Educational Resources and Bibliography for Humanistic Judaism

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY  FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM 

 There are many ways to learn about and study Secular Humanistic Judaism. We have created a list of resources that allows you to make choices based on your interests and educational gaps. 

Movement Websites 

• Society for Humanistic Judaism  – Find other communities  
• International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism –  Educational Arm, including officiant, leadership and rabbinic training, 
• Association of Humanistic Rabbis 
• Sherwin T. Wine Legacy 
• Cultural and Secular Jewish Organizations 
• Tmura Israel 

Program and Study Videos 

• Colloquia – The IISHJ has held educational weekends. The videos can be found on the IISHJ YouTube channel Study questions for some of these programs may be available.  
• Introduction to Humanistic Judaism: A Humanist Perspective. Four session videos by Rabbi Sherwin Wine
  
  • Session 1 – Jewish Enlightenment 
  • Session 2 – Jewish Nationalism 
  • Session 3 – American Jewish Experience 
  • Session 4 – The Movement   
•  Judaism Beyond God – paper back, e-book  on Amazon  
• Introduction to Humanistic Judaism: Judaism Beyond God – Video presentation for each chapter 

Books and Written Materials 

Judaism in a Secular Age, study guides available for Section 2 & Section 3
Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism, Rabbi Eva Goldfinger
A Provocative People, Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, a study guide available
Liturgy and Humanistic Judaism, Rabbi Miriam Jerris
Staying Sane in a Crazy World, study guide available.

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit, MI

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro-Detroit YouTube Channel 

Catalogue for Shabbat services and holiday services and Shabbat sermons and presentations.

• Torah with Rabbi Jeffrey Falick Rebbe’s Tisch.  
•  Being Jewish: An Introduction to Jews and Judaisms Rabbi Jeffrey Falick 

Who Wrote the Bible? Rabbi Jeffrey Falick 

• Pt. 1: https://vimeo.com/130984310  
• Pt. 2: https://vimeo.com/131461172
• Pt. 3: https://vimeo.com/132129963
• Pt. 4: https://vimeo.com/133391390
• Pt. 5: https://vimeo.com/134096045
• Pt. 6: https://vimeo.com/134757975 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation   

Rabbi Dr. Adam Chalom, Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation, Deerfield, IL  

Three section Adult Education curricula. Rabbi Chalom teaching on YouTube:  

• Jewish History
  
• Philosophy
• Jewish Culture

Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation Podcast Rabbi Adam Chalom – High Holiday talks and reflections   

Machar, The Secular Humanistic Jewish Congregation of Greater Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, Rabbi Jeremy Kridel. Their YouTube channel can be found here. They offer Shabbat and holiday programming including a full schedule of Adult Education. 

The City Congregation, NY welcomes the public to their Shabbat and Educational Programs.  They have Adult Education classes and programs led by Rabbi Dr. Tzemah Yoreh. For weekly Talmud classes led by Avi Gorelick click here. 

Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism  — This community is in Metro Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Adult Education offerings are available at this link. 

Do You Want to Organize a New Community? 

If you are looking for programs for a new community, we have listed some options in this section. 

 Program choice is best determined based on whether the program supports the mission of your organization. If you do not have a mission, use the mission of the Society for Humanistic Judaism as it applies to a local community. If you would like assistance in creating a mission, the SHJ has examples of other local community mission statements. 

The Society for Humanistic Judaism inspires, organizes, and advocates for secular individuals and congregations to celebrate Jewish identity and culture independent of supernatural authority and aligned with the values of Humanistic Judaism. 

• Video Interview with Rabbi Sherwin Wine by Walt Hellman of Kol Shalom Community in Portland, OR (https://shj.org/product/interviews-with-rabbi-sherwin-t-wine/)  
• Explore wants and needs of individuals coming together who have chosen to participate in a HJ Community and support the cause. What do we want to be? Share talents. Decide on social media presence and communication vehicles. 
• Sign up for SHJ Newsletter and join SHJ for Member only resources and benefits. 
• Review Vision and Values of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.
• Shabbat Readings and Liturgy – sources on SHJ Website and on Google Drive (contact Rabbi Miriam Jerris )  
• Shabbat or Havdalah Pot Luck.  
• Read article(s) in Humanistic Judaism magazine and use study questions to guide the discussion. 
• Use the Guide to Humanistic Judaism  (included in Full Independent Membership or membership in an affiliated  community) as background to explore how HJ observes and celebrates the holidays.   
• Humanistic Rabbis – many of the rabbis have blogs and may serve as a discussion starter.  
• Use resources available through SHJ on readings and reflections (and music) to celebrate holidays.  
• Learn about the movement organizations and affiliations and SHJ Programs – A different participant can introduce each organization.  
• Read Secular Humanistic Judaism in the Guide to Humanistic Judaism 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

 Cohn‐Sherbok, Dan, Marilyn Rowens, and Harry Cook eds. A Life of Courage: Sherwin Wine and Humanistic Judaism, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Milan Press, 2003.  

 Goldfinger, Eva, Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism,1996. 

Guide to Humanistic Judaism, Society for Humanistic Judaism, date. (available with SHJ or Affiliate Community Membership). 

 Humanistic Judaism Magazine , Society for Humanistic Judaism. (available by subscription or free of charge with SHJ or Affiliate Community Membership). 

 Jerris, Miriam and Sheila Malcolm, eds., Here is Our Light: Humanistic Jewish Holiday and Life-Cycle Liturgy for Inspiration and Reflection, Ben Yehudah Press, Teaneck, NJ, 2019. 

 Kogel, Renee and Zev Katz, eds., Judaism in a Secular Age, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, 1995.  

 Seid, Judith. God‐Optional Judaism: Alternatives for Cultural Jews Who Love Their History, Heritage and Community, Citadel Press, 2001.   

 Wine, Sherwin, Celebration: A Ceremonial and Philosophical Guide for Humanists and Humanistic Jews, Prometheus Books, 1988. 

Wine, Sherwin. Judaism Beyond God, rev. International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, 2017. 

Wine, Sherwin and Adam Chalom, ed., A Provocative People, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Milan Press, 2012. 

 Wine, Sherwin, Staying Sane in a Crazy World, Center for New Thinking, 1995.