DOCSLIB.ORG

Humanorah the Newsletter of the Society for Humanistic Judaism Affiliated with the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Humanorah the Newsletter of the Society for Humanistic Judaism Affiliated with the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews Humanorah the newsletter of the Society for Humanistic Judaism affiliated with the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews Autumn, 2007 Vol. 30 No. 1 2007 colloquium to pay tribute to SHJ Conference 2008 will display the memory of Rabbi sherwin wine children’s works by president lou altman Don’t miss viewing the student ven before I became active in Human- the College of Pluralistic Judaism in “Tikkun Olam/Repairing the World” Eistic Judaism, I fell in love with the Jerusalem and a columnist for The Jerusa- competition entries displayed Fri- biennial colloquia that Rabbi Wine and the lem Record. 2001: “Secular Spirituality: day, April 4-Sunday, April 6, 2008, International Institute put on. This Octo- Passionate Journey to a Rational Juda- at the Marriott Warner Center in ber 19-21 promises to bring another in a ism” looked for the balance between a Woodland Hills, California, during string of great shows. secular lifestyle and the quest for “spiri- the 2008 SHJ Conference and tual” fulfillment. Does our rational belief Teen/Young Adult Conclave. Con- Few events provide such a concentrated system leave any room for such a thing? gratulations go to the following fi- intellectual feast. Rabbi Wine was a great 2003: “Jews & Non-Jews: The Love/ nalists: draw as a speaker, but these meetings also Hate Relationship” Time magazine’s have benefitted from another of his tal- Lisa Beyer helped us investigate. Art Competition ents: the ability to identify and attract lead- 2005:“Digging for the Truth: Archae- Beth Adam, Boca Raton ing scholars and speakers in their respec- ology and the Bible.” Who knows more Ben McGrath (4th-8th grade) tive fields and then give them a forum to about this than Professor Israel Finkelstein Ashley and Adam Heller impart their knowledge and insight, and of Tel Aviv University and Professor (4th-8th grade) sometimes even to figuratively knock Amihai Mazar of Hebrew University in Kahal B’raira, Boston heads with each other. Unfortunately, Jerusalem? Greg Kaiser (Kdg.-3rd grade) Rabbi Wine will not be with us, but be- Secular Jewish Circle of fore his untimely death in July, in his own AND NOW... Puget Sound inimitable manner, he did arrange this up- 2007: Jews and the Muslim World: Daniel Valarsky (Kdg.-3rd grade) coming event for us. Our presence, there, Solving the Puzzle. Speakers include Suzanne Parikh (high school) will pay homage to his memory. Fawaz Gerges, author, senior analyst and commentator for ABC TV; Amir Hussain, Writing Competition After a colloquium weekend I typically author and specialist in Muslim societies Beth Adam, Boca Raton return home with the feeling that I have in North America; Jacob Lassner, author Jason Dobkin (4th-8th grade) had a quick PhD, that I have seen all sides and professor of Jewish Studies, North- of a subject and now understand it fully. western University; and others.The topic Special Awards for Group Projects And how important are those subjects, is timely, and I, for one, wouldn’t miss it Birmingham Temple, MI how central to our lives as Humanistic for the world. Or Emet, MN Jews? Decide for yourself. SHJ members sometimes ask how they Witness our students’ creativity at 1997: “Reclaiming Jewish History” I can get more out of their membership in Conference 2008, “Connecting to heard what historians— scholars such as the Movement. Here’s one way. Come to Judaism: I Did It My Way,” Join Norman Cantor— had discovered about Colloquium 2007 and have a once-in-a- us as we explore how each of us con- the truth behind our myths. 1999: “Be- lifetime intellectual adventure you’ll never nects to Judaism in our own way. yond Tradition: the Struggle for a New forget. For more information, call 248- Jewish Identity” We examined alterna- 476-9532, email [email protected] or visit Book your hotel room now: 1-800- tives ranging from Bundism and Ethical www.iishj.org. And if you want to catch 228-9290, and tell them the SHJ sent Culture to Reconstructionism and Secu- up, purchase the proceedings of past col- you. Stay tuned for more informa- lar Humanistic Judaism with the dean of loquia from the SHJ (www.shj.org). tion. 2nd To Honor a man and his life’s work Belonging to SHJ is a wonderful thing; you SHJ have like-minded friends wherever you go! AFFILIATES My daughter, Paula, is now a member of Oraynu, in Toronto and good friends with Rabbi Eva Goldfinger. It’s a small world! ALABAMA A natural outgrowth of my involvement with Or Hadash, HJC of Birmingham SHJ was to establish THE KAREL & SHEILA ARIZONA BASS FUND FOR COMMUNITY DEVEL- Or Adam, CHJ OPMENT. On Sherwin’s recent visit here, CALIFORNIA which was received with great enthusiasm by Adat Chaverim, Valley CHJ Kol Hadash, CHJ both members, and guests, I brought my Fund Orange County SHJ n two days, it will be seven years since to his attention and let him know that it has Pacific Community of SHJ HJC, San Diego Karel died. I think of him every day, but its place in my will. I did not tell him to re- even more at this time. It was Karel who ceive his thanks, but to let him know that I COLORADO I Beth Ami, Colorado CHJ became enamored with Sherwin. Not long af- wish to honor his life’s work. Sherwin cre- ter we arrived in Detroit from London in ated this wonderful Movement with which so CONNECTICUT CHJ, Fairfield County 1968, he attended a class on comparative re- many of us have linked our lives; I want to ligion and couldn’t stop talking about this make sure that it will continue long into the FLORIDA Congregation Beth Adam wonderful Rabbi Wine! Deciding to join the future, after both he and I are no longer Congregation for HJ, Sarasota Birmingham Temple was the best thing we around. ILLINOIS ever did! Not only did we find intellectual Beth Chaverim stimulation but many, many, new friends. The I hope those of you who are able will also take Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation Temple truly became our second home and this step, which will ensure the place of Hu- MASSACHUSETTS the center of our lives. manistic Judaism as the fifth dimension of Kahal B’raira, Boston CHJ Judaism.To the Humanorah Editor MICHIGAN Later, when we toyed with the idea of mov- The Birmingham Temple Sheila Bass, president, Orange County, CA ing to California, the decision was made easy MINNESOTA by the very existence of O.C.S.H.J., right here [Editor’s Note: You, too, can honor Rabbi Or Emet, CHJ of Minnesota in what was then Leisure World. The minute Sherwin Wine and ensure the future of Human- NEW JERSEY Morris County CHJ we walked in on that first Friday night, we istic Judaism by remembering the SHJ in your felt at home. That was nine years ago. Our will. In turn, the Society will recognize you in NEW YORK Beth Haskalah, Rochester SHJ group, here, is still vibrant, though smaller its Heritage Circle. Established in 2007, the The City Congregation than previously, and the core members are Heritage Circle was created to distinguish and Kol Haverim, Finger Lakes CHJ Long Island Havurah for HJ definitely aging. I just celebrated my 75th honor those donors who have supported the Queens Community for birthday and am the kid; that’s why they let Society through a planned gift. Look for our Cultural Judaism Spinoza SHJ, Riverdale me be president, going into my seventh year! new brochure in the mail later this fall.] Westchester CHJ Autumn 2007 NORTH CAROLINA Humanorah Vol. 30, No. 1 Triangle CHJ Humanorah is a publication of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, a non-profit organization that mobi- OREGON lizes people to celebrate Jewish identity and culture consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life. Kol Shalom, CHJ PENNSYLVANIA Humanorah is sent to members of the Society for Humanistic Judaism as a benefit of membership. Mem- Shir Shalom, CHJ bership in the Society for Humanistic Judaism is $75 per year plus local dues where applicable. Member- ship is tax deductible as provided by law. WASHINGTON Secular Jewish Circle of Puget Sound President: Lou Altman WASHINGTON, DC Executive Director: Bonnie Cousens Machar, CHSJ Community Development Director: Rabbi Miriam Jerris Editor/Designer: Harriet Maza CANADA Oraynu, Toronto, ON Address all inquiries about Humanorah to the Society for Humanistic Judaism, 28611 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI, 48334, 248/478-7610, Fax: 248/478-3159, E-mail: [email protected], Web page: www.shj.org. 2 Notes From Around the Globe Oraynu holds screening of kike like me After the destruction of the Temple, the legend devel- non-Jews, and who gets to choose the definition. Kastner oped that on the spring harvest holiday of Shavuot, God cast himself as a cool guy, eager to get along with strang- gave the Torah to the Israelites on Mt Sinai. Shavuot thus ers but who inadvertently creates revealing situations became a time to explore our defining texts. wherever he goes. From Orthodox Jews in New York to an aborted meeting with Pat Buchanan, from an Humanistic Jews do not limit our texts to the Torah Amsterdam football team who call themselves Juden as and ancient sources. Nor should we limit ourselves to print some kind of joke, to a Paris encounter with Arab anti- texts. Jews have used film since its invention in the last semitism, his scenarios open up surprises and questions century to explore identity. about ritual and self-conception, bigotry and oversensitivity.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sherwin Wine Outline: II. Atheism and Jewish Orthopraxy II
    Sherwin Wine Outline: II. Atheism and Jewish Orthopraxy II. "Praying to Adam" III. The Christmas Controversy IV. Humanism vs. Humanistic Judaism --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rabbi Sherwin Wine Baruch Spinoza Asher Ginsberg Mordecai Kaplan (1928-2007) (1632-1677) (aka Ahad Ha'am) (1881-1983) (1856-1927) Texts (1) Baruch Spinoza, Political Theological Tractatus "God is the sum of the natural and physical laws of the universe and certainly not an individual entity or creator.” (2) Baruch Spinoza, Ethics “Those who wish to seek out the cause of miracles and to understand the things of nature as philosophers, and not to stare at them in astonishment like fools, are soon considered heretical and impious, and proclaimed as such by those whom the mob adores as the interpreters of nature and the gods. For these men know that, once ignorance is put aside, that wonderment would be taken away, which is the only means by which their authority is preserved.” (3) "The Rabbi Writes" (1993) "Where is my power? The power question is the basic question of any practical philosophy of life. Where do I find the strength that I need to cope with the problems and challenges of life? The traditional answer was God. Divine power, made available through prayer and worship, was the major source of needed strength. But God is only interesting if he has power. A God who creates the world but is unable to respond to human needs is irrelevant to the human agenda. The existence of God is not the issue. The power of God is very much the issue.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hanuka Festival- a Guipe, Forthe Restof Us
    , NEWLYREVISED edition, -' i -'riffi:';,'i;,;',;,' tikf)ian'biiii,:f;'"' THE HANUKA FESTIVAL- A GUIPE, FORTHE RESTOF US by Hershl Hartman, vegyayzer A few words before we begin... Jews, both adults and children, even those from culturally consciousor religiously observant homes, cannot be convinced that khanikeis a reasonable substitute for the tinsel, glitter and sentimentality that surround Xmas, the American version of Christmasthat has virtually engulfed the world. Accordingly, it is nof the purpose of this work to help project khanikeas an "alternative Xmas" but, rather, to provide non-observantJewish families with a factual understanding of the festival'sorigins and traditions so that it may be celebratedmeaningfully and joyously in its own right. Why "...for the rest of us"? Increasingly,American Jews are identifying with their ethnic culture,rather than with the Jewishreligion. At the sametime, Hanuka is being projected more aggressivelyas a religiousholiday, focused on the "Miracle of the Lights," purporting to celebrate"history's first victorious struggle for religious freedom," to quote the inevitable editorial in your local newspaper.Actually, as we shall see, Hanuka is nothing of the sort. l'he issuesof "religious freedom" vs. "national liberation"vs. "multicultural rights" wereactually confronted back in the secondcentury B.C.E.,albeit with other terminology.'l'hisbooklet seeksto separate fact from fanry so that those who identify with Jewishculture will not feel excluded from celebratingthe festival. Now, about the matter of spelling. 1'he "right" way to spell it is: il!'tJrt.What is 'l'he the "best" way to transliteratethe Hebrew into English? earliest"official" form was Chanukah or its inexplicablevariants: Channukah and Chanukkah.
    [Show full text]
  • Judaism Beyond God
    Humanorah the newsletter of the Society for Humanistic Judaism Judaism Beyond God Spring-Summer 2017 Vol. 38 No. 2 Putting Our Values into Action / This Is Our Judaism These are momentous times, and our involvement in them is expressed in many ways. The articles and photos in this issue of Humanorah show some of the different ways we as a movement are putting our values into action how we are defining our Judaism from celebrating our volunteers to joining public marches and demonstrations on human rights issues. As individuals and as communities, we live our Humanistic Jewish values in small and not-so-small ways. View photos of our communities in action. In addition, we are drawing new Humanistic Jews to us, partly through our growing presence on social media. See pages 11-13 to learn about the “coming in” experiences of new Humanistic Jews. We begin with “Why I Took Part in the Women’s March,” by Paul Golin, originally published in The New York Jewish Week: The best part about being in a sea “As Jews, we have a moral of 400,000 people at the Women’s obligation, when we see injustice, March in New York City on Jan. 21 to speak out.” A disproportionate was the recognition that I’m not number of the great feminists in alone. There are a hundred million or history have been Jews, and I more Americans who feel like I do don’t believe that is coincidental. about the march’s key issues. In fact, Humanism, the idea that people on many of those issues we are in the are responsible for solving human majority.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ILLUMINATOR Spring 2006
    THE ILLUMINATOR Spring 2006 Where is my light? My light is in me. Where is my hope? My hope is in me. Where is my strength? My Bat and Bar Mitzvot strength is in me. And in you. - Rabbi Sherwin Wine Please join us as we celebrate with great happiness the Bat Mitzvah of our daughter Leah Mayira Fox Passover 2006 Liberman. 15-22 Nisan st Havdalah Service (1 night: April 12) Saturday, April 8 at 7 pm. Neighborhood House On the ancient Jewish calendar, Passover was the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community original Jewish new year. Many ancient near eastern 179 Robie St. E. in St. Paul cultures celebrated the rebirth of spring as the beginning of the year. Our Passover is actually a Our celebration continues with a Reception and combination of two older holidays, and the two names Dancing from 8-11 pm. in Leah's honor. in the Bible for the holiday reflect our dual roots. One holiday, Hag Hapesakh (holiday of the pascal lamb), We look forward to seeing you there. is a shepherd¹s holiday, and in ancient times was - - Regan and David marked by the late-night sacrifice of a lamb as a blessing of the new flocks. The other holiday, called Directions to the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Hag Hamatsot (holiday of matsas), was an agricultural festival in which farmers offered the fruits of their From the North: From I-35E, take the Concord Street exit. At the fields in hope of a good harvest. These two ancient Concord St.
    [Show full text]
  • HUMANISTIC JUDAISM August 19, 2016
    - 1 - The Movements of Judaism and their Founders VIII: RABBI SHERWIN WINE AND HUMANISTIC JUDAISM August 19, 2016 Shabbat shalom! My summer sermon series this year – my fourth such series – has focused on some of the great religious movements of Judaism. Whether Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Hasidic or Jewish Renewal, each expression has turned Judaism in new directions; each has tried to inspire the spirit and elevate the soul; each has tried, in its own way, to bring us closer to God. Not so with this week’s topic: Humanistic Judaism, which considers itself to be a major stream of modern Judaism, isn’t just non-religious, it is decidedly anti-religious – a stance that some find appalling, others find very appealing, and just others just find confusing: After all, isn’t it a contradiction in terms to have a religion that doesn’t want to have anything to do with religion? Like so many other expressions of Judaism, Humanistic Judaism began with the experience of a rabbi – in this case Rabbi Sherwin Wine – or at least he was the one who best articulated what they stand for, and created organizations to spread the word and further their work. Sherwin Wine was ordained as a Reform Rabbi, and one of his first assignments was as a chaplain serving for several years in Korea, in the 1950’s. He found that the Jews he met in service didn’t seem interested in religion, but in Jewish culture – especially in the chicken soup and salami he was able to provide – and he came to realize that the cultural attachments of Judaism are what really mattered to the soldiers, and to him personally.
    [Show full text]
  • Talk Given by Rabbi Jeremy Kridel at the 2018 Rosh Hashanah Service
    Talk given by Rabbi Jeremy Kridel at the 2018 Rosh Hashanah service There’s an old Yiddish proverb that goes, “With one tuchus, you can’t dance at two weddings.” That makes sense, except maybe for when twins get married at the same time. So what happens if one tuchus tries to dance at three weddings? I’ll give you a hint: look around. The answer is in this room. You get Secular Humanistic Judaism. Secular, humanistic, Judaism. Three weddings. A colleague of mine, Rabbi Jeffrey Falick, says it’s two weddings. I’m not so sure it’s just two. It’s already hard to dance at two weddings. It’s really hard to dance at three. Sometimes it’s hard to even know what’s happening at each of them — forget the dancing part! I had a conversation with last year’s mitzvah class that drove this point home for me. Our conversation went something like this: I asked, “What’s Secular Humanistic Judaism?” And they had some sense for the secular part, and for the Jewish part, and then Humanism got a sort of … “be a good person?” half- question, half-answer. Now, one problem is that we’ve taught our students all manner of things that are part of the Humanism package, but maybe haven’t always put as fine a point on things as we should have. They don’t always know what wedding they’re at, let alone how to dance at it. But I think the other problem is that there are all kinds of humanism, and it’s not always clear what the word even means: there’s Renaissance humanism, religious humanism, secular humanism, even transhumanism.
    [Show full text]
  • Directories, Lists, Necrology (1982)
    Directories Lists Necrology National Jewish Organizations1 UNITED STATES Organizations are listed according to functions as follows: Religious, Educational 303 Cultural 297 Community Relations 293 Overseas Aid 301 Social Welfare 321 Social, Mutual Benefit 319 Zionist and Pro-Israel 325 Note also cross-references under these headings: Professional Associations 332 Women's Organizations 333 Youth and Student Organizations 334 COMMUNITY RELATIONS Gutman. Applies Jewish values of justice and humanity to the Arab-Israel conflict in AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR JUDAISM (1943). the Middle East; rejects nationality attach- 307 Fifth Ave., Suite 1006, N.Y.C., 10016. ment of Jews, particularly American Jews, (212)889-1313. Pres. Clarence L. Cole- to the State of Israel as self-segregating, man, Jr.; Sec. Alan V. Stone. Seeks to ad- inconsistent with American constitutional vance the universal principles of a Judaism concepts of individual citizenship and sep- free of nationalism, and the national, civic, aration of church and state, and as being a cultural, and social integration into Amen- principal obstacle to Middle East peace, can institutions of Americans of Jewish Report. faith. Issues of the American Council for Judaism; Special Interest Report. AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE (1906). In- stitute of Human Relations, 165 E. 56 St., AMERICAN JEWISH ALTERNATIVES TO N.Y.C., 10022. (212)751-4000. Pres. May- ZIONISM, INC. (1968). 133 E. 73 St., nard I. Wishner; Exec. V. Pres. Bertram H. N.Y.C., 10021. (212)628-2727. Pres. Gold. Seeks to prevent infraction of civil Elmer Berger; V. Pres. Mrs. Arthur and religious rights of Jews in any part of 'The information in this directory is based on replies to questionnaires circulated by the editors.
    [Show full text]
  • Directories Lists Obituaries National Jewish Organizations*
    Directories Lists Obituaries National Jewish Organizations* UNITED STATES Organizations are listed according to functions as follows: Community Relations 645 Cultural 650 Israel-Related 658 Overseas Aid 671 Religious, Educational Organizations 673 Schools, Institutions 685 Social, Mutual Benefit 697 Social Welfare 699 Note also cross-references under these headings: Professional Associations 704 Women's Organizations 705 Youth and Student Organizations 705 Canada 705 COMMUNITY RELATIONS AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE (1906). The Jacob Blaustein Building, 165 E. 56 St., AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR JUDAISM (1943). NYC 10022. (212)751-4000. FAX: (212) PO Box 9009, Alexandria, VA 22304. 750-0326. Pres. Harold Tanner; Exec. Dir. (703)836-2546. Pres. Stephen L. Naman; David A. Harris. Protects the rights and Exec. Dir. Allan C. Brownfeld. Seeks to freedoms of Jews the world over; combats advance the universal principles of a bigotry and anti-Semitism and promotes Judaism free of nationalism, and the na- democracy and human rights for all; tional, civic, cultural, and social inte- works for the security of Israel and deep- gration into American institutions of ened understanding between Americans Americans of Jewish faith. Issues of the and Israelis; advocates public-policy po- American Council for Judaism; Special In- sitions rooted in American democratic terest Report, (WWW.ACJNA.ORG) values and the perspectives of Jewish her- *The information in this directory is based on replies to questionnaires circulated by the editors. Web site addresses, where provided, appear at end of entries. 645 646 / AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK, 2002 itage; and enhances the creative vitality of ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OF B'NAI the Jewish people.
    [Show full text]
  • The Illuminator
    A man with a heart as big as the world? - Jane Katz THE ILLUMINATOR A life of courage is a life of integrity. When we are too eager for approval, we lose our courage. We say what Fall 2007 other people want us to say. We do what other people want us to do. We become what other people want us to From the President become. Many men and women choose to wear the masks that public opinion fashions for them. They never The death this summer of Rabbi Sherwin Wine was a tell others what they really believe; they never act out of tragic loss to all humanists, to Humanistic Judaism, and their private convictions; they never feel comfortable with to many of us personally. controversy. They prefer to be safe, even if safety makes them the prisoners of convention. Integrity is the Last October, I attended my first meeting as Or Emet’s courage to be one person instead of two - the bravery to representative on the Board of the Society for let our private self mold our public image, the Humanistic Judaism. The meeting was held in The determination to be the master and not the victim of life - Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan, the even though disapproval and anger may be the rewards temple that was established by Rabbi Wine in 1963 as of our honesty. Courage is the search for respect, not the very first Congregation for Humanistic Judaism. agreement. - - Rabbi Sherwin Wine Today, there are 40 SHJ congregations in North America, and Humanistic Jewish groups in 13 countries.
    [Show full text]
  • HUMANISTIC and JEWISH: WHY BOTH? Rabbi Adam Chalom Joseph Chuman Rabbi Jeffrey L
    HUMANISTIC JUDAISM Volume XLII Number 3-4 Summer/Autumn 2014 HUMANISTIC and JEWISH: WHY BOTH? Rabbi Adam Chalom Joseph Chuman Rabbi Jeffrey L. Falick Cantor Jonathan L. Friedmann Rabbi Denise Handlarski Rabbi Miriam Jerris Michael J. Prival Wisdom from Wine: Thoughts on Humanism & Humanistic Judaism Rational Judaism: It’s Not New Secularism, Atheism, Humor & Jewish Identity and more Humanistic Judaism is a voice for Jews who value their Jewish identity and who seek an alternative to conventional Judaism. Humanistic Judaism affirms the right of individuals to shape their own lives independent Humanistic Judaism is published quarterly by the of supernatural authority. Society for Humanistic Judaism, a non-profit orga- nization, 28611 West Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334, (248) 478-7610, Fax (248) 478-3159, [email protected], www.shj.org. This is a combined issue: Vol. XLII Number 3 - 4, Summer/Autumn 2014. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or policies of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. Transliterations used in articles reflect the author’s preferences. All material © Copyright 2014 by the Society for Humanistic Judaism. No portion of this work may be reprinted or copied without written permission of the publisher. Subscription Rates: $21.00 per year. Canadian Subscriptions $31.00. Overseas Subscriptions $43.00 per year (U.S. Dollars). No refunds. Sample copies available at single issue price plus postage. Addi- tional copies of a single issue are available from the Society for Humanistic Judaism at the cover price plus postage. Address all inquiries and subscriptions to Humanistic Judaism, 28611 West Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334.
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat Shalom Candles
    HUMANISTIC JUDAISM: A HOME CELEBRATION OF SHABBAT WELCOMING THE SHABBAT Shabbat Shalom. We gather on this Shabbat to affirm our connection to Judaism. We believe that Judaism is the entire experience of the Jewish people. We believe in the value of celebrating Jewish culture and identity. This is a time of transition. We move from our everyday week to the experience of Shabbat. We turn from the concerns of the outside world and become quiet and peaceful. We, at this moment, in this time, pause and take note as we begin Shabbat. May this Sabbath be a time of peace and rejuvenation. Rabbi Miriam Jerris SONG: SHABBAT SHALOM CANDLES The Sabbath candles stand before us as did the lamps of our ancestors. We connect from their generation to our generation. As in each generation before us, we participate in this ancient ritual and make our contribution to the traditions of the Jewish people. As the daylight disappears, we light these candles to bring light to this gathering. Rabbi Miriam Jerris (light the candles) BARUKH HAOR BAOLAM MlAOfBA rOxhA jUrBA BARUKH HAOR BAADAM MdAxABA rOxhA jUrBA BARUKH HAOR BASHABBAT tBAwaBa rOxhA jUrBA Radiant is the light in the world Radiant is the light within people Radiant is the light of Shabbat Rabbi Sherwin Wine WINE We raise this cup of wine mindful of all it took for us to receive it. We appreciate the sun and the rain, gifts of nature. We value the efforts of our fellow human beings, aware of the human sacrifice involved. We know that the wine exists only because of the luck of the right amount of each element combined with human effort.
    [Show full text]
  • How Humanistic Is Humanistic Judaism? an Interview with Sherwin Wine
    How Humanistic Is Humanistic Judaism? An Interview with Sherwin Wine REE INQUIRY: You have founded something called the presence of a just and loving God. Our history is a perfect Society for Humanistic Judaism. What is it? example of the fact that we live in a world, a universe, that FSherwin Wine: The Society is a federation of individuals does not give a damn whether we live or die and that, ulti- and communities in North America who espouse a philosophy mately, our fate is in the hands of other human beings. of life called Humanistic Judaism. Humanistic Judaism is a If you have a sense of humor, and also a sense of horror— combination of two things: humanism as a philosophy of life, as Woody Allen does, which perhaps makes him today's great- like all other humanisms, and Judaism as the culture of an est unofficial Jewish philosopher—you know that, above all, historic and national people called the Jews. the message of our experience is the absurdity of the universe. FI: Judaism usually refers to the Old Testament, to the It is almost an existentialist message. So, our humanism is Talmud, and to the traditions since. God is central to this reinforced by an appropriate understanding of Jewish history. notion of Judaism. You differ from that. Indeed, when we teach Jewish history we don't teach it from a Wine: Well, we view the word Judaism as parallel to the traditional religious point of view; we teach it from a scientific- word Hellenism. Christianity and Islam do not have the name historical point of view, which enables the child or the adult of a nation in their description.
    [Show full text]