Community Resource Directory

COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Celebrate Your Jewish Cultural Heritage

The Jewish Cultural Society is a secular humanist organization with a strong commitment to the continuity and survival of our Jewish heritage.

Philosophy: We believe that our prophetic traditions of humanism and justice provide an ethos by which to live and which must be passed on to future generations. We embrace the diversity of the Jewish culture and the diversity of views and beliefs present in the modern Jewish experience.

Our program is designed by members to be flexible and to satisfy a wide range of orientations toward Jewish tradition. We welcome families and individuals, with backgrounds ranging from traditional to modem, including many families of mixed cultural backgrounds.

Holidays: We stress the cultural aspects of Jewish holidays, rather than religious doctrine. In secular Judaism, religious belief is an individual matter. Our holiday celebrations provide creative approaches to Jewish traditions and practices. (See Calendar for notices of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succos celebrations.)

Life Cycle Events: We offer a full range of secular life cycle observances. Weddings (including mixed marriages) are performed by JCS Director, Judith Seid, a Certifíed Secular and Humanistic Jewish Leader. Babies are named at original ceremonies created by the parents and the JCS Director. Memorial services are performed in a secularist Jewish manner.

Sunday School: Classes for K-7 are Sun. mornings from 10 am to noon. The curriculum stresses culture, ethics, and history, and includes Jewish art, music, dance, and literature. The 2-year Bar/Bat Mitzvah program includes community service and culminates in a ceremony written by the students and parents.

Adult Programs: JCS offers informal get-togethers, along with educational and social action programs. JCS members are involved in the sanctuary movement, local anti-hunger efforts, the Black/Jewish Coalition, and the Urgent Action Group of Amnesty International that JCS formed last year. Each Sunday morning that classes are held, the lounge of the Jewish Community Center is open for coffee, reading, schmoozing, and participating n the occasional lecture or discussion.

Jewish Cultural Society/Jewish Cultural School, c/o Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48108; 665-5761.