In 1934, Mordechai Kaplan, formerly Orthodox rabbi of The Jewish Center on 86th street in Manhattan, published Judaism as a Civilization, a seminal work that eventually provided the theological foundation for the new Reconstructionist movement. Kaplan was deeply influenced by the new field of sociology and its definition of "civilization" as characterized not only by beliefs and rituals, but also by art, culture, ethics, history, language, literature, social organization, symbols and local customs.
Kaplan argued that Judaism is in essence a religious civilization; the religious elements of Judaism are primarily human, naturalistic expressions of a specific culture. Kaplan felt that Jewish group survival in the United States depended on Jews reconstructing their lives on the cultural foundation of a historical peoplehood.
Kaplan, of course, was an apikorus and עוכר ישראל [to be kind].
Sadly, there are many Jews today who don't identify as Reconstructionist but for various reasons [some not completely their fault], live lives as if Judaism is just a cultural phenomenon having little to do with Hashem, קבלת עול מלכות שמים etc. etc.
Example: This Pesach, countless Jews will be careful not to eat kitniyos or to eat a hard boiled egg dipped in salt water at the seder which are mere customs but will also go mixed swimming [which is THOUSANDS of איסורי דאורייתא for each swim] and do other serious איסורים [not the least of which is being עובר on קדושים תהיו as per the Ramban and ולא תתורו -see Sefer Hachinuch quoted by the Bi'ur Halacha at the beginning].
There is of course a lot of positive in the fact that people feel an emotional connection with Judaism and the Jewish people but it is far from the ideal of living holy lives of 'עבדות לה.
The purpose of this post is not to change anyone but the people who read it [and the one who writes it...].
May we all be zocheh to do תשובה שלימה באהבה!!!
