Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Credo

Welcome to the Congregation
for Humanistic Judaism
of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Serving the communities of Fairfield County and beyond since 1967
203-226-5451

Who We Are

The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism is a welcoming, supportive community, serving Fairfield County since 1967, for secular Jews and their families to affirm, celebrate, and enrich Jewish identity and values. CHJ believes in personal responsibility to fulfill the Jewish ideals of loving-kindness, justice, and good deeds.

Humanistic Judaism is one of the five branches of Judaism recognized by the United Jewish Communities of North America. We are affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism and the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, active worldwide.

If you live in Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Sherman, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport or Wilton (or Rockland or Dutchess Counties and don't mind traveling for your beliefs) and are seeking a congregation that allows you to be true to your humanistic values while celebrating your Jewish heritage, we may be the place! Our synagogue meets in members' homes and public schools. Please join us at an event and talk with our members. Your search may be over!

We are a welcoming, supportive community, founded in 1967, in which secular Jews and their families can affirm, celebrate, and enrich their Jewish identity and values.

We subscribe to Humanistic Judaism, one of the five branches of Judaism recognized by the United Jewish Communities of North America.

We are affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism, and the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, active worldwide.

Humanistic Judaism Defined

Humanistic Judaism combines the Jewish values of loving-kindness (Gemilut Chassadim), charity (Tzedakah), and making the world a better place (Tikkun Olam), with the recognition that the responsibility for putting them in practice lies in our own hands.

Humanistic Jews accept that a Jew is a person of Jewish descent or any person who declares himself or herself to be a Jew and who identifies with the history, ethical values, culture, civilization, community and experiences of the Jewish people.

Humanistic Jews believe that each person, whether or not they believe in God, is responsible for leading a moral, ethical life that will add to the greater good of humanity, without reliance on supernatural forces or theological authority. Belief in God is a matter of personal definition, personal conviction and personal practice.

As a Humanistic Jew, I seek...

To increase the well-being of others (Tzedakah).
To perform acts of loving kindness (Gemilut Chassadim).
To pursue justice, counter oppression, and make the world a better place (Tikkun Olam).
To use my reasoning power to understand the world about me, applying this knowledge to advance ethical and moral goals.
To treat adversity, not as divine punishment for wrongdoing, but as a challenge to be overcome with all the personal strength and community support I can muster.
To build a community of Humanistic Jews and like-minded people.
To reflect personally on my own behavior, its motivations, expression and consequences, and to commit to improving myself, throughout the year, with renewed emphasis at High Holidays.
To recognize and celebrate the role of the Jewish people and culture in living these values.
To support Israel in its search for peace.
To foster understanding of Humanistic Judaism in the broader community so that beliefs such as ours can be expressed without fear of prejudice.
To live my life, so that at my death, I may live on through my positive impact on others’ lives.