Event Details
The New Reform Congregation Kadima will be having High Holiday services
once again this year in Lake Forest beginning with Rosh Hashanah evening on
Friday September 11th and morning on September 12th.
The New Reform Congregation Kadima was founded in 2010 in Deerfield to
provide a community for people seeking a Jewish path emphasizing spiritual
development rather than traditional theological belief and observance. The
congregation draws inspiration from Jewish tradition and rituals for personal
transformation. Congregation Kadima is affiliated with the Union for Reform
Judaism while maintaining its emphasis on religious naturalism, that is a
commitment to spirituality despite doubts about traditional supernatural faith.
“Kadima” is a Hebrew term connoting forward movement and progressive
change, and the congregation seeks to create such transformation through
studying Jewish ethics, fostering personal reflection and engaging in social
justice activities. The Rabbi, Dr. David Oler, is also a clinical psychologist and in
his teaching emphasizes Tikun Atzmi, personal self-repair, and Tikun Olam, the
responsibility to repair the world by practicing justice and harmonious living,
central concerns of Jewish tradition. He has recently completed another doctoral
degree at Hebrew Union College focusing on the pursuit of spirituality in a
context of religious naturalism.
The rabbi teaches an adult class on Saturday mornings, Jewish Ethics for
Personal Transformation, which draws on Mussar literature, a compendium of
ethical principles developed over the course of Jewish history.
The congregation sponsors Shabbat services and dinners, a variety of social and
cultural activities, and is engaged in feeding the homeless, and working for racial
justice and the protection of the environment.
The religious school offers a parallel approach to Jewish living for children and
youth.
Classes, services and programs will continue to be offered online as well as in
person, as this has become a convenient way for many people to participate
more fully even if they live further away. Kadima uses rented facilities,maintaining a low cost overhead which enables the congregation to be sustained
with moderate membership fees. People from all backgrounds are most welcome
at Kadima. For further information, view www.nrck.org or contact the office at
office@nrck.org or (847) 229-9500.