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277 In 1926, Mordecai Kaplan formulated what he called the “Thirteen Wants” as a way of expressing the fundamentals of his life as a Jew. Perhaps the word ideal is more fitting than the word “wants.” Kaplan certainly had in mind a reconstruction of Maimonides’s “Thirteen Principles of Faith.” I have taken the liberty of reformulating these “wants” in language perhaps more fitting for the present. Kaplan thought of substituting the words “pray” and “hope” in some of the wants. The original “wants” are found in the Sabbath Prayer Book (New York: The Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, Inc., 1945), 562. Here is Kaplan’s own estimation of the “Thirteen Wants” some twenty years later, as recorded in his diary for December 6, 1949: This morning, as Lena and I were reading our prayers together at home, I concluded them with the reading of the “Thirteen Wants.” I was so impressed as I always am by their relevance and comprehensiveness as well as their aptness in setting forth what a Jew should experience to be a good Jew that I remarked to Lena, “When I am gone, I do not want any eulogies delivered at my funeral. All I would ask is the recital of the ‘Thirteen Wants.’” Insofar as a person’s wants [ideals] constitute his real self, these “Thirteen Wants” constitute my selfhood as a Jew. 1. We pray that Judaism may help us to find meaning and direction in our lives. 2. We hope that our community may be a source of support in times of trouble. 3. We pray that Judaism may help us to use our blessings for just and righteous ends. 4. We are committed to using our leisure to the best advantage—physically, intellectually and spiritually. 5. We hope that our homes will be a warm safe haven and a stimulating place to live and grow. A P P E N D I X : “ T H I R T E E N WA N T S ” O F M O R D E C A I K A P L A N R E C O N S T R U C T E D 278 Appendix 6. We pray that our children may flourish morally and spiritually. We want to enable them to accept with joy their heritage as Jews. 7. We pray that our synagogues enable us to worship God in sincerity and truth. 8. We want our religious traditions to be understandable and to be made relevant to our present day needs. We want to find new and creative ways to incorporate Jewish ideals into our daily lives. 9. We are committed to strengthening the State of Israel as the center of the Jewish people and as the expression of the Jewish spirit. 10. We hope that Judaism will find new and compelling expressions in philosophy, literature and the arts. 11. We hope that all Jewish organizations will accomplish their goals within the sphere of the ethical and the spiritual. 12. We hope that all Jews will be ready to help each other in times of need and to cooperate in furthering Jewish life. 13. We want Judaism to advance the cause of justice, freedom and peace. ...

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