All Humanistic

Machar is a welcoming and diverse community founded on Humanistic ideals and dedicated to enhancing Jewish cultural identity. Our congregation believes that Judaism encompasses far more than an ancient religion. It is a complete and vibrant culture with a rich history, an evolving ethical outlook, languages, music, literature, and folk traditions. We see the Jewish people as an international family Read more...

Our motto, “Doing Jewish Differently,” applies to our long history of welcoming everyone. We want to celebrate Jewish life with our full and true selves in all our diversities. We embrace the reality of intercultural marriage by fully celebrating everyone’s life partner and their family. Children of intercultural families can be both Jewish and something else, rather than either/or. We actively welcome LGBTQIA+ Read more...

Rabbi Dr. Tzemah Yoreh, leader of The City Congregation, is one the intellectual leaders of Jewish humanism. He has been a student of the Bible since his earliest days, winning the Diaspora Division of the International Bible Contest in childhood. He attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he obtained his Ph.D. in biblical criticism in record time. He earned Read more...

With over 25 years of experience, I have been performing weddings, commitment services, and other life-cycle events in Metropolitan New York and on Long Island. If you are seeking an alternative to mainstream religious practice, if you would like to celebrate the milestones of your life in a way that is in keeping with your beliefs, then I can help you Read more...

Our youth education is called the Spinoza Program and it provides our young people with a positive and enriching Jewish cultural educational experience that will empower them to make choices about how to incorporate Jewish culture and heritage into their own lives, supplying them with the tools to make informed decisions about their Jewish identities. We also place an important emphasis on Read more...

Humanistic Judaism celebrates Jewish life while putting our faith in human reason and human power as the best vehicles for improving the world. ​Humanistic Judaism offers a connection to Jewish identity and community for people who identify as “just Jewish,” culturally Jewish, “Jew-ish,” “Jewish and . . .,” “half-Jewish,” multicultural, “not religious,” secular, humanistic, atheist and/or agnostic. ​Humanistic Judaism provides Read more...

Jack holds dual ordination. He is first a Madrikh/Vegvayzer, conferred by the International Institute of Secular Humanistic Judaism where he also participated in rabbinic studies. Second, he holds rabbinic ordination by the Rabbinical Seminary International, a non-denominational seminary which is focused on preparing rabbis for the modern world.   Read more...

Certified as a Madrikha (Leader) by the International Institute of Secular Humanistic Jews. I do not represent a congregation. The families I serve are largely either Jewish or have some Jewish family members for life cycle events including weddings, funerals, baby namings. Read more...

The City Congregation’s Jewish Preschool instills a love of Jewish culture in children two through four alongside a parent or guardian. Older children can enroll in our Jewish KidSchool. Classes are held twice a month on Sundays from 2:45 PM to 5:15 PM at 15 West 86th Street (SAJ) in Manhattan.You do not need to be a member of The City Congregation Read more...

The City Congregation’s Jewish KidSchool fosters an understanding and appreciation of Jewish culture in children five and up. An alternative to traditional Hebrew school or Sunday school, we introduce the concepts and literature of classical Judaism from a secular humanistic perspective and we explore our own values and history as well. Classes are normally held twice each month, on Sundays from Read more...