Comprised mostly of agnostics and atheists, Humanistic Judaism rejects the idea of a God, replacing theism with a humanistic approach.
Humanist Jews believe that ethics, morality, and concepts of right and wrong are the responsibility of the individual.
Humanistic Judaism defines Judaism as the historical, cultural, and traditional experience of the Jewish people, who celebrate their identity as Jews through participation in Jewish holidays and lifecycle events, such as bar mitzvahs. To the Humanist, a Jew is someone who identifies with the history and culture of the Jewish people, and religion is only one part of that culture. They believe that individual Jews are responsible for shaping their own lives without dependence on a deity. Ethics and morality should serve the needs of people, and are based on the consequences of actions rather than through predetermined rules or commandments.
There is little doubt that there have been secular Jews throughout history but, as a congregation, Humanistic Judaism was founded in 1963 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine, who had been trained in Reform Judaism. Rabbi Wine developed a liturgy that melded Jewish culture, history, and identity with humanist philosophy, while omitting prayers and references to a deity.
Other previously Reform congregations joined him, and in 1969 these congregations were organized as the Society for Humanistic Judaism, which still exists. In 1986, the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism was organized and has since become the academic center of Humanistic Judaism. The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations trains rabbis in North America and Israel.
Through Humanistic Judaism, non-religious Jews are able to share in the rituals and ceremonies of Judaism in a manner that is wholly non-theistic. Services were created for Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat, Yom Kippur, and other Jewish festivals and holidays reinterpreting them to conform to secular humanist philosophy.
Humanistic Jewish rabbis officiate at marriages, including those between Jews and non-Jews, as the movement does not take a position opposing intermarriage, as is the case with Conservative and Orthodox denominations.
Humanistic Jewish doctrines lean toward equality in matters of gender and gender identification, sexual orientation, and Jewish orientation. Jews and non-Jews alike may participate in Humanistic Jewish rituals and leadership positions.
Women may also be ordained as rabbis. In fact, its first rabbi, Tamara Kolton, was a woman.
Humanistic Judaism holds that abortion is an individual right and has participated in lobbying efforts in favor of taxpayer-funded abortions, and in opposition to exempting religious organizations from requirements mandating reproductive services to individuals and employees.
The Society for Humanistic Judaism also supports same-sex marriage.
Some humanistic Jews are also members of the Unitarian-Universalist Association.
The focus of this category is on Humanistic Judaism. Topics related to the movement in general, as well as its associations, affiliate organizations, and corporations are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Located in Encino, California, Adat Chaverim is a Humanistic Jewish congregation that offers a non-theistic Jewish community that honors inclusion, pluralism, and cultural continuity for Jewish people, who can celebrate Jewish holidays and events without the burdens of theism. Directions, schedules, a calendar of events, and an overview of its childhood and adult programs, social justice projects, and administrative contacts.
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
Situated in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Birmingham Temple is a congregation of Humanistic Judaism. Founded by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in 1963, the temple was the original meeting place of Humanistic Judaism and serves as the hub of the international movement and home of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. Its history and leadership are posted, along with its adult and youth educational resources, video, and a calendar of events.
https://www.birminghamtemple.com/
International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism
Established in 1985, IISHJ serves the movement of Secular Humanistic Judaism, training rabbis, leaders, educators, and spokespeople, publishing materials for the movement, and offering seminars for educational and inspirational purposes. Its history, organizational structure, programs, seminars, and publications are set forth, along with faculty and staff contacts, affiliated organizations, and contacts.
https://iishj.org/
Organized in 1987 as the Northern California Chapter of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, Kol Hadash is a community of lay people with households from several counties in the Bay Area, and primarily in Alameda County. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, the congregation includes members who were raised in every branch of Judaism. A calendar of programs and upcoming events are published to the site, including educational opportunities.
http://www.kolhadash.org/
The founder of Humanistic Judaism, Sherwin Wine was raised in Conservative Judaism, and later became a Reform Judaism rabbi. He formed a new Reform congregation in 1963 but soon made the decision to remove all references to a deity from its services and liturgy, creating a Jewish congregation that did not believe in God. Biographical information, as well as an overview of Humanistic Judaism, philosophy, the Jewish people, religion, science, and the world, as well as an audio and video library.
http://www.sherwinwine.com/
Society for Humanistic Judaism
SHJ was founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in 1969, and serves as the central body for the Humanistic Judaism movement in the United States and Canada, forming and creating educational programs and materials, holiday and lifecycle celebrations, and training programs and conferences. Its history, affiliations, memberships, contacts, and a calendar of events are published to the site. A directory of Humanistic Jewish communities is included.
http://www.shj.org/
