Keddem Congregation Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are members of Keddem and will I fit in?
2. What about adults who have limited knowledge of Hebrew or Jewish knowledge generally?
3. What are your services like?
4. What programs do you have for children's education?
5. Do you prepare children for Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
6. What are your dues and what if I can't afford to pay them?
7. How does Keddem observe the High Holy Days?
8. Keddem says it is a Reconstructionist Congregation?  What does that mean?
9. Other than attending services, how can I be involved in Keddem?
10. I have more questions about Keddem Congregation.  How can I contact you?

1. Who are members of Keddem and will I fit in?

Our members are young, old, and everything in between.  Keddem membership is open to those 13 and older. We are single, partnered, and married, gay and straight.  Some of us are parents, and some are not.  We are both intra and intermarried; we have active non-Jewish members.

When we count members, we count individuals, because we value each person on his/her own as a member.  If you are part of a couple but only one of you wishes to join, that’s fine with us.

Members of Keddem Congregation have a wide range of Jewish knowledge and belief.  What we all share is an excitement about engaging with Jewish tradition.  We are a community of seekers and learners.  Everyone has something to contribute!

We welcome all persons who support our approach to Judaism, a Judaism which is inclusive, egalitarian, participatory, questioning, and Reconstructionist.  We are open to you, wherever you may be in your Jewish journey, as long as you are open to us.

2. What about adults who have limited knowledge of Hebrew or Jewish knowledge generally?

Our prayer books are intended to provide guidance as well as meaning to all participants, regardless of your level of knowledge.  Service leaders frequently provide explanations of the service as it proceeds.  Translation and transliteration of all prayers allows even those with no knowledge of Hebrew to participate.

With a membership that includes many ethnic Jews with no religious training as well as non-Jews, Keddem has built a strong program of adult education. If you want to enhance your Jewish knowledge, we have a class for you!

3. What are your services like?

Services are led by various members of the congregation with a great deal of participation by the congregation.  While maintaining the traditional structure, Keddem's services are warm and informal.  They contain a balance of Hebrew and English prayers, and all Hebrew prayers are translated AND transliterated.  In many cases, there are a number of alternative prayers that maintain the same spiritual essence with contemporary language and imagery.  We love to sing and do so frequently. 

From tie to tie-dye: Keddem values the person over the packaging. The dress of the congregation is generally informal, with “business casual” being the most common attire.  We regularly hold Shabbat Evening Services at 7:30 PM on the last Friday of the month, and Shabbat Morning Services including Torah reading at 10 AM on the third Saturday of the month. We also have “Alternative” Shabbat services, held on the second Saturday of even-numbered months, as well as services and celebrations for all holidays and festivals. Except for High Holy Days, all of our services are held at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto.

4. What programs do you have for children's education?

Children are always welcome at all Keddem services and other community events.  We do, however, have several programs created specifically for children (and their parents.)

Children’s Services are held concurrently with our regular third Saturday of the month Shacharit service and are at Kehillah Jewish High School.

Children's services begin right after the Torah processional at approximately 11:00 AM and last until 11:45, at which point the children rejoin the regular service for Adon Olam and Kiddush. The children’s service includes music, reading, singing and instruction appropriate for children age 1-10. Parents are encouraged to attend, especially with their younger children.

Junior Congregation is aimed at children from approximately age 8 through bar/bat mitzvah. The services are held on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months.  They are held at  Kehillah Jewish High School at 10:30 AM. The service is led by an adult with as much participation from all present as possible.   Each time, the service is focused around a particular "learning topic" such as the Torah service, the Shema, or the Amidah.  Whenever possible, one of our young people gives a d'var Torah. We do lots of singing, and also talk about how aspects of our Reconstructionist service differ from other Jewish services.

As of this time, Keddem Congregation does not support a formal Hebrew school. If enough families are interested in the future this will change

5. Do you prepare children for Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Keddem Congregation has a bar/bat mitzvah coordinator, who can help you and your family work towards a bat/bar mitzvah celebration for your child. We will assist you in finding a tutor, and in planning the event itself.  We do not, at this time, have a formal bar/bat mitzvah “program” for children.  However, we have had many celebrations of children becoming bar/bat mitzvah at Keddem!

B’nai and b’not mitzvah at Keddem have come to us with a wide range of prior Jewish education.  Some are day school students, others attend after-school programs.  Most have also engaged private tutors for study during the pre-bat/bar mitzvah year. 

Some important thoughts about how we at Keddem Congregation feel about bar/bat mitzvah: Celebration of becoming bar/bat mitzvah means exclusively choosing Judaism as your adult religion.  Becoming a bat/bar mitzvah is also about celebrating Judaism in community.  Therefore, in addition to participating in a Shabbat service to celebrate this commitment, an individual has the option to mark the occasion in other meaningful ways, such as:

• Plant a tree with a ritual
• Lead a Tu B’Shevat seder
• Study a Jewish topic and give a lecture/presentation (most likely more appropriate for an adult than a child)

If you wish to plan a bar or bat mitzvah for your child, arrangements must be made at least one year in advance of the proposed date.  Life-cycle ceremonies at Keddem Congregation are a privilege of membership. Feel free to contact us by phone for additional information, or send email to BBMitzvah@Keddem.org.

6. What are your dues and what if I can't afford to pay them?

Keddem membership is open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay full dues. Many Keddem members pay at a reduced rate. Members are never asked to explain their circumstances before a finance committee, nor are they expected to show income tax returns. They simply decide what amount they can afford, and pay that amount with their annual membership renewal.

Keddem also offers an installment plan for dues payment.

7. How does Keddem observe the High Holy Days?

Keddem has a full set of services led by members of the community, including both days of Rosh HaShanah.

Keddem has a minhag (custom) of making Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur worship services free and open to the public. We want to share this deeply spiritual time with anyone who seeks to reconnect with community and tradition. We hope that non-members who come to High Holy Day services will want to join the congregation and involve themselves year-round.

8. Keddem says it is a Reconstructionist Congregation?  What does that mean?

Reconstructionist Judaism may be considered a "maximalist liberal Judaism."  It is characterized by a balance between respect for tradition and responsiveness to contemporary needs and issues.

You’ll often hear the catch phrase, "The past has a vote, not a veto," used to describe the Reconstructionist approach to Judaism.  If you think about this sentence, you’re well on your way!  "The past has a vote;" this means we want to learn our tradition, understand it in the context of its time, and ultimately find what is beautiful and special and wonderful within it for us. "But not a veto;" this means that where we can truly no longer make that connection, we may choose a different path for our community practice.

Rabbi Richard Hirsh, current (Spring 2007) Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, writes:  "Reconstructionism differs from other approaches to Judaism in seeing Jewish culture, religion and tradition as having been created by the Jewish people throughout history, rather than given by God at Mount Sinai; we see our tradition as having grown from the ground up, and not from the (mountain-) top down."

Reconstructionist Judaism developed from the writings of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan.  It began in the 1930s as the "left wing" of Conservative Judaism, not emerging as a separate movement until the opening of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1968. It is now the fastest growing movement of American Judaism. 

Keddem Congregation is an active member of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF), the congregational arm of the Reconstructionist movement. As of Spring 2007, JRF has 106 member congregations and chavurot (fellowships).    Members of Keddem Congregation are engaged in both regional and national JRF activities.

9. Other than attending services, how can I be involved in Keddem?

Keddem prides itself on being participatory. You are invited to enjoy holiday celebrations, to participate in a class, Torah study or a "Bagels, Lox and Learning" session. You may choose to become active in a synagogue committee such as Tikkun Olam (Social Action), Ritual, or Adult Education.  Share your expertise on the Facilities or Fund-raising committees.  Keddem is a reflection of the contributions and commitment of its members.

10.  I have more questions about Keddem Congregation.  How can I contact you?

Send any questions you may have about Keddem to us at keddem@keddem.org.  Or, you can call our office at 650-494-6400 -- leave a message and someone will get back to you within a day or so.  Best of all -- come to a Keddem event! (See our calendar pages for this month's and next month's activities.) 

last updated 5/17/2007