Humanistic Judaism

10/12/2026

Did you know many of our local communities offer online programming open to anyone who wants to learn more about Humanistic Judaism?
Check out the link in the comments👇 to connect!

10/09/2026

Shabbat Shalom! This week, we’re beginning “13 Ways to Engage & Connect”.

Connection is how we build our communities and do good around the world, both in person and virtually! SHJ's mission is to support these connections. Thankfully, we have a list of simple ways to get engaged and stay connected, no matter where you are!

Our first invitation: subscribe to the SHJ e-newsletter! It’s one way to keep a connection to our wider community, even when there isn’t a local group nearby. 👇 Link in the comments 👇

As the week winds down, we’d love to hear from you!
What helps you feel connected to secular Jewish life. Is it people, traditions, learning, or something else?

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

- Today In Jewish History - Felix Salten (Sept. 6, 1869 - October. 8, 1945) author and literary critic and creator of Bambi died. Salten was born Siegmund Salzmann in Pest (later Budapest), Austria-Hungary. He was the grandson of an Orthodox rabbi. When he was four weeks old, his family relocated to Vienna, as many Jews did after the Imperial government had granted full citizenship rights to Jews in 1867. Felix changed his name to Salten in order to appear less Jewish, and considered converting to Catholicism due to antisemitism.

Life in Austria became perilous for Jews during the 1930s. In Germany, Adolf Hi**er had Salten's books banned in 1936. Two years later, after Germany's annexation of Austria, Salten moved to Zürich, Switzerland, with his wife, and spent his final years there.

Inspired by fellow Austrian Jew Theodor Herzl, Salten became an outspoken advocate for the Zionist movement. Salten anonymously wrote a column for Herzl's newspaper Die Welt, published a lengthy profile of Herzl after his 1904 death, and spoke at events sponsored by the Bar Kochba Society alongside Martin Buber.

10/07/2026

👇 Link in Comments 👇

Check out this article from the most recent issue of Humanistic Judaism Magazine, written by rabbi Adam Chalom.

10/05/2026

💻 Virtual Programming💻

There is still time to register for the Secular Talmud Study orientation, taking place tomorrow at 7:30pm!

Find out what Humanistic Jews can learn from reading the Talmud!

Registration link in comments

10/01/2026

- Today In Jewish History - 1885: Birthdate of American poet, critic, anthologist and editor Louis Michael Untermeyer (October 1, 1885 – December 18, 1977). Untermeyer was one of the earliest American foes of Hi**er. Just weeks after Hi**er assumed power on January 30, 1933, a patchwork of competing Jewish forces, led by American Jewish Congress president Rabbi Stephen Wise, civil rights crusader Louis Untermeyer, and the Jewish War Veterans, initiated a highly effective boycott of German goods and services. Each advanced the boycott in its own way but sought to build a united anti-N**i coalition that could deliver an economic deathblow to the N**i party, which had based its political ascent almost entirely on promises to rebuild the strapped German economy.

Untermeyer was born in New York City, the son of Emanuel, German-Jewish jewelry manufacturer, and Julia Michael Untermeyer. He quit working for his father in 1923 to devote himself to literary pursuits. On May 1, 1935, Untermeyer joined the League of American Writers (1935–1943), whose members included Lillian Hellman, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Miller. Members were largely either Communist Party members or fellow travelers. Untermeyer was a panelist on What's My Line? -- replaced by Bennett Cerf -- but was fired after being named during the hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Untermeyer was the author or editor of close to 100 books, from 1911 until his death. He was appointed the fourteenth Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1961.

09/30/2026

👇 Link in comments👇
Have you heard about the Secular Talmud Study? With the next orientation meeting coming up on October 6 at 7:30 pm, we are grateful that Jennifer took the time to share her experience participating in this online course over the past 2 years!

09/28/2026

"Let us go forth with fear and courage and rage to save the world."

-Grace Paley
Humanistic Jewish Role Model 2018-2019