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      Though this book will appeal to all humanists, it will have special meaning for those Jews who value their Jewish identity but no longer feel a significant connection to conventional religion -- those whose experience of Judaism is ethnic but also secular.

     Recognizing that celebration is a human need, Rabbi Wine has combined the intellectual and emotional elements of Jewish life into an original and inspirational format for personal reflection and community rejoicing. An affirmation of the ethical view of life, this book seeks to dramatize, in prose, poetry, and song, what Secular and Humanistic Jews feel about their heritage. The content of the book appeals to both the mind and the heart, and incorporates many of the traditional symbols of Judaism, such as the lighting of the Menorah, the sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn, at the New Year, and the wedding canopy.

     In addition to commemorating Jewish holidays, history, and culture, the book also celebrates the basic humanistic values of truth, justice, freedom, hope, dignity, courage, equality, and reason, and provides a humanistic alternative to the religious rituals that traditionally mark birth, maturation, marriage, and death. As such, Celebration can be a resource for everyone in the humanist community seeking inspirational readings on a wide variety of topics and occasions.

     As Rabbi Wine points out, celebration affirms shared beliefs and reinforces community bonds. While acknowledging the importance of being an individual, Celebration recognizes that to be fully human is to be part of a community-a family, a congregation, a nation, or all humanity.

     Sherwin T. Wine has long been a spokesperson for the humanistic viewpoint on ethical and social issues. He has written many books on Humanistic Judaism [see write-ups about Judaism beyond God and Staying Sane in a Crazy World on this Web site] and is the founder of the Birmingham Temple, the first Jewish humanist congregation.

[Note by the publisher]

Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1988.

$33.00

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