The purpose of SHJCF is to provide a community that celebrates Jewish identity, history, and culture within a Humanistic framework. We aim to provide community, ritual and ceremony, connection to Judaism, and support for personal growth.
SHJCF holds to the beliefs and philosophies laid out by the Society of Humanistic Judaism in their August 2021 statement of values:
Human Agency
People have the power to achieve global survival, happiness, and dignity using their own abilities; we need not await supernatural intervention. Ethics are determined by the consequences of each action toward the betterment of life, not by whether an authority or ancient text commands it.
Jewish Cultural Identity
Judaism is the evolving, concurrent cultures of the Jewish people, with religion being just one facet. We draw strength from aspects of our history, rituals, achievements, literature, music, arts, food, humor, and wisdom tradition, and we view the Jewish story as testament to the continuing struggle for human dignity.
Community
Coming together in times of celebration and loss improves lives by offering belonging, support, and meaning. We center nontheistic expressions of Judaism that elsewhere may be marginalized, providing uniquely secular and humanistic celebrations of Jewish holidays and lifecycle events reflecting our ethical core.
Inclusion
With multiculturalism and diversity as guiding values, we celebrate our interfaith/intercultural, multiracial, LBGTQ+ family, as well as those with disabilities and all household configurations. We welcome as Jewish any person who chooses to identify with the culture and traditions of the Jewish people.
Critical Thinking
We rely on science, evidence, reason, experimentation, empathy, creativity, and artistic expression to address Jewish and universal human questions and to help improve the world and ourselves. We are committed to passing these values on to present and future generations through education and by our example.
Social Justice
We seek a future where the dignity and freedom of every human being is upheld. We must repair the world through community service and by advancing human rights, anti-racism, and the separation of church and state.