Page "Mordecai Kaplan" Paragraph 1

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 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.