Secular Jewish Ceremonies

for cultural Jews, their partners and their families

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Haroset Recipes

Humanistic Judaism

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Talks and Writings by Rabbi Peter Schweitzer
Hear What Rabbi Peter Schweitzer Has To Say (on Youtube)
What is the place of Torah in Humanistic Judaism?
What is the Humanistic Jewish approach to the Memorial Service on Yom Kippur?
Do Humanistic Jews embrace or reject intermarriage?
What is The Future of Judaism?
How are we welcoming in Humanistic Judaism?
 
High Holiday Talks 2017
"Letting Go" (Rosh Hashanah 2017)
"The People, Places and Things We Have Cast Aside" (Tashlikh 2017)
"Forgiveness" (Yom Kippur 2017)

"Journey to Judaism" (Yom Kippur 2017)
Presentation by Matt Rand, City Congregation member
Introduction by Rabbi Schweitzer and Opening Talk from Heather Theiss
 
A Time to Preach, A Time to Impeach:  A Meditation for the High Holidays, 2017
Click here to download a PDF version of this article that was originally posted to Huffington Post.
 
Rabbi Schweitzer's Thoughts on the Attack in Nice, France 
A Secular Humanistic Response to Crisis (July 17, 2016)

Rabbi Schweitzer's Approach to Secular Cultural Weddings
New Ways To Say "I Do" (Jewish Currents, January-Febuary, 2008)

Rabbi Schweitzer is quoted on the need for a uniquely secular approach to grieving.
Grief without God is a challenge for nonbelievers (Washington Post, Feb. 17, 2012)

Rabbi Schweitzer explains that Humanistic rabbis do not require circumcision for welcoming a child into the Jewish people.
New York Magazine (Oct. 18, 2009)

Rabbi Schweitzer's OP-ED Article in the New York Times, October 13, 2008
People of the Button

Rabbi Schweitzer's Personal Journey
A Rabbi's Journey to Secular Humanistic Judaism (Shma, 2000)

Rabbi Schweitzer's Collection of Jewish-Americana
The Making of a Collection (NMAJH, 2007)

Installation Address
"On Becoming Rabbi of The City Congregation" (May 5, 2006)

Letters to the Editor
A welcoming statement on intermarriage. (Jewish Week, July 13, 2007)
Response to Intermarriage Seen Roiling Reform Ranks (June 15, 2007).
On marriage in Israel. (New York Times, March 16, 2008)
Response to How Do You Prove You're a Jew (March 2, 2008).

Memorial to September 11
Fifth Anniversary Memorial to the World Trade Center Tragedy (Rosh Hashanah 2006)
"A Modern Lamentation" (September 7, 2002)

Eilu v'Eilu Discussion, March 2008
Under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism
Can a person consider her or himself to be a good Jew and not believe in God?
Rabbi Schweitzer's Opening Statement
Rabbi Schweitzer's Second Statement
Rabbi Schweitzer's Responses to Questions
Rabbi Schweitzer's Closing Statement

 
High Holiday Talks
"Make Us a King" (Rosh Hashanah 2016)
"The Scourge of Gun Violence" (Tashlikh 2016)
"Not That Kind of Faith" (Yom Kippur 2016)
"Hubble at 25" (Rosh Hashanah 2015)
"The Time is Now" (Rosh Hashanah 2014)
"Regrets" (Yom Kippur 2014)
"Responsibility and Accountability" (Rosh Hashanah 2013)
"Self Control" (Yom Kippur 2013)
"Abraham and Me" (Rosh Hashanah 2012)
"Honest Talk" (Yom Kippur 2012)
"Facing the Bad Things of Nature and Human Hands" (Rosh Hashanah 2011)
"Anthony Weiner and the Challenge of Confession" (Yom Kippur 2011)
"Reconciliation" (Rosh Hashanah 2010)
"Reputation Bankruptcy" (Yom Kippur 2010)
"Everyday Courage" (Rosh Hashanah 2009)
"Destiny and Dignity" Yom Kippur 2009)
"The Great Jewish Day of Personal Global Positioning" (Rosh Hashanah 2008)
"Politics, Politicians, Yom Kippur and Ourselves" (Yom Kippur 20008)
"Thinking About My Own Mortality" (Yom Kippur Memorial 2008)
"Moving Forward" (Rosh Hashanah 2007)
"In Search of Serenity" (Yom Kippur 2007)
"A Eulogy for Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine" (Yom Kippur Memorial 2007)
"LIfe in a Falling Rock Zone" (Rosh Hashanah 2006)
"What does Pluto have to do with it?" (Yom Kippur 2006)

Passover Resources
Haroset Recipes from Around the World (2007)
Ten Modern Eco-Plagues (2016)
Liberated Haggadah (2003) PDF Version
Liberation, Then and Now (2016) (Jewish Week article about my Seder experience and the development of my haggadah)
 
"New Jewish Rituals" column in Jewish Currents magazine
Secular Jews and Jewish Ritual (May-June 2007)
Secular High Holidays: Opportunities for Innovative Expression (September-October 2007)
Secular Jewish Weddings: New Ways to Say "I Do" (January-February 2008)
The Evolution of New Holidays (May-June 2008)

The Morris U. Schappes Centennial Lecture and Performance Series
Sponsored by Jewish Currents and The Workmen's Circle
"Varieties of Jewish Secularism" (December 19, 2007)

 
"Ask the Rabbi"

Rabbi Peter Schweitzer provides a Humanistic Jewish perspective in Moment Magazine's "Ask the Rabbi" column. Here is a selection of some of the responses.

Is there ever a time to tell a lie? (October 2005)
Should Jewish children be allowed to take part in Christmas caroling? (December 2005)
What does Judaism have to say about life after death? (February 2006)
What does Judaism have to say about organ donation? (April 2006)
How should we view unmarried pregnant women? (June 2006)
How should we seek forgiveness? (August 2006)
Should Jewish children Trick or Treat? (October 2006)
When, and how, should parents start discussing sex with their children? (December 2006)
What healing alternatives to modern medicine does Judaism offer? (February 2007)
Why are Jews called the Chosen People? (April 2007)
What does Judaism say about being a workaholic? (June 2007)
What does Judaism say about gossip? (January/February 2008)
How does Israel help Jews be Jews (May/June 2008)
Who cares what women wear (or don't wear?) (July/August 2008)
Does politics belong on the bima? (September/October 2008)
What is your favorite Jewish book? (November/December 2008)
Should the U.S. have a Chief Rabbi? (January/February 2009)
What ethical lessons can be learned from the Bernie Madoff scandal? (March/April 2009)
Are tattoos and body piercings taboo? (July/August 2009)
When does life begin? (September/October 2009)
What is a self-hating Jew? (November/December 2009)
What is a rabbi's role today? (January/February 2010)
What does Judaism teach about envy? (March/April 2010)
What does it mean to be Jewish today?  (May/June 2010)
Do Jews ask too many questions? (July/August 2010)
Who is your favorite Biblical character? (November/December 2010)
What new commandment should be added to the existing ten? (January/Febuary 2011)
What guidance would you give your child if he or she told you s/he was gay? (May/June 2011)
Do Jews believe in an afterlife? (July/August 2011)
What is the greatest sin for which the Jewish community should make atonement? (September/October 2011)
Are there fundamental human rights in Judaism? (November/December 2011)
What does it mean to be pro-Israel today? (Jan/Feb 2012)
Are Jews still expecting the messiah? (March/April 2012)
Will it make a difference to Jews if there is a Mormon president? (May/June 2012)
Are we hard-wired for belief in God? (July/Aug 2012)
Is democracy a Jewish idea? (Sept/Oct 2012)
When did you realize you were a 'real' rabbi? (Nov/Dec 2012)
Does Jewish anxiety have a theological basis? (Jan/Feb 2013)
What Jewish principles are most valuable in counseling people about end-of-life care? (March/April 2013)
What are our duties as Jews towards our animals? (May/June 2013)
Should Jews be for or against the right to bear arms? (July/Aug 2013)
Are there times when a rabbi must express his or her political opinion from the pulpit? (Nov/Dec 2013)
In what ways, if any, do science and Judaism conflict? (Jan/Feb 2014)
Does Jewish law or tradition offer any guidance on contraception? (March/April 2014)
What does the Torah teach us about addiction? (May/June 2014)
Should Jews strive to be happy? (July/Aug 2014)
Do Jews have a different sense of sin from other people? (Sept/Oct 2014)
Are there aspects of Judaism that encourage arrogance or that help guard against it? (Nov/Dec 2014)
How do you decide when a candidate for conversion is ready to become Jewish? (Jan/Feb 2015) 
Does Judaism impose limits on what art can, or should portray? (March/April 2015)
Is it permitted to invite a non-Jew to your Seder? And is it a good idea? (March 31, 2015, on-line edition)
If you had to pass on just one nugget of Jewish wisdom to your children, what would it be? (May/June 2015)
Is whistleblowing a Jewish obligation? (July/Aug 2015)
Should rabbis talk to their congregants about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement? (Sept/Oct 2015)
What is our responsibility as Jews toward Syrian refugees? (Nov/Dec 2015)
Is there a ‘Jewish’ way to parent? (Jan/Feb 2016) 
Is it appropriate for Jews to advocate for their religious choices in conversation with Jews who have chosen differently? (March/April 2016)
Are we commanded to vote? (May/June 2016)
A lost book of the Bible is discovered. What's in it? (July/Aug 2016) 
Is it a serious moral failing for a politician to lie? (Sept/Oct 2016) 
What guidance does Judaism offer to transgender people or those who are gender-noncomforming? (Nov/Dec 2016) 
Is it the job of rabbis to fight intermarriage? (Jan/Feb 2017)
In our communities, how should we balance the demands of civility with the disapproval we may feel for someone's politics? (March/April 2017)
What should your congregants know about the Muslim faith? (May/June 2017)
What is the Jewish relationship to time? (July/Aug 2017)
What is the most important prayer we'll say this High Holidays season? (Sept/Oct 2017) 
What does Jewish tradition say about becoming a single parent by choice? (Nov/Dec 2017)