MORDECAI M. KAPLAN'S METHOD AND BASIC PRINCIPLES ON DEVELOPING OF RECONSTRUCTIONIST JUDAISM

Year 2022, Issue: 29, 1 - 35, 28.02.2022

İbrahim Ethem Aydın

Abstract

Reconstructionist Judaism is a religious movement that emerged in America in the XXth century. The movement's originator and founder is Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881-1983) who is Jewish scholar and philosopher. Mordecai's main goal is to preserve the existence of the Jewish community in America, which is in danger of extinction in the face of modernity. According to him Judaism cannot exist without the Jewish people. For Reconstructionist Judaism understanding, which is its basic principles and method is appointed by Mordecai, Judaism is not just a religion, but a evolving religious civilization over time. At the exact center of this understanding, which accepts Judaism as a way of life, is placed the concept of civilization. Jewish history, language, literature, art, social structure, aesthetics and moral values that make up Jewish culture, especially religion, are shaped according to this concept. Religion as a social phenomenon is the energy source of Judaism. Therefore, it is the most important element of Jewish civilization. For Kaplan, Jews must keep up with American civilization so that Judaism is surviving in America. The Jewish community must learn to live in both Jewish and American civilization. As a method, Kaplan proposed to revaluate the Jewish tradition according to the living conditions of the era, to receive the heritage that fits the modern mind, and to discard the rest.

MORDECAİ M. KAPLAN’IN YENİDEN YAPILANMACI YAHUDİLİĞİ GELİŞTİRMEDEKİ METODU VE TEMEL ESASLARI

Abstract

Yeniden Yapılanmacı Yahudilik, XX. yüzyılda Amerika’da ortaya çıkmış bir dini harekettir. Hareketin fikir babası ve kurucusu Yahudi bilgin ve filozof Mordecai Menahem Kaplan (1881-1983)’dır. Kaplan’ın temel amacı modernite karşısında yok olma tehlikesi altında olan Amerika’daki Yahudi toplumunun varlığını korumaktır. Ona göre Yahudi toplumu olmadan Yahudilik ayakta kalamaz. Temel ilkeleri ve metodu Kaplan tarafından belirlenen Yeniden Yapılanmacı anlayışa göre, Yahudilik salt bir din değil, zamanla gelişen bir medeniyettir. Yahudiliği bir yaşam şekli olarak kabul eden bu anlayışın merkezinde medeniyet kavramı yer alır. Başta din olmak üzere Yahudi kültürünü oluşturan Yahudi tarihi, dili, edebiyatı, sanatı, sosyal yapısı, estetik ve ahlaki değerleri bu kavrama göre şekillenmiştir. Din sosyal bir fenomen olarak Yahudiliğin enerji kaynağı olduğu için Yahudi medeniyetinin en önemli unsurudur. Kaplan’a göre Yahudiliğin Amerika’da hayatta kalması için Yahudilerin Amerikan medeniyetine ayak uydurması gerekmektedir. Yahudi toplumu hem Yahudi hem de Amerikan medeniyetinde yaşamayı öğrenmelidir. Kaplan metot olarak Yahudi geleneğini çağın yaşam şartlarına göre yeniden değerlendirmeyi modern akla uyan mirasın alınmasını gerisinin atılmasını önermiştir.

Keywords

Yeniden Yapılanmacı Yahudilik, Mordecai M. Kaplan, medeniyet, din, yeniden değerlendirme

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