What Is Humanistic Judaism

Humanistic Judaism Defined

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 Humanistic Jews, we 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.

Humanistic Jews are believers … we believe in people!

According to a recent Pew survey, more than 50% of U.S. Jews do not believe in the God of the Bible. But that doesn’t mean we have to stop being Jewish. At CHJ, because we deeply value our Jewish history, culture and traditions, we create newer, more meaningful and relevant pathways to being Jewish.

By recognizing that Judaism has been a culture all along — by, for, and about people — we no longer need to claim a divine imperative to act on what we know is right.

Are you a Humanistic Jew?

• A Jew is someone who identifies with the history, culture, and fate of the Jewish people.
• Judaism encompasses the civilization created by the Jewish people.  It includes art and music, folk culture, and the treasured masterpieces of our great writers and thinkers, from the Bible to the present.
• We have the power and responsibility to shape our own lives independent of supernatural authority.
• Our ethics and morality serve human needs. We participate in tikkun olam (building a better world) for all people.
• We strive to express our Jewishness in a manner consistent with our beliefs.
• Our words must have integrity; if we don’t believe the words we are saying, even in another language, why say them?
• We support the existence of the State of Israel and stand in solidarity with Jewish communities in the United States and around the world.
• The freedom and dignity of the Jewish people must go hand in hand with the freedom and dignity of every human being.
• We warmly welcome into our community all those who share our values and who are connected to the Jewish people, whether by birth, adopted identity or by family relationship.

This video by our parent organization, the Society for Humanistic Judaism, further explains Humanistic Judaism: