Brief biography of barack obama

Mordecai Kaplan

American rabbi, educator and religious philosopher, founder of Reconstructionism
Date of Birth:
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Early Life and Education
  2. Rabbinical and Teaching Career
  3. Establishment of Reconstructionism
  4. Intellectual Integrity and Jewish Tradition
  5. Reconstructionism: A Developing Civilization
  6. God in Reconstructionism: Naturalistic and Cosmic
  7. Historical Pragmatism and Jewish Tradition
  8. Major Works and Legacy
  9. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Mordecai Kaplan, born in Lithuania and brought to the United States at the age of nine, initially received a traditional Jewish education.

However, his exposure to non-orthodox perspectives in high school ignited a deep interest in religion and modern scholarship.

Rabbinical and Teaching Career

Kaplan graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary in and began teaching there soon after.

Mordecai kaplan biography of barack obama president Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States—becoming the first African American to serve in that office—on January 20, The son of a white American mother and a black Kenyan father, Obama grew up in Hawaii. Leaving the state to attend college, he earned degrees from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago, where he met and married Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in Their two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha Sasha , were born in and , respectively.

His nearly 50 years as an educator significantly influenced generations of Conservative rabbis.

Establishment of Reconstructionism

In , Kaplan founded the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, the cornerstone of the Reconstructionist movement. The movement's journal, "Reconstructionist," established in , played a vital role in disseminating Kaplan's ideas.

Intellectual Integrity and Jewish Tradition

In his teaching, Kaplan emphasized the importance of intellectual honesty in the face of scientific and philosophical challenges to traditional Jewish beliefs.

Through his research on Midrash and Jewish philosophy, he combined deep scholarship with a practical application of Judaism to contemporary issues.

Reconstructionism: A Developing Civilization

Kaplan believed Judaism to be an evolving religious civilization, adaptable to changing circumstances. He saw its primary purpose as the meaning-making and value-creation for human existence, evident in religious behaviors, ritual, and communal engagement.

God in Reconstructionism: Naturalistic and Cosmic

Kaplan's religious concept was naturalistic, envisioning God as a cosmic force.

Mordecai kaplan biography of barack obama He won a scholarship to study economics at the University of Hawaii, where he met and married Ann Dunham, a white woman from Wichita, Kansas , whose father had worked on oil rigs during the Great Depression and fought with the U. Did you know? Not only was Obama the first African American president, he was also the first to be born outside the continental United States. Obama was born in Hawaii in He would see his son only once more before dying in a car accident in

He viewed Jewish religion as the expression of the Jewish people's moral aspirations. It rejected supernaturalism but embraced secular elements as integral to Jewish identity.

Historical Pragmatism and Jewish Tradition

Kaplan's approach to Judaism was both historical and pragmatic. He saw tradition as a guide rather than a constraint, emphasizing diversity and choice within Jewish denominations.

Major Works and Legacy

Kaplan's significant works include:
- "Judaism as a Civilization" ()
- "The Meaning of God in Modern Jewish Religion" ()
- "Judaism Without Supernaturalism" ()
- "The Religion of Ethical Nationalism" ()
Criticism and Recognition

While Reconstructionism gained adherents, it faced criticism for its perceived abstraction and undermining of historical revelation.

Conversely, Kaplan's advocacy for Zionist ideals and intercommunal connections earned respect and recognition.

Death and Legacy

Mordecai Kaplan passed away in , leaving behind a legacy of progressive Jewish thought and a lasting impact on the American Jewish community. A synagogue in Jerusalem, Mevakshei Derekh, serves as a testament to his influence.