1993. We are a spirited community, spiritual and intellectual, enjoying both prayer and study. It's critical at Keddem that we not have to check our intellect at the door when praying, nor have to check our spirituality at the door when studying.

Keddem Congregation
Vision, Mission, and Values
Adopted by the Congregation, May 23, 2010

The Keddem Congregation vision:

Keddem Congregation is a community-led, Reconstructionist Jewish congregation dedicated to discovering, developing and celebrating godliness in ourselves and each other. We practice an evolving Judaism that infuses tradition with new meaning, and is responsive to contemporary life.

Commentary

Our approach in exploring this vision is through the path of Reconstructionist Judaism. Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, spoke of God as the process that makes for the fulfillment of our human potential. "Godliness" is therefore our highest human potential.

Kaplan also describes Judaism as an " evolving" civilization. In that context, we seek to practice a Judaism that is dynamic rather than static. And, as Reconstructionism rejects the notion of the Jews as " the chosen people," we at Keddem recognize that all are created b'Tzelem Elohim (in the image of God). We challenge ourselves to perceive and nurture that image in friends, in strangers, in those with whom we disagree, in everyone regardless of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation. This awareness is the basis of our relationships and activities.

Under this vision, we intend to provide experiences that touch the heart and soul as well as the mind, and varied ways for people to connect with each other to share important experiences. We join together as we wrestle with the meaning of God in our lives, and seek a balance between mind and heart.

The mission of Keddem Congregation is to:

Keddem Congregation is:

We hold events sporadically, in various locations. If you want to organize or host a Keddem event, please contact us.

Any person over 13 years of age may apply for membership in Keddem Congregation. For additional information, please contact Keddem's Office.

(*) Keddem: the root of the Hebrew Keddem, Keddem in Hebrew, contains within itself the concepts of the past and the future-that which came before us, that which is ever before us.

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This page last updated Friday, September 16, 2016 4:16 PM CDT.