History of CDT
History of Dorshei Tzedek
Six households created Congregation Dorshei Tzedek (CDT) during the summer of 1991. We sought to establish a Jewish congregation committed to Reconstructionist principles and philosophy. We envisioned a welcoming, participatory and inclusive community with a rabbi, strong lay leadership, a religious school, lifelong education, Shabbat and holiday services, and lifecycle observances. We chose the name "Dorshei Tzedek" which means "seekers of justice."
To create Congregation Dorshei Tzedek's first High Holyday services, each founding household contributed $500 for initial funding. Services were held at Brandeis University's Sacher Auditorium. We bought a modest number of High Holy Day prayer books and engaged Rabbi Mordechai Liebling to help us lead services. We advertised in the Jewish Advocate, local Newton newspapers, and on community bulletin boards and held our breath!
To our amazement, services were a great success. We were able to pay all our bills, make an appropriate contribution to Brandeis Hillel, and even had a little left over. More importantly, several families joined us right after the holidays. We applied for membership in the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and were accepted at their next board meeting.
Over the next two years, we held regular Shabbat services, celebrated holidays, and organized a board. We knew we needed to grow and to do that we needed a rabbi and a religious school.
By our third year as a congregation, we were able to start our own Religious School, starting with a Gan-Aleph (K-1) class and adding another grade each year until we had a full Gan-Zayin school. Rabbi Liebling, at that time the Executive Director of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, continued to serve as our High Holy Day rabbi. As our congregation grew to almost 30 households, he advised us to hire a student rabbi for one Shabbat weekend per month plus High Holy Days. Rabbi Linda Potemken served our congregation for the last three years of her rabbinic schooling, from 1994 until 1997.
With a regular rabbinic presence, our membership grew steadily, and by the time Rabbi Potemken graduated we had reached 60 households. At that point, we were able to raise enough money to guarantee a half-time salary for two years. We were incredibly fortunate to bring Rabbi Toba Spitzer to Boston in 1997.
For several years, we held High Holy Day services at the Solomon Schechter School in Newton. Since 2007 we have celebrated High Holy Days at the Gann Academy in Waltham. Our religious school, adult education and holiday programs, and especially our commitment to tikkun olam, continue to grow thanks to Rabbi Spitzer's guidance and our dedicated membership.
Sat, May 4 2024
26 Nisan 5784
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Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Sunday Religious School + Nitzanim
Sunday, May 5th 9:30a to 12:00p
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Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024CDT Men's Softball Game: Tzedekmen vs Beth Elohim
Sunday, May 5th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024JCRC Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Sunday, May 5th 10:30a to 12:30p
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Tuesday ,
MayMay 7 , 2024Mindful Mornings
Tuesday, May 7th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Tuesday ,
MayMay 7 , 2024Tuesday Religious School
Tuesday, May 7th 4:00p to 6:00p
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Thursday ,
MayMay 9 , 2024Mindful Mornings
Thursday, May 9th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Thursday ,
MayMay 9 , 2024God is Here: Reimagining the Divine
Thursday, May 9th 1:00p to 2:15p
The Institute for Jewish Spirituality is hosting Rabbi Toba for a deep exploration of non-anthropomorphic metaphors for the Divine in Jewish tradition. -
Thursday ,
MayMay 9 , 2024Disability Justice Discussion Group
Thursday, May 9th 7:00p to 8:00p
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Saturday ,
MayMay 11 , 2024Shabbat Morning Services and Bat Mitzvah of Emmy Rumpf
Shabbat, May 11th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Saturday ,
MayMay 11 , 2024Film Club Double-Feature Discussion: "My Mother's Lost Children" and "Love, Iranian-American Style"
Shabbat, May 11th 8:00p to 9:00p
Zmanim
Alot Hashachar | 3:58am |
Earliest Tallit | 4:38am |
Netz (Sunrise) | 5:35am |
Latest Shema | 9:08am |
Zman Tefillah | 10:20am |
Chatzot (Midday) | 12:42pm |
Mincha Gedola | 1:17pm |
Mincha Ketana | 4:51pm |
Plag HaMincha | 6:20pm |
Shkiah (Sunset) | 7:49pm |
Havdalah | 8:39pm |
Tzeit Hakochavim | 8:35pm |
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