Congregation for Humanistic Judaism

Shabbat Candle Lighting
2024-12-20 19:00 - 19:30, 2024-12-13 19:00 - 19:30, 2024-11-29 19:00 - 19:30, 2024-11-22 19:00 - 19:30, 2024-11-08 19:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Zoom opens at 6:30pm just to kibbutz.
At 7pm we light candles with a short service. We listen to music and short lectures. Watch for the Zoom link on the listserv Friday afternoon.

Shabbat Program - Hanukkah Celebration
2024-12-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
This will be a members’ Shabbat. All are invited to share your own Hanukkah stories from your childhood and family memories. Such sharing of our experiences enriches our Congregation and we at the Programming Committee eagerly look forward to hearing all of them.
Service to follow.
Watch listserv for zoom link.

Hanukkah Party
2024-12-14 15:00 - 18:00
Early pot luck dinner and home made latkes, BYO wine/beer.
Tzedakah: Toy and gifts drive
Music: Adam Feder and his band
This party is NOT open to the public.
However, members can bring their friends and family.

Board Meeting
2024-12-10 19:00, 2024-11-12 19:00, 2024-10-08 19:00
We will begin to work for next year’s programs and any activities of specific interest.
Please send me subjects of interest you wish the Board to consider in order to prepare the agenda.
Open to all CHJ members. Request the Zoom link from Previn Patel.

Jewish Journeys - Facing Current Events as Humanistic Jews
2024-12-08 13:30 - 15:00
This event is open to CHJ members and their guests.

Men's Rap
2024-12-08 09:30 | Milford
Come and join us for kibbitzing and noshing.
Noshing starts at 9:30am.
Meeting at 10am.
RSVP – mensrap@humanisticjews.org

Shabbat Program
2024-12-06 19:30
Open to Public, request Zoom link

Women to Women
2024-11-24 10:30 - 12:30, 2024-10-27 10:30 - 12:30
Come join other CHJ women to talk about a topic to be chosen at the meeting. It’s a great way to get to know one another. This month will be held at a member’s residence. Watch the listserv for the address.

Forum on Israel and Anti-Semitism
2024-11-23 13:30 - 15:00 | TBA
These groups are organized by Loretta Jay, Michelle Tomarkin and Jessica Wolf for CHJ members to have a safe place to talk about Israel, anti-Semitism and other related topics and how we are affected.

Please let us know if you can host.
Venue TBA.

RSVP forum@humanistcjews.org.

Music, Sound and Stories
2024-11-17 13:30 | Discovery Science Center, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport

Violins of Hope
2024-11-16 19:00 | Norwalk City Hall, East Ave., Norwalk
Saturday, November 16th: 7 PM
Join us for an incredible evening with
string instruments rescued from the Holocaust
in concert with the
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Early Bird Discount: Use code VOH-60 for 60% off tickets!
https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/norwalksymphony/1368/event/1398974

Tickets for students, educators and Holocaust survivors are free.
.

The Holocaust Resource Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County is bringing eight Violins of Hope instruments to our community Nov. 16 – 17 to commemorate Kristallnacht. CHJ is one of the local organizations partnering with the Federation on this project.

These instruments were owned and played before and during World War II. In some cases, they were played in the concentration camps, hidden, or thrown from cattle cars. They have been meticulously restored by an Israeli father-and-son violin makers and their provenance has been thoroughly researched. It is truly an honor to be able to offer this musical and educational experience to our community.

Please save Saturday night, Nov. 16 for a community concert using the violins, viola, and cello, along with a narrated history of each instrument.

Shabbat - Reflections on the Election
2024-11-15 19:00
After a brief Shabbat service we will have a discussion on the elections.
Watch the listserv for the Zoom link.

Book Club - Every Day is Mother's Day by Hilary Mantel
2024-11-09 10:30
Evelyn Axona is a medium by trade; her daughter, Muriel, is a half-wit by nature. Barricaded in their crumbling house, surrounded by the festering rubbish of years, they defy the curiosity of their neighbors and their social worker, Isabel Field. Isabel is young and inexperienced and has troubles of her own: an elderly father who wanders the streets, and a lover, Colin, who wants her to run away with him. But Colin has three horrible children and a shrill wife who is pregnant again – how is he going to run anywhere? As Isabel wrestles with her own problems, a horrible secret grows in the darkness of the Axon household. When at last it comes to light, the result is by turns hilarious and terrifying.
Come join the discussion at a member’s residence. Watch the listserv for the exact address.

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Bat Mitzvah - Kyla Reisberg
2024-11-02 10:45 - 12:00
All CHJ members are invited to celebrate Kyla’s Bat Mitzvah.
RSVP required by Oct. 15 steve2004ny@yahoo.com

Multicultural Shabbat - Indian New Year(Diwali)
2024-11-01 19:30
We will gather to celebrate Shabbat come Friday Nov. 1 along with the Indian New Year, 7.30 pm.
Link below.
Service to follow.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83800232831

Forum on Israel and Anti-Semitism
2024-10-27 13:30 - 15:00 | TBA
These groups are organized by Loretta Jay, Michelle Tomarkin and Jessica Wolf for CHJ members to have a safe place to talk about Israel, anti-Semitism and other related topics and how we are affected.

Please let us know if you can host.
Venue TBA.

RSVP is requested so we can plan accordingly. Please email Loretta at lorettacjay@gmail.com.

Jewish Journeys - Gluckel of Hameln
2024-10-26 10:00 - 11:45 | Brooks Place,Westport Library, Westport, CT
This program is on Glückel of Hameln (1646-1724), a fascinating and accomplished businesswoman, mother of 14 of whom 12 lived to adulthood, and first Jewish woman diarist.
Open to the public.

Book Club - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray
2024-10-19 10:30
A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
Come join the discussion at a member’s residence. Watch the listserv for the exact address,

Sukkot Shabbat - Invitation from Temple B'nai Chaim's Antisemitism Group
2024-10-18 17:30 | Temple B’nai Chaim, 82 Portland Ave., Wilton, CT, 06897, United States
Bonnie Heft, Coordinator of Temple B’ nai Chaim’s Social Action Group Against Antisemitism and Hate is inviting our congregation to a Sukkot Shabbat . Their congregants as well as diverse members of their local community will be there. We will gather outside at our Sukkah and then have dinner. Shabbat services will begin after that led by their spiritual leader, Cantor Harriet Dunkerley.
The cost for this event is $20.00 per person.
A link to register for this event will follow.

Yom Kippur - Closing Services
2024-10-12 17:00
CHJ celebrates Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with contemplative services incorporating music, readings, and rituals that strike a balance between our connections to the broad stream of Judaism and our secular humanistic view of Jewish culture and customs. Our services invite us to reflect on our values and commitments, both as individuals and as a community.
We will also be live streaming the services on YouTube to members and non-members who wish to join us virtually. As always, our services are free of charge.

Yom Kippur Day - Exploring Forgiveness/Meditation
2024-10-12 13:00
CHJ celebrates Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with contemplative services incorporating music, readings, and rituals that strike a balance between our connections to the broad stream of Judaism and our secular humanistic view of Jewish culture and customs. Our services invite us to reflect on our values and commitments, both as individuals and as a community.
Yom Kippur Memorial and Closing Service, Saturday, October 12th at 5:00pm
Livestream at: https://youtube.com/live/fisevegBLbQ?feature=share

Via Zoom
Exploring Forgiveness @ 1pm
Jessica Wolf will moderate a group discussion on the holiday.
Meditation @ 2:30pm
Our holiday meditation session will also be held on Zoom, beginning at 2:30pm on Yom Kippur day. It will be led by Elsa Cantor and will be offered to CHJ members. Look for the Zoom link in your email a few days before the event.

Yom Kippur Eve - Kol Nidre
2024-10-11 19:30
CHJ celebrates Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with contemplative services incorporating music, readings, and rituals that strike a balance between our connections to the broad stream of Judaism and our secular humanistic view of Jewish culture and customs. Our services invite us to reflect on our values and commitments, both as individuals and as a community.
We will also be live streaming the services on YouTube to members and non-members who wish to join us virtually. As always, our services are free of charge.
Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service, Friday, October 11th at 7:30pm. Livestream at: https://youtube.com/live/tcTwmtVhQsc?feature=share

Forum on Israel and Anti-Semitism
2024-10-06 16:00
The Jewish Federation is sponsoring a community-wide interfaith remembrance on October 7th at 7:30 PM. The location is provided upon registration. Information is included in the Federation weekly community newsletter forwarded regularly by Relly Coleman to the CHJ listserv.
To accommodate those for whom daytime would be more convenient, the CHJ Members’ Forum coordinators invite interested CHJ members to an informal gathering in Fairfield on Sunday afternoon at 4pm. to commemorate the Oct. 7 attacks.

Location information will be shared following RSVP to jwolfds@gmail.com.
