JULY 21 • 2022 | 21
“They’re shorter, they’re in English, but
we do sing Hebrew songs. Sometimes we
adjust the words to famous songs,
” he said.
CHJ consists of 180 membership units/
households and offers a voluntary, pay-
what-you-can dues structure.
CHJ’s youth education — the Spinoza
Program — is named for a famous
Jewish philosopher and skeptic, Baruch
(Benedict) Spinoza. While providing an
array of Jewish music, customs, holidays,
stories, Hebrew and history, the Spinoza
Program encourages its children to engage
in independent thinking and decide for
themselves what being Jewish means to
them. The program is tuition-free, fully
included with membership.
“To name something after
Spinoza is to communicate to our
parents and children that nothing
is beyond questioning,” Falick said.
“We want them to embrace their
Jewish tradition, but we don’t want
them to walk away with the idea that these
rituals are more important than the lessons
behind them.”
CHJ’s B’Mitzvah program is unique.
Rather than learning a passage of Torah by
heart, students choose their own topic and
incorporate a relevant Hebrew passage all
in the context of a modern Shabbat celebra-
tion. Students work closely with the rabbi
to develop a presentation about their topic
while simultaneously highlighting their own
personal interests and beliefs.
CHJ’s adult programming and education
includes social and leisure time activities,
discussion groups about film and television,
classes that explore Judaism and other top-
ics with the rabbi and other scholars, and
cultural offerings throughout the year.
Prioritizing inclusion and social justice
work is fundamental to the congregation.
Over the years, CHJ has been active-
ly involved in working on anti-racism,
environmental justice, gender equity, gun
reform, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ equal-
ity, reproductive rights, voting access, sepa-
ration of church and state, and more.
“I think we have a place for people who
want to say what they mean and mean what
they say, and we provide a Jewish experi-
ence that does that,
” said CHJ board presi-
dent Ned Greenberg.
“We have a message that’s very compel-
ling in today’s world for people who really
want to promote the dignity and freedom of
every human being.
”
To learn more about the Congregation for Humanistic
Judaism of Metro Detroit, visit www.chj-detroit.org.
Congregants make lunches for the NOAH Project,
a nonprofit to help the unhoused.
Rabbi Jeffrey Falick
Having a good time together during Purim.
Congregants gather for Chanukah.
Young people enjoy a model seder.