Welcome to The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism!
Intermarriage is a significant reality in the Jewish community. In fact, fifty percent of American Jews are getting intermarried. For us to pretend otherwise is to ignore the facts. Intermarriage is now very much part of the mainstream. We should build on this reality, not fight against it.
We live in a pluralistic world. We meet people who are not Jewish, we embrace them, and sometimes we marry them, because we love them. Our job as a community, which is our purpose at The City Congregation, is to welcome these couples into our community, not push them away. In the end, we are all richer and stronger for the diversity and spirit of acceptance that we foster.
As secular humanistic rabbis, we gladly officiate at interfaith and intercultural weddings. We are here to provide non-theistic ceremonies for Jews and non-Jews alike.
Rabbi Peter Schweitzer
Our Mission Statement The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism provides a welcoming, diverse community for cultural and secular Jews where we can celebrate and preserve our Jewish identity. As Humanistic Jews we rely on reason, inner strength, and the support of community to face life's challenges and collectively improve the world. What are our beliefs and principles? Humanistic Judaism offers secular Jews a philosophy of life that integrates the value of Jewish identity with a belief in the importance of human reason and human power. It declares that reason, rather than faith, is the source of truth, and that human intelligence and experience are capable of guiding our lives. It offers an opportunity to practice Judaism in ways that are consistent with our humanistic outlook. Read more…
Shabbat Services and Cultural Programs Our cultural Shabbat services combine contemporary readings with elements of tradition that result in inspirational and thought-provoking experiences. We introduce original songs and also preserve familiar melodies with new lyrics that are consistent with our Humanistic philosophy. For secular Jews, Shabbat offers a link to our Jewish culture and heritage as we set aside time for renewing our attachments to our Jewish values and teachings, our collected memories and hopes for the future, and our bonds with Jews all over the world. Sample a Shabbat Celebration on YouTube. Our Approach to Celebrations Since the start of civilization, people have marked the cycles of nature, the origins of their culture, and the momentous events in the life of their community. The earliest calendar was originally agricultural and celebrated the ebb and flow of the seasons, with days of light giving way to darkness and then light all over again. Early farmers' festivals, timed for the harvest moon, were recast into national holidays, but vestiges of their earliest form can still be discerned. As Humanistic Jews, we honor the historical roots of these occasions at the same time that we invest in them new meaning that gives sustained significance for our own lives. Read more... Uplifting Cultural High Holidays Humanistic Jews see Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as an affirmation of human power and human dignity. The High Holidays are a time to consider the possibilities for change, for improvement, for happiness that we can create ourselves. Acknowledging human courage and independence, we achieve human dignity. Read more...
KidSchool nurtures Jewish connections When a group of parents formed The City Congregation's KidSchool, it was to give their then-very-young children a cultural Jewish community. One in which they could grow, and learn, and love their wonderful Jewish heritage. A community where they could understand our holidays and literature from the same secular humanistic perspective as their parents. Learn more about our joyful KidSchool.
Creative Secular Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Program The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in New York City has developed an exciting, challenging and meaningful Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah program--a way for secular Jewish youth to celebrate a rite of passage and to preserve this link to our heritage. We provide an opportunity to mark this important event, while respecting our modern values and intellectual ideals. Program elements include family history and values, examining personal beliefs,picking a hero or role model, and putting values into action. Read more…
Learning for All Ages We believe in life-long learning and offer the adults in our community a variety of ways to expand their knowledge and education. In addition to our stimulating cultural programs at Shabbat, often with guest speakers, we hold regular Adult Perspectives programs on Sunday afternoons which meet at the same time the kids are in their classes. See this year's calendar.
A Community Without a Neighborhood Our members come primarily from Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey. Our motto is: "It's worth the shlep!"
Where We Meet We meet twice a month for Shabbat at the 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street, Manhattan. KidSchool and Adult Education are held twice a month at 15 West 86th Street, Manhattan. High Holidays are held at the Desmond Tutu Center, 180 Tenth Avenue, between 20th & 21st Streets, Manhattan.
FIND OUT MORE Find out more at one of our Fall Open Houses. Call 212-213-1002 or send us an email.