12 July 4 • 2019 jn jews d in the continued from page 11 “Where is my light? My light is in me. Where is my hope? My hope is in me. Where is my strength? My strength is in me — and in you.” — RABBI SHERWIN WINE Humanistic Judaism Timeline • 1963: A small group of Temple Beth El members began to meet and then hold services with Rabbi Sherwin Wine. They developed an alternative approach to Judaism without a belief in God and began using a new non-theistic liturgy developed by Wine in 1964. • 1969: The Society of Humanistic Judaism was incorporated in Michigan to provide an umbrella for interested groups of humanistic Jews in multiple locations. • 1970: Representatives of three Humanistic congregations located in Michigan, Illinois and Connecticut met for the first time. • 1990: Educational programs were established for Humanistic rabbis and officiants. • 1993: The first Humanistic rabbi completed studies and was ordained. OVERVIEW OF HUMANISTIC JUDAISM TODAY • 25 congregations in the U.S. and Canada, with six in formation • 15 rabbis ordained • Approximately 1,900 member families CORE BELIEFS OF HUMANISTIC JUDAISM • Human beings possess the power and responsibility to shape their own lives independent of supernatural authority. • A Jew is a person who identifies with the history, culture and future of the Jewish people. • Jewish history is a human saga, a testament to the significance of human power and responsibility. • Jewish identity is best preserved in a free, pluralistic environment. • The freedom and dignity of the Jewish people must go hand in hand with the freedom and dignity of every human being. — Selections from the Society for Humanistic Judaism website. Humanistic Jewish rabbis and officiants were among the first to marry interfaith couples, which was a divisive issue even for some Reform con- gregations at the time. Rabbi Miriam Jerris, Ph.D., the first executive director of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, began officiating at weddings at the Birmingham Temple in 1985. The willingness of Humanistic Jewish clergy to marry inter- faith couples, especially in the early years, “was a big draw. You don’ t have to give up your iden- tity,” she explained. Many of the interfaith couples married at the Birmingham Temple joined the congregation and raised their children there. Rabbi David Nelson, rabbi emeritus at the Conservative Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, remembers sharing wedding services with Wine. When a couple wanted a tradi- tional Jewish wedding, but one person had a connection with Humanistic Judaism, Nelson would conduct the traditional ceremony and recite the Jewish blessings. Then Wine would speak to the couple about their marriage without references to God’ s role. “He was brilliant and a won- derful teacher although I don’ t say he was right in some of his ideas. We had a wonderful dia- logue during all of the years I was here,” Nelson says. Rabbi Daniel Syme, rabbi emer- itus at Temple Beth El, remembers first hearing and being startled by Wine’ s philosophy while attending a Reform Judaism conclave as a teenager. “It appeared that he had a staunch group of followers who had found a certain spiritual home,” he says. Humanistic congregations were early supporters of inclusivity — welcoming members with diverse gender and sexual identities. There is a strong focus on social justice or social action. The Birmingham Temple has established itself as a sanctuary for immigrants and helps a family of Syrian refugees living in the Detroit area. Along with the appeal of Humanistic Judaism concepts to some Jews, founder Wine’ s brilliance and charisma were major factors in its growth. “He trained us,” Jerris says. After Wine’ s death in a car crash in 2007, there was great con- cern about who would replace him. Chalom, one of the first ordained Humanistic rabbis, responded, “None of us and all of us.” Wine’ s teachings and publica- tions continue to be a founda- tion for Humanistic Judaism and the book A Life of Courage — Sherwin Wine and Humanistic Judaism, was given to conference attendees. THE FUTURE OF THE MOVEMENT Similar to other streams of Judaism, Humanistic Judaism has been challenged in recent years to attract and retain partic- ipants and members. According to Golin, about 2,500 families were part of the Humanistic Judaism movement in 2000, but that number is now about 1,900. However, new groups of Humanistic Jews continue to meet and organize in several states. Most branches of Judaism as well as other religions in the U.S. are facing similar affiliation challenges due in part to chang- ing ideas about religion and congregational affiliations, espe- cially among younger people, according to the Pew Research Center. A panel of millennial Humanistic Jewish leaders at the conference reaffirmed the value and appeal of Humanistic Judaism for recognizing “human power and potential” and that there are “multiple ways of being Jewish.” They expressed a need for religious literacy — familiarity with Jewish traditions and symbols — and sup- ported Humanistic Judaism’ s affir- mation of all families and couples, whether intermarried or gay, and its Rabbi Adam Chalom TOP: Rabbi Miriam Jerris holds a portrait of Rabbi Sherwin Wine. ABOVE: At the conference, the Jews for a Secular Democracy Constitutional Defender Award was presented to Rachel Laser, the first Jewish president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Shown: Sheila Sabor, chair of Jews for a Secular Democracy; Rachel Laser, awardee; Paul Golin, executive director, Society for Humanistic Judaism.