HUMANISTIC JEWS SUPPORT
JAPAN/PACIFIC DISASTER RELIEF
The Society
for Humanistic Judaism issued recommendations today urging
its congregations, members, and adherents, to support
Japan/Pacific disaster relief, through donations to the
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) or other
agencies providing relief. The JDC is already the
beneficiary of efforts by Humanistic Jewish congregations
who support its Crop Walk to sponsor food donations for the
needy and have supported its relief efforts in Haiti.
Many in the movement were already responding to the crisis
with donations, and this recommendation gives impetus for
wider and greater support.
We have all
been stunned by the devastation wreaked by the earthquake
and tsunami, which struck Japan
and crossed the Pacific last night. Although details are
continuing to emerge, it is clear that there has been
significant damage and loss of life. "Our sympathies go out
to the families who have lost loved ones in the earthquake
and subsequent tsunami," said Rabbi Miriam Jerris. "As
fellow human beings and as Humanistic Jews, our hearts and
minds are engaged in seeking ways to support the massive
relief efforts necessary."
Humanistic
congregations embrace a human-centered philosophy that
celebrates Jewish culture and identity. "Our belief is in
the human capacity to create a better world rather than in
reliance on a supernatural power or an omniscient deity,"
said Bonnie Cousens, Executive Director
of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. "We believe in the
importance of mitzvot
(good deeds) to achieve that end. The performance of acts of
tzedakah
(charity), a core value of Judaism, are intrinsic to a full
expression of Humanistic Judaism."
The Society
for Humanistic Judaism is the national umbrella organization
for Humanistic congregations in
North America. Humanistic Jews value
their Jewish identity and the aspects of Jewish culture that
offer a genuine expression of their contemporary way of
life. There are currently more than 30 congregations in the
United States
and Canada
affiliated with this growing movement. Forty-nine percent of
the United States
5.5 million Jews say that their outlook is secular and
forty-eight percent do not belong to a synagogue or other
Jewish organization according to the American Jewish
Identification Survey undertaken by professional
statisticians under the auspices of the Center for Jewish
Studies at the City University of New York. The Society
helps to organize local congregations and havurot, creates
and disseminates celebrational and educational materials,
provides national programs, including programs for teens and
young adults, and serves the needs of individual members who
do not live near an existing Humanistic congregation.
The JDC is
collecting funds for relief efforts and has reached out to
the Japanese Government to offer its expertise in earthquake
and tsunami-related response. JDC acquired substantial
experience in post-tsunami and earthquake recovery through
its relief and reconstruction projects in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Maldives and India
following the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. JDC is now
conducting an up-to-the-minute assessment of the situation
in Japan and the Pacific Rim and has activated its network of
partners to determine critical, immediate needs of the
hardest-hit areas.
For more
information, contact the Society for
Humanistic Judaism at 248-478-7610,
http://www.shj.org/.