Celebration is a human need. Celebrations emphasize our commitments to people and ideas. Community festivals reinforce group solidarity.
Humanistic Jews recognize the value of celebration as a vehicle for group togetherness. Humanistic celebrations emphasize the accomplishments of people, the importance of community and the natural phenomena that exist to support it. Humanistic Jews observe Jewish holidays and life cycles. We draw on the full spectrum of Jewish tradition and culture to create meaningful ceremonies that enrich our lives and connect us to our history and our future as one people.
Bringing in Shabbat
Shabbat is the only Jewish holiday celebrated weekly. Congregation Beth Adam meets on the first and third Fridays of each month. On the 1st Friday of each month we have a Members In-Home Shabbat Discussion. On the 3rd Friday of each month we offer a Community Shabbat at a local facility. We participate in a short service followed by a meaningful discussion. These are wonderful times to join with family, friends and the Jewish community and to affirm our connection to Humanistic Judaism.
Candle Lighting
Humanistic Jews find in candlelight a reflection of the human spirit. In lighting candles, we seek connection with the past, with each other and with ourselves. Candles, at their brightest, communicate strength, vitality, vision and warmth. As they burn down, they demonstrate the fragility of life. Humanistic candle blessings are blessings of peace and light in the world.
Wine
Wine is as familiar in Jewish ceremonies as are candles. Since the beginning of the rabbinic period, the blessing of wine has been a part of the Jewish celebration in addition to weddings and birth ceremonies.
Wine is the fruit of the vine, the symbol of earth’s bounty. It is symbolic of prosperity and joy, an affirmation of life. The humanistic blessing of wine is a blessing of peace, an acknowledgement of the accomplishments of human beings.
Bread
We bless the bread in the same spirit as the wine. It is a symbol of the fullness of the earth and the labor of mankind in bringing it to our tables. We are thankful that we are sitting with family, friends and members from the community, enjoying the peace and joy of our celebration.
Blessing
A blessing, (b’rakha) is a statement that begins with the word b’rukh (“blessed”). It is a verbal formula that did not exist in biblical Judaism, but was created by the rabbis. As a statement of worship, it became the central feature of rabbinic, or Orthodox, Judaism. According to the rabbis, a b’rakah should be uttered upon engaging in any positive activity, whether practical or ritual.
Humanistic Jews affirm human power. Humanistic Jews respond verbally to human achievement and to natural beauty. Even the word b’rukh is appropriate, with the understanding that human beings, not an external supernatural force do and receive the blessing. B’rukh may be freely translated in many ways: precious, radiant, wonderful, beautiful, as well as blessed.
Life Cycle Ceremonies
BJ Saul, Madrikha leads Congregation Beth Adam’s services. She is available to
officiate life cycle events including baby naming, weddings/unions, Bar and Bat
Mitzvahs, and funeral/memorial services.
Passover
Passover, which begins on the first day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, is the great spring celebration of the Jewish people. The holiday commemorates the Biblical exodus or escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. The familiar tale is retold each year at the traditional seder dinner. Humanistic Jews view Passover as a celebration of freedom and national unity. Many times in their history Jews have struggled for freedom or have sought escape from persecution. Passover is the time to celebrate the modern as well as the ancient quest for freedom. Congregation Beth Adam has a tradition of holding a community seder with a special Haggadah, meaningful music and festivity, on the second night of Passover. It is a great time to celebrate with family, friends, both old and new.
Rosh Hashanah
Humanistic Jews see Rosh Hashanah as a time for renewal, reflection and new beginnings. Our focus is on the affirmation of human power and human dignity. Rosh Hashanah is a time to consider the possibilities for change, improvement and happiness we can create for ourselves as human beings. Through acknowledging human courage and independence we can achieve human dignity.
As the first day of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah marks a turning point, a separation between what was and what can be. It offers a time for Humanistic Jews to pause in their daily lives and reflect on their behavior and renew their commitment to their highest values. The creative liturgies used by Humanistic Jewish communities on Rosh Hashanah reflect these themes.
Yom Kippur
Congregation Beth Adam views Yom Kippur as a time for continued reflection, a time to examine human behavior and contemplate beneficial change. History has taught that we must rely on ourselves to create change in our society.
Adapting the form of our meditations to the context of our message, Humanistic Jews make Yom Kippur a celebration of inner strength and a time for self- forgiveness.
Other Holidays
Congregation Beth Adam also enjoys celebrating Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim and Tu B’Shevat with the students in the Children’s Education Program.
