Editing Reconstructionist Judaism (section)

==Jewish identity==
Reconstructionist Judaism allows its rabbis to determine their own policy regarding officiating at [[Interfaith marriage|intermarriages]]. Some congregations accept [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] as well as [[Matrilineality|matrilineal]] descent, and children of one Jewish parent, of any gender, are considered Jewish by birth if raised as Jews. This contrasts with the traditional interpretations of Jewish law of both [[Rabbinical Judaism]], in which a child is Jewish by birth if its mother was Jewish; and of [[Karaite Judaism]], in which a child is Jewish by birth if its ''father'' was Jewish.

The role of non-Jews in Reconstructionist congregations is a matter of ongoing debate. Practices vary between synagogues. Most congregations strive to strike a balance between inclusivity and integrity of boundaries. The [[Jewish Reconstructionist Federation]] (JRF) has issued a non-binding statement attempting to delineate the process by which congregations set policy on these issues, and sets forth sample recommendations. These issues are ultimately decided by local lay leadership.<ref>''Can Halakha Live?'' by Rabbi [[Edward Feld]], ''The Reconstructionist'', Vol.59(2), Fall 1994, p.&nbsp;64-72</ref>

In 2015 the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]] voted to accept rabbinical students in interfaith relationships, making Reconstructionist Judaism the first type of Judaism to officially allow rabbis in relationships with non-Jewish partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/75811/reconstructionists-give-green-light-to-intermarried-rabbinical-students|title=Reconstructionists give green light to intermarried rabbinical students|publisher=Jweekly|author=Lisa Hostein|date=October 1, 2015|access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> In making the decision, the movement considered that "many younger progressive Jews, including many rabbis and rabbinical students, now perceive restrictions placed on those who are intermarried as reinforcing a tribalism that feels personally alienating and morally troubling in the 21st century."<ref>[http://forward.com/news/329163/7-reconstructionist-rabbis-quit-as-synagogues-debate-intermarried-rabbis/?attribution=home-hero-item-text-1 7 Reconstructionist Rabbis Quit as Synagogues Debate Intermarried Rabbis] The Forward, 8 January 2016</ref> In April 2016 nineteen Reconstructionist rabbis announced the formation of [[Beit Kaplan: The Rabbinic Partnership for Jewish Peoplehood]], originally to protest the decision to allow rabbis to have non-Jewish partners, but more recently to challenge the ordination and inclusion of non-Zionist rabbis. As of March 2025, Beit Kaplan had 80 members. <ref>[http://www.jta.org/2016/04/08/news-opinion/united-states/reconstructionist-offshoot-forms-over-intermarried-rabbis-bds Reconstructionist offshoot forms over intermarried rabbis, BDS] JTA, April 8, 2016</ref>

Although the Reconstructionist movement officially supports [[liberal Zionism]], it also has a disproportionate amount of [[anti-Zionist]] members. Of the [[Jewish Voice for Peace]] rabbinical council, about 60 percent of their members were trained at the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A Reconstructionist Reckoning |url=https://jewishcurrents.org/a-reconstructionist-reckoning |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=Jewish Currents |language=en}}</ref>