Mordecai Menahem Kaplan (1881-1983), American Jewish theologian and educator, was the founder and leader of the Reconstructionist movement in American Judaism.

Mordecai Kaplan was born on June 11, 1881, in Swenziany, Lithuania, and emigrated to the United States in 1889. He took his bachelor of arts degree at the City College of New York in 1900 and his master of arts at Columbia University, New York City, in 1902, the same year he was ordained a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1908 he married Lena Rubin.

Kaplan served in the rabbinate for a number of years. Most of his career, however, was devoted to education and theology. From 1910 until 1963, he taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary, becoming principal of its teachers' institute in 1909, dean in 1931, and dean emeritus in 1947. He also taught at the Graduate School for Jewish Social Work (1925-1937), Columbia University (1932-1944), and Hebrew University (1937-1939).

Reconstructionist Movement

Kaplan is...