  mordecai menahem kaplan (june 11, 1881 â 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. ==life and work== kaplan was born in Å venÄionys, 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 masters 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.for a biography of kaplan's life consult, mel scult judaism faces the twentieth century- a biography of mordecai m. kaplan, wayne state university press, 1993 isbn 0-8143-2279-4 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 kehi
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