81. Humanistic Jewish Congregation O humanistic judaism espouses natural spirituality such as the feeling one gets when exposed to Answer humanistic judaism focuses on life before death. http://www.humanisticjewssandiego.org/FAQ.htm

Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego Frequently Asked Questions HOME ABOUT US PHILOSOPHY CALENDAR ... CONTACT US 1. Do you believe in God? Answer: Humanistic Jews believe that people have the power and responsibility to shape our own lives independent of supernatural authority. Beyond this, personal belief is a private matter. 2. Is it possible to be spiritual when one is a Secular Humanist? Answer: Yes. Humanistic Judaism espouses natural spirituality such as the feeling one gets when exposed to something of overwhelming beauty and strength. We do not believe that there is a supernatural, spiritual world. 3. Do you believe there is life after death? Answer: Humanistic Judaism focuses on life before death. We concern ourselves with things on this earth and in our time. 4. How can we believe in people after all of the terrible things that people do? Answer: Human beings have the capacity to choose right and wrong. There are good and bad people in all religious and ethnic groups. 5. How can we accept science after all the terrible things that science has done?

82. Humanistic Jewish Congregation O humanistic judaism is a fifth branch of the Jewish family tree. The congregation began in 1985 in the living room of Alex and Shirley Levin. http://www.humanisticjewssandiego.org/About Us.htm

Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego About Us HOME ABOUT US PHILOSOPHY CALENDAR ... CONTACT US The Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Dieg o is affiliated with the national Society for Humanistic Judaism www.shj.org and the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Judaism www.ifshj.org Humanistic Judaism is a fifth branch of the Jewish family tree. The congregation began in 1985 in the living room of Alex and Shirley Levin. Our HJC School started in 1991. The HJC offers a variety of religious, social and educational programs. Our three leaders, Madrikha Toby Dorfman, Madrikha Beverly Zarnow, and Cantor Deborah Davis perform ceremonial and life cycle activities. calendar) L-R: Madrikha Toby Dorfman, Madrikha Beverly Zarnow and Cantor Deborah Davis (top of page)

83. JewishFinder Society for humanistic judaism. 28611 W. 12 Mile Road humanistic judaism embraces a humancentered philosophy that combines rational thinking with a http://www.ujc.org/ir_listing.html?nt=0&catid=615&catname=Movements and Denomina

84. About Secular Humanistic Judaism Jewish Cultural School and Society. About Secular humanistic judaism Secular Humanistic Jews do. celebrate Jewish holidays and lifecycle events http://www.jcss-nj.com/id14.html

Jewish Cultural School and Society About Secular Humanistic Judaism tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/home1.gif","twe02971A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/home3.gif","twe02971B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/aboutus1.gif","twe02972A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/aboutus3.gif","twe02972B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/education1.gif","twe02973A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/education4.gif","twe02973B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/adulteducation1.gif","twe02974A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/adulteducation3.gif","twe02974B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/holidays1.gif","twe02975A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/holidays3.gif","twe02975B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/calendar1.gif","twe02976A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/calendar3.gif","twe02976B"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/links1.gif","twe02977A"); tweNavbarPreload("sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/links3.gif","twe02977B");

85. Toby Dorfman - San Diego Jewish Journal In humanistic judaism, Gd is irrelevant. Members reject the existence of Gd, humanistic judaism offers an alternative to the conventional guilt and http://www.sdjewishjournal.com/stories/feb03_4.html

Return to Home Page Congregations Education Community Centers ... Click Here JUDAISM without G-d Toby Dorfman and the secular humanists find religion in ritual and reason Sue Garson Escondido resident Toby Dorfman is one of the leaders of the Jewish Humanist Movement, founded in 1963 by Reform Rabbi Sherwin Wine of Detroit, Michigan. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, there are 40 communities in the U.S. and Canada; others are in Australia, Belgium, France, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, and England. The local chapter - the Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego - began in 1985. Founders originally met in a living room. Their first seder was held in a backyard. Today 175 members ranging in age from young students to octogenarians live throughout San Diego County; half the congregation's activities occur in North County where a great many congregants live. Other services are held in the congregation's meeting hall on Black Mountain Road. Monotheism dictates that G-d underwrites the moral order. In Humanistic Judaism, G-d is irrelevant. Members reject the existence of G-d, assign to G-d a strictly spectator status or vacillate between the two notions; there are many shadings in between. The Holocaust and its deeply anguished cry of "Why?" are prime arguments against a superior being's omnipotence. After an intense study of the history of the Jewish People and world history from a secular standard, Toby Dorfman concluded that this G-d is neither a just nor a merciful one. "G-d did not predetermine good and evil. It is the result of human action," explains Dorfman. "Evil is the result of a lack of conscience in a human being. There is no feeling of guilt in the person who commits evil. Therefore, it is not a supernatural act but one of a human being who lacks compassion and conscience," she continues. "I believe that gods are mythical characters created by humans to satisfy a human agenda." But this secular movement has not rejected Judaism. From an emotional and intellectual perspective, its members vigorously celebrate Jewishness at every opportunity.

86. NJJN - Humanistic Congregation Says It Supports Same-sex Marriage is the only one in New Jersey to belong to the Society for humanistic judaism. A press release issued by the society describes humanistic judaism as “a http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/52004/humanistic.html

NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS Humanistic congregation says it supports same-sex marriage by Elaine Durbach NJJN Staff Writer As Massachusetts this week became the first state in the nation to allow gay couples to wed, the small but growing Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Morris County joined forces with other Secular and Humanistic Jewish groups in the tristate area to announce its support for legalizing same-sex marriage. In a statement issued on May 11, the Morris County congregation joined seven groups in saying that same-sex couples deserve the same rights and privileges accorded to heterosexual couples with respect to marriage and divorce. The congregation, which started six years ago with just five members, now has 35, none of whom is gay, Herschman said. They meet at the Nathan Bohrer-Abraham Kaufman Hebrew Academy of Morris County in Randolph on Sundays, and at other community venues for the High Holy Days. He said he believes the congregation is the only one in New Jersey to belong to the Society for Humanistic Judaism. New Jersey law recognizes same-sex civil unions but not gay marriage. A number of political and religious leaders echo that divide, saying they endorse legal and financial protection for gay couples but draw the line at providing approval on a spiritual level. The humanist movement bridges that schism with its affirmation of gay marriage, but leaves the choice about officiating at such ceremonies to the individual members of the clergy.

87. Ethical Diversity Within Humanistic Judaism communitarian ethics coexist within the framework of humanistic judaism. From Guide to humanistic judaism in the Summer/Autumn 1993 issue of Humanistic http://www.banned-books.com/truth-seeker/1994archive/121_1/ts211h.html

Ethical Diversity Within Humanistic Judaism Humanistic Jews embrace a wide range of ethical perspectives and moral philosophies: from libertarian to utilitarian, from individualist to communitarian. What unites all humanistic ethical viewpoints is a reliance upon reason rather than faith or intuition in arriving at standards to guide human behavior. Humanists agree that human experience and human needs, rather than divine authority, are the source of ethical wisdom. The conclusions reached by one Humanistic Jew may differ from those reached by others, but all are committed to rational, free inquiry as the most effective and appropriate means for the discovery of ethical truth. Libertarian or individualistic humanists take as their point of departure the fundamental principle of self-ownership. Lacking evidence of a supernatural power who created human beings and who, therefore, has authority over them, Humanistic Jews accept no power of any kind which, by definition, owns human beings. This principle of self-ownership stands in sharp contrast to the central theistic belief that people are the property of a Creator- God or of his appointed agents on earth, and, as such, owe him obedience and are responsible to him for their actions. In the absence of an authority that can legitimately assert a claim to power over others, it follows that no human being is the property of another. All persons are the sovereign owners of themselves and have the right to live and to use their bodies without interference, however they wish - so long as they acknowledge the equivalent self-ownership of everyone else. This latter proviso is the essence of social responsibility.

88. Kol Haverim: The Finger Lakes Community For Humanistic Judaism In Ithaca, NY The Finger Lakes Community for humanistic judaism. Ithaca, New York. Welcome! FLCHJ is an affiliate of the Society for humanistic judaism, the national http://www.kolhaverim.net/index.shtml

Kol Haverim The Finger Lakes Community for Humanistic Judaism Ithaca, New York Welcome! Home About Us Sunday School Programs ... Contact Us Kol Haverim is a secular Jewish congregation in Ithaca, NY that offers a unique opportunity for those who desire non-theistic ways to celebrate their identity, culture and heritage. Specifically, we offer: Celebrations of Jewish holidays - the High Holidays, Hanukkah, Passover, etc. for the whole family Social, cultural and educational programs and experiences for adults Secular Jewish Sunday School classes for children A non-traditional way to affiliate with the Jewish community An affirmation of our contemporary Jewish identity while preserving our connection to the past and linking us to the future If you are unaffiliated or seeking an alternative way to express and explore your connection with the Jewish people, please read more about us. We welcome families from mixed religious backgrounds who wish to strengthen the Jewish experience in their life and provide their children with some Jewish identity and experiences. We welcome inquiries to learn more about who we are and what we believe and we invite you to join us in our journey of discoveries. Upcoming Events Date Event Time Location Sunday, August 28

89. Humanistic Jewish Parenting Congregation for humanistic judaism of Morris County, PO Box 217, Society for humanistic judaism and International Federation of humanistic judaism http://www.humanisticjudaismnj.org/LARGE PIX/DOCUMENTS/DOC_Social_Action_04.htm

Humanistic Judaism of Morris County Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Morris County, PO Box 217, Chester NJ 07930 Humanistic Jewish Parenting and Your Child's Jewish Identity an adult education program developed by Rabbi Binyamin Biber of Machar, Washington DC Parenting styles (described by Baumrind; see "Resources" at end, and/or http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/k/x/kxg190/teaching/parenting_styles.html authoritative parenting = healthiest form of parenting - modeling care and self-regulation- combines high level of guidance with high level of responsiveness (warmth) - responsiveness = acceptance + two-way open, respectful communication - AKA "responsive guidance," "open directive," or "democratic" parenting - fosters positive parent-child relationships - models positive relationship skills esteem - positive behavior given recognition (proportional reinforcement) - alternative positive behavior promoted instead of negative behavior; disapproval given fairly - parents support development of autonomy and internal moral compass - uses "functional" authority (vs charismatic, bureaucratic, etc in Max Weber's typology)

90. Welcome - Humanistic Judaism Embraces A Human-centered Philosophy Welcome humanistic judaism embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture and identity with an adherence to http://bethadam.com/celebrations.php

Welcome - Humanistic Judaism embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture and identity with an adherence to humanistic values and ideas. Home Our philosophy Sunday school Calendar ... Contact us Celebrations Celebration is a human need. Celebrations dramatize our commitments to people and ideas. Community festivals reinforce group solidarity. Because ancient peoples deemed supernatural power essential to human welfare, prayer, worship and divination accompanied traditional festivals. A festival with worship rituals was a holyday, or holiday. Priestly and rabbinic Judaism promoted rituals, both for holidays and for daily living that reinforced Jewish solidarity and sought to guarantee divine support for group survival. Humanistic Jews recognize the value of celebration as a vehicle for group togetherness. Humanistic celebrations dramatize the accomplishments of people, the importance of community and the natural phenomena that exist to support it. Humanistic Jews observe Jewish holidays and life cycles, drawing on the full spectrum of Jewish tradition and culture to create meaningful ceremonies that enrich our lives and connect us to our history and our future as one people. Bringing in Shabbat Shabbat is the only Jewish holiday celebrated weekly. Congregation Beth Adam brings in Shabbat on the 3rd Friday of each month with a family potluck dinner and service. It is a wonderful time to join with family, friends and the Jewish community and to affirm our connection to Humanistic Judaism. We celebrate three rituals during our Shabbat.

91. Or Adam Congregation Or Adam All the passion of Judaism from a Humanistic point of view Certified by the International Institute of Secular humanistic judaism http://www.oradam.org/

Or Adam...All the passion of Judaism from a Humanistic point of view Member Site Families...Be one of the first three to join Or Adam and receive a complimentary membership including Sunday School! Welcome to Or Adam Congregation The Phoenix, Arizona area affiliate of the National Society for Humanistic Judaism If you're looking for a Jewish experience that rewards your Jewish identity, enriches your human dignity, and confirms your spirituality, you've just found the right congregation. Join Or Adam for the High Holidays EVENT DATE TIME LOCATION Rosh Hashanah OPEN ADMISSION Mon., October 3, 2005 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Community College/ Turquoise Rm. Children's High Holiday Service OPEN ADMISSION Sun., October 9, 2005 10:00 a.m. to noon Eas t Valley Jewish Community Center Yom Kippur Evening Service with special guest, Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine Wednesday, October 12 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Community College/ Turquoise Rm. Memorial Service with discussion led by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine Thursday, October 13

92. FORWARD : FacesForward Wine caused eyes to roll 40 years ago when he created humanistic judaism, That s what humanistic judaism is all about, Wine told the Forward in a http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.06.20/faces.html

JUNE 20, 2003 current issue back issues subscribe Creator of Humanistic Judaism Set To Leave Pulpit By LISA KEYS FORWARD STAFF When Rabbi Sherwin Wine steps down from his pulpit next week, he'll thank his colleagues, his family and his friends. But he won't be thanking God. Wine caused eyes to roll 40 years ago when he created Humanistic Judaism, a movement that celebrates Judaism as a culture rather than a religion, and places its faith in people rather than a supreme being. "How do you take a personal, humanistic philosophy of life and combine it with a strong attachment to Jewish culture and identity? That's what Humanistic Judaism is all about," Wine told the Forward in a telephone interview. Some elements of the service, such as the singing of " Oseh Shalom ," may seem familiar to a more traditional Jew, but at the Birmingham Temple, the lyrics " ya'aseh shalom,"meaning "let God bring peace," are changed to " na'aseh shalom ," meaning, "let us bring peace." Wine's inclination toward humanism began as a teenager, when the echoes of the Holocaust reverberated powerfully in his Michigan home. "The message of the Holocaust is that there isn't any magic power," he said. "In the end, you have to live your life the way Jews had to do in response to the Holocaust, which is to take charge of your life and live courageously." "The message of the Jewish experience is humanism," he continued. "That's how we've survived. We've had to rely on our own energies, power, courage."

93. Humanistic Jews Memorialize Albert Einstein During Purim at the Long Island Havurah for humanistic judaism, Len Cherlin showed SOURCE Society for humanistic judaism Web Site http//www.shj.org http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-11-200

94. Home Beth Ami Colorado Congregation for humanistic judaism, provides the opportunity to Beth Ami is affiliated with the Society for humanistic judaism. http://www.bethami.com/

Beth Ami Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism Home Upcoming Events (See Calendar page for details) Sept 9 - 7p. Shabbat service at Aspen Village. Sept 11 - 10a. First day of Sunday School! Our Congregation Beth Ami - Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, provides the opportunity to celebrate Jewish culture and identity consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life. Humanistic Judaism offers a Secular alternative in contemporary Jewish life, and is compatible with many belief systems . It was established by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, and has grown into a worldwide movement. Beth Ami is affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism Contact Information President Jon Budoff jmb@colorado.edu Congregation Phone Number and email info@bethami.com Send mail to webmaster@bethami.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 09/07/05

95. Humanistic Judaism: Religious Humanism At Congregation Beth Or humanistic judaism is based on the idea that religion is of human origin. To live a moral life is to fulfill our potential as human beings. http://www.bethor.com/humanistic_judaism.aspx

Humanistic Judaism Humanistic Judaism is based on the idea that the religions of the world, including our own, are of human origin. We strive to live moral lives, not to meet the expectations of a supernatural authority, but to fulfill our potential as human beings. We regard the Bible and other Jewish literature as great repositories of teachings about values, and we seek to reinterpret the Jewish traditions in ways that reinforce our human aspirations. our rabbi Congregation Beth Or is at the cutting edge of the evolution of religious humanism, which has a long and distinguished history. The ethical teachings of Judaism are, in their true essence, humanistic. As religious humanists, we believe that contemporary religion, to be a true guide to living, must be consistent with a rational, scientific understanding of the universe, and the liturgy used at our services reflects that perspective. A realistic understanding of our place in the natural world and our appreciation of our connection with all humanity give deeper meaning and purpose to our lives. As our mission statement makes clear, we are also strongly committed to pluralism and respect for diversity. Our members' personal beliefs about God range from atheistic to agnostic to theistic and may vary even within the same family. In a setting where no one is judged on the basis of belief, congregants feel free to express and examine their ideas. At Beth Or, the ongoing search for truth and understanding is what matters.

96. Jerusalem Post | Breaking News From Israel, The Middle East And The Jewish World At the Long Island Havurah for humanistic judaism, its president, Leonard Charlin, has created original services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=109

97. Rabbi Marder Sermons Arvchive: November 16, 2001 humanistic judaism affirms these basic beliefs but does so within the The Society for humanistic judaism was founded 32 years ago by Sherwin Wine, http://www.betham.org/sermons/marder011116.html

Rabbi Janet Marder November 16, 2001 Judaism Without God Some of the greatest minds of our time have taken a very dim view of religion. Said Clarence Darrow: "I don't believe in God because I don't believe in Mother Goose." And Mark Twain said, "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." "The most common of all follies," wrote H.L. Mencken, "is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind." But it isn't just curmudgeons who think that religion is basically a bunch of fairy tales. In a recent book called "How the Mind Works," the eminent MIT professor Steven Pinker wonders why it is that people cling to ideas that are clearly false.: "In culture after culture," he writes, "people believe that the soul lives on after death, that rituals can change the physical world and divine the truth, and that illness and misfortune are caused and alleviated by spirits, ghosts, saints, fairies, angels, demons, ...devils and gods. According to polls, more than a quarter of today's Americans believe in witches, almost half believe in ghosts, half believe in the devil, half believe that the book of Genesis is literally true, sixty-nine percent believe in angels, eighty-seven percent believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, and ninety-six percent believe in a God or universal spirit." Why do they, as he puts it, "waste time spinning ideas and practices that are useless, even harmful"? For "religions have given us stonings, witch-burnings, crusades, inquisitions, jihads, fatwas, suicide bombers, abortion-clinic gunmen, and mothers who drown their sons so they can be happily reunited in heaven."

98. Seeing Intercultural Marriages Instead Of Interfaith Marriages Secular humanistic judaism affirms that moral authority is derived from rational thinking and that human beings are responsible for their decisions http://www.sfjcf.org/localjewishresources/bridges/bridges-sep2003/interfaith.sht

Jobs Press Contact JCF Pay Pledge ... Volunteer Placement News The Jewish Bulletin Bridges: Interfaith Family Resources Jewish Life Stories Links ... Contact Us Other JCF websites Resource A guide to Jewish life in the Bay Area YAD.org Activities for singles and couples 21 to 40 Israel Center Israel-related educational, cultural and travel opportunities JHolidays.org Get holiday information and send greeting cards Academic Consortium Information on Jewish studies programs in Northern California New Bridges to Jewish Community Building Jewish community on the Peninsula More links... Bay Area Jewish Resources September 2003 Contents Repentance... Reflection... Turning In Calendar of Events Seeing Intercultural Marriages Instead of Interfaith Marriages Check It Out! Seeing Intercultural Marriages Instead of Interfaith Marriages Rabbi Miriam S. Jerris, Ph.D.

99. Washington DC City Pages: Community : Worship And Spiritual Centers : Judaism Machar, the Washington Congregation for Secular humanistic judaism Machar is a vibrant Congregation dedicated to educating children and adults, http://dcpages.com/Community/Worship_and_Spiritual_Centers/Judaism/

Memorial Day Local Events Message Boards Photo Gallery ... Worship and Spiritual Centers > Judaism Visitors Online: 186 This guide features resources for people practising Judaism in the Washington Metropolitan area. All titles are listed in alphabetical order. Search Washington DC Change Category All of DC Pages Just This Category - click here - [ Home ] Arts Autos Business Chat Classifieds Community Computing DC Today Dining Discussions Education Employment Entertainment Events Government Health History Living Lodging Media Museums Music People Real Estate Recreation Shopping Sports Tourism Travel Weather Web Sites More Web Sites Local Sponsors Place Your Message Here Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation Located in the Carderock Springs (West Bethesda) of Montgomery County, we hold services ``every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. You can also visit us for the High Holy Days; registration``information on our Web Site. For more information, call (301) 767-3333. 652 clicks since 14-Mar-2001 Bet Mishpachah The gay and lesbian synagogue of Washington, D.C., serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Jewish community since 1975 551 clicks since 3-May-1999 Beth Shekinah Jewish feminist spirituality and study group.

100. Jewish Circumcision - References Official policy statement on Circumcision of Secular and humanistic judaism Secular and Humanistic Jews do not see Milah (circumcision) as a sign of a http://www.circumstitions.com/Jewish2.html

In support of Brit Shalom/Shelem - supplement What the Rambam says about Milah Maimonides, Moses The Guide of the Perplexed   Translated by Shlomo Pines The University of Chicago Press, 1963 (Many scholars consider this to be the most authoritative translation to date.) Similarly with regard to circumcision, one of the reasons for it is, in my opinion, the wish to bring about a decrease in sexual intercourse and a weakening of the organ in question, so that this activity be diminished and the organ be in as quiet a state as possible. It has been thought that circumcision perfects what is defective congenitally. This gave the possibility to everyone to raise an objection and to say: How can natural things be defective so that they need to be perfected from outside, all the more because we know how useful the foreskin is for that member ? In fact this commandment has not been prescribed with a view to perfecting what is defective congenitally, but to perfecting what is defective morally. The bodily pain caused to that member is the real purpose of circumcision . None of the activities necessary for the preservation of the individual is harmed thereby, nor is procreation rendered impossible, but violent concupiscence and lust that goes beyond what is needed are diminished. The fact that circumcision weakens the faculty of sexual excitement and sometimes perhaps diminishes the pleasure is indubitable. For if at birth this member has been made to bleed and has had its covering taken away from it, it must indubitably be weakened. The Sages, may their memory be blessed, have explicitly stated:

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