Through intimate encounters spanning several decades, Mordecai M. Kaplan's intellectual dynamism and transformative vision for Judaism emerged not just in his published works, but in countless personal moments with students and colleagues. Drawing from firsthand observations during Kaplan's centennial celebration, this qualitative memoir-based account chronicles pivotal interactions between the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism and his former student, from seminary homiletics classes to later visits in New York and Jerusalem. Kaplan's famous declaration "I have grown in the past two weeks" - delivered while reconsidering a previously approved student sermon - epitomized his commitment to continuous learning and intellectual honesty. His advocacy for innovative liturgical projects like the "Shabbat Seder" demonstrated an ongoing drive to revitalize Jewish religious life through creative adaptation of traditional forms. Even in advanced age, Kaplan maintained rigorous scholarly standards and an ever-evolving engagement with Jewish thought. These personal glimpses reveal how one of twentieth-century Judaism's most influential figures shaped the movement not only through formal teachings but through deeply meaningful mentoring relationships that modeled his philosophy of lifelong learning and religious renewal.