Evolution Of A Humanistic Service The Birmingham Temple's ritual committee worked with Rabbi Sherwin Wine to create services unique to the congregation. The first services, however, included theistic language and recitations common to the Hebrew Union Prayer Book, used by the Reform Movement (Service One). On March 1, 1964, the temple conducted Shabbat services from its first completely original text (Service Two). Little by little, all theistic language was removed. By September, 1964, the service (Service Three) was entirely Humanistic. SERVICE ONE LEADER The gaps of history reveal the exploits of brave men — men who defied the limitations of their time, their place, and their society to create what the fearful dared not do. The defiance of Isaiah, the proclamation of Jeremiah, the dream of a Micah survive their authors to become for the world a heritage of courage. Progress with man is the fruit of his boldness. Did Galileo fear the heavens, or did Einstein stand fright- ened before the mystery of physical matter? Were the depths of the human mind too awesome for Freud? Or was the thrill of discovery, the sensation of holiness, the consciousness of the divinity within us? The power of man in its fullness is the power of God. The glory of man is in his restless will to conquer the chaos and evil of a world that needs the discipline of human genius. What is like true divinity among all things, enabling man to create wonders and to perform awe- some deeds? SERVICE TWO LEADER AND CONGREGATION The disappointments and tragedies of life limit our vision. In every failure and frustration our confidence in living is diminished. We feel ourselves truly help- less before the might of the world. Like pawns on a chessboard we are moved across the map of our years without the courtesy of consent... The dignity of being noticed by the forces that persecute us collapses before the dumbness of nature. In our despair we often appear to ourselves less than we are, - and our energies are exhausted in fear and self-pity. Yet, through all this admission of weakness, our godliness cries out for recognition. We are, in a real sense, greater than the forces which defeat us. The wind and the flood and the earthquake can never know us, but we can know them. We can know, and we can, through understanding, control. Knowledge is divine power. In its persistent pursuit by men lies the surrender of dumb fate and our holy victory over despair. SERVICE THREE SILENT MEDITATION The truly sacred is the possibility within each and every one of us to become the confident master of the evil that defies us. Against the natural world that knows no purpose, we stand to choose and achieve our destiny. Man must not worship what he is; he must rather revere the god he can become. CONGREGATION AND CHOIR We revere the best in man, all holy thoughts, all sacred acts, all words divine. We find in them our need; we see in them our dream. We affirm the love in man in every breath, in every wish, and in every deed. We find in love our life; we see in love our hope. The strength of truth is within us; we serve the best in man. times, when individuals feel they need to rely on something omnipotent, albeit never fully com- prehensible. "People are turned on emotionally by the mys- tical," said Conservative Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation Beth Shalom. "Humanistic Judaism doesn't offer the mystery and the mystic approach. It is very intellectual. Judaism has always welcomed intel- lectual pursuits, but sometimes, when you intellectualize something too much, it loses the power to move you." Some local rabbis refuse to discuss Humanistic Judaism. Though they respect Rabbi Wine as a teacher, they have nothing good to say about the move- ment. One remarked that a "Godless Judaism" for- sakes the cause for which 6 million people died during the Holocaust. But a majority of rab- bis interviewed said Humanistic Judaism has a useful place within the Jewish community. Most important, they say, it retains non-theistic Jews who otherwise would dis- affiliate from the com- munity. The rabbis also agree Rabbi Wine leads a Humanistic service. Below, founding member Harry Velick served two years as temple president.