The mailing address of the Society is: The Society for Humanistic Judaism (28611 West Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48334; phone 810-478- 7610). E-mail: info@shj.org
Humanistic Judaism was founded by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in the early 1960's near Detroit, Michigan. The Society was formed in 1969 to help facilitate the formation of Humanistic Judaism communities. Affiliated and independent HJ communities are now located in various parts of the U.S and the other countries. The Society participates in the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. The Society and its affiliated congregations welcome into membership all men, women and children who identify with the history, culture, and fate of the Jewish people.
A valuable resource giving an overview of HJ and reading materials related to it is the Judaism Reading List:Humanistic Judaism maintained by Daniel Faigin.
SHJ Affiliated Communities and Congregations with Web Pages
Boston: The Kahal B'raira Congregation.
California (Encino) : Valley Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
California (San Diego): Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego
Connecticut: Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Fairfield County..
Illinois (Deerfield) Congregation
Beth Or
Illinois (Highland Park) Kol Hadash,
Humanistic Congregation
Michigan (Farmington Hills): The Birmingham Temple
New Mexico: New Mexico Community for Humanistic Judaism
New York City: The City Congregation
North Carolina Triangle Society for Humanistic Judaism
Oregon (Portland): Kol Shalom, Community for Humanistic Judaism
Washington, D.C.:Beth Chai Jewish Humanist Congregation
Washington, D.C.: The Machar Congregation of Washington D.C.
Related Communities and Congregations
An organization closely affiliated with Humanistic Judaism is the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations (CSJO) which specializes in the educational and cultural aspects of secular Judaism.
A European site for this organization is Italian Site for the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews (in Italian).
The Ann Arbor Jewish Cultural Society Web Page has many activities and information related to non-theistic Jewish culture and practice.
Another well established secular Jewish organization emphasizing education (Los Angles area) is Sholem
Statements of Congregational philosophy and liturgy can be found in the web page of Congregation Beth Adam. While this congregation is not affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism, it has been influential in the development of the movement. Reach it at Congregtion Beth Adam homepage
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The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations
The American Humanist Association
Personal Views of Humanistic Judaism
"As Jews we take tremendous pride in the values developed by our people through the ages. These values include, among others, justice, love of family and learning, compassion and social responsibility. We want to maintain our connection to this heritage. We celebrate it by observing Jewish holidays and traditions and learning our history.
We view Humanistic Judaism as a natural development in the evolution of Judaism which was the principal force in the creation of humanitarian values in Biblical times and later.
Humanistic Judaism will allow Judaism to survive and flourish for ourselves, our children, and the many other Jews who are unable to believe in supernatural authority for the guidance of human affairs.
God is not affirmed or denied in Humanistic Judaism. We believe our lives gain meaning and worth through our relationships with others and society and from our Jewish heritage."
--Walter Hellman, Kol Shalom, Community for Humanistic Judaism
(Oregon, U.S.A), hj list operator
What
is Humanistic Judaism? (Jane Goldhamer)
(This is an overview of the development and basic beliefs of Humanistic
Judaism, written by a member of the national
board of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and the founder of the Kol
Shalom SHJ congregation in Portland, Oregon U.S.A.