Mordecai M. Kaplan
| Rabbi Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan | |
|---|---|
Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan
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| Organisation | Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Society for the Advancement of Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Mottel Kaplan |
| Born |
June 11, 1881 Sventiany, Russian Empire (now Švenčionys, Lithuania) |
| Died | November 8, 1983 (aged 102) New York City, United States |
| Buried | Glendale, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism |
| Parents | Rabbi Israel and Haya (Anna) Kaplan |
| Spouse | Lena Rubin (c.1885–1958), Rivka Rieger |
| Children | Dr. Judith Eisenstein, Hadassah Musher, Dr. Naomi Wenner and Selma Jaffe-Goldman |
| Semicha | Jewish Theological Seminary of America |
Mordecai Menahem Kaplan (June 11, 1881 – November 8, 1983), was a rabbi, essayist and Jewish educator and the co-founder of Reconstructionist Judaism along with his son-in-law Ira Eisenstein.
Kaplan was born in Švenčionys, Lithuania, to Rabbi Israel and Haya (Anna) Kaplan. In 1889, he emigrated to the United States with his mother and sisters to join his father in New York City who was working with the Chief Rabbi Jacob Joseph. He attended Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Manhattan for a short period. In 1895 Kaplan attended the City College of New York. From 1893 to 1902 he also studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. After graduating from CCNY in 1900 he went to Columbia University studying philosophy, sociology and education receiving a master's degree and a Doctorate. Majoring in philosophy, he wrote his Masters thesis on the ethical philosophy of Henry Sidgwick. His lecturers included the philosopher of ethical culture Felix Adler and the sociologist Franklin Giddings.
In July 1908 he married Lena Rubin. He received semikhah from Rabbi Isaac Jacob Reines while on his honeymoon. Kaplan began his career as an Orthodox rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, a synagogue in New York. In 1912, he was an advisor to the creators of the Young Israel movement of Modern Orthodox Judaism, together with Rabbi Israel Friedlander. He was a leader in creating the Jewish community center concept, and helped found the Society for the Advancement of Judaism.
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