University Synagogue is a Reconstructionist congregation — a spiritual home where Judaism is not something we inherit passively, but something we actively co-create.
Since our founding in 1987, we’ve grown into a vibrant center of Jewish life in Orange County, blending reverence for Jewish tradition with a bold commitment to modernity, inclusion, and community participation.
We believe that Judaism evolves through the lived experiences of the Jewish people. That means your voice matters. Our services are participatory and musical. Our programs are thought-provoking and joyful. Our learning spans all ages and stages. And our shared values — justice, compassion, and curiosity — infuse everything we do.
Whether you're looking for spiritual connection, a warm Jewish community for your family, or a place to explore your identity with openness and purpose, you’ll find a home here.
Together, we’re shaping a Judaism for today — and for the future.
Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
To create an inclusive, participatory Jewish community that inspires meaning, connection, and justice — rooted in Reconstructionist values and the evolving wisdom of Jewish tradition.
Our Vision
- A co-created spiritual home shaped by our voices
- A center for inquiry and growth
- A justice-driven, compassionate community
- An inclusive space for all backgrounds
- A lifelong companion in Jewish life
Our Core Values
Peoplehood
We are part of the evolving story of the Jewish people — past, present, and future — and take joy in the diverse ways Jewish life is expressed around the world.
Democratic Community
We believe in shared leadership, transparency, and the collective shaping of our ritual and communal life.
Tradition + Innovation
We honor the richness of Jewish tradition while adapting it for contemporary life. Creativity and questioning are sacred practices here.
Spiritual Meaning
Prayer and ritual connect us to each other, our history, and something larger than ourselves — even as we define that meaning differently.
Inclusivity
We celebrate the full diversity of the Jewish community and work to ensure that every individual feels seen, respected, and valued.
Tikkun Olam
We are committed to pursuing justice and healing in the world — through action, allyship, and compassion.
Lifelong Learning
We engage in Jewish learning that is deep, nuanced, and joyful — beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout life.
Our History
Coming Together
University Synagogue was founded in 1987 by sixteen men and women who were studying Reconstructionist Judaism and the philosophy of its founder, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan. They formed a havurah (small fellowship) and invited Rabbi Arnold Rachlis, then serving a Reconstructionist synagogue in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, to speak.
Creating A Congregation
Shortly after Rabbi Rachlis’ first visit to Orange County, the havurah decided to hold High Holiday services and over a hundred people attended. Throughout the next few years, a great deal of interest resulted from Rabbi Rachlis’ visits with over 200 people attending each service. The havurah, renamed University Synagogue, pursued the idea of forming a permanent congregation.
Welcome To All
A major part of our growth has been our strong appeal to unaffiliated Jews, interfaith households, LGBTQ community – people who have often felt disenfranchised from Jewish life. We were one of the synagogues in Orange County to welcome interfaith families and our rabbis perform interfaith marriages with joy. Our congregation finds profound meaning in connecting Jewish tradition with the ins and outs of life in the modern world.
Our Reconstructionist Philosophy
Our Philosophy
As envisioned by founder Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, Reconstructionist Judaism is a progressive, contemporary approach to Jewish life. It integrates a deep respect for the traditions of Judaism with a modern social, intellectual and spiritual life.
The Jewish Experience
For Reconstructionists, Judaism is more than religion; Judaism is the entire cultural legacy of the Jewish people. Religion is central and Jewish spiritual insights and religious teachings give meaning and purpose to our lives. Yet our creativity as expressed through art, music, drama, languages and literature, and our relationship with history and tradition are also integral parts of Jewish culture. Each of these aspects provides a gateway into the Jewish experience that can enrich and inspire us.
Humanistic
In Reconstructionism, we believe that God is that spirit within us, and within the universe, which helps us become loving and caring people; that power which we perceive through reason, experience and intuition that urges us towards self-fulfillment and ethical behavior. We find God by understanding ourselves, by being morally concerned, and by being motivated to study and live as Jews.
There Is No Right Way To Be A Jew
Each person is actively urged to study Jewish tradition and then to select those ideas and mitzvot that are personally and spiritually meaningful. There is also no single definition of a “good Jew” – some will find meaning in kashrut and Shabbat, others in study, still others in Jewish culture, Zionism or social action. What is important is that each Jew acquires a mature and sophisticated level of knowledge about Judaism, so that his or her choices will be informed and educated ones.
Learn More About Reconstructionist Judaism
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