Community: A Contemporary Challenge
February 10, 2025
How can we create and sustain meaning-rich communities with the power to transform lives?
Rabbi David A. Teutsch is the Wiener professor emeritus at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he previously served as president for a decade, and later as director of the Center for Jewish Ethics. He also served as executive director of the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot, as program director of the National Jewish Resource Center (now known as CLAL) and as a congregational rabbi.
He is the editor in chief of the groundbreaking Kol Haneshamah prayerbook series and of a three-volume Guide to Jewish Practice, the first volume of which won a National Jewish Book Award, as well as dozens of other books and articles. His last book, co-written with Marilyn Price, is From Gratitude to Blessings and Back. He earned his A.B. with honors from Harvard University, his ordination from HUC-JIR in New York, and his Ph.D. at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where his dissertation was on organizational ethics. He also holds four honorary degrees.
An internationally known consultant, coach and trainer, primarily to not-for-profit organizations and synagogues, Teutsch has been helping organizations for more than 45 years. He was co-chair of JStreet’s Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet.
A past president of the Society of Jewish Ethics and of the Academic Coalition of Jewish Ethics, he has served on a broad variety of boards and editorial boards. He is also an avid biker.
How can we create and sustain meaning-rich communities with the power to transform lives?
If Netanyahu’s plan is pursued, Israel will never be free of destabilizing factors.
When I give to JStreet, the message of commitment to Palestinian rights alongside Israeli security comes through with every contribution.
Burnout is a problem for rabbis on a scale that has not occurred before in my lifetime.
The IHRA position regards any opposition to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians or advocacy of a democratic one-state solution, or many other substantive criticisms, into being understood as antisemitism.
Ordinary Israelis and Palestinians should never have to live through the death, destruction, humiliation and torture that have marked recent days.
Changes in Israeli government policy will only occur when enormous outside pressure is brought to bear.
The reprehensible behavior of the current Israeli government and the previous one is not a reason to abandon the Jews of Israel. Quite the reverse: The current situation demands greater involvement.
Most Americans have reacted with horror to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are many reasons why it has affected so many of us in
Jewish ethics demands that we invest in producing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to the developing world.
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
