Provocative speakers include Robert Pinsky, Yossi Sarid, Yehuda Bauer and others

June 28, 2000

NEW YORK - United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, controversial former Israel Minister of Education Yossi Sarid, Holocaust Scholar Yehuda Bauer, and film director Lawrence Kasdan will be among the featured speakers when secular Jews from throughout the world gather in New York City in September, at the historic Great Hall of Cooper Union, for the Eighth Biennial Conference of the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews.

Entitled "Choosing to Live as a Secular Humanistic Jew: A Bold Option for Modern Jewish Identity," the conference, September 8-10, 2000, will explore the many voices of Secular Humanistic Judaism as renowned and provocative speakers share how their secular Jewish commitments fit into the picture of their life's work. Yuli Tamir, Israel Minister of Immigrant Absorption, and Professor Lucette Valensi, historian, author, and director of France's International Institute of Mediterranean Culture, also plan to participate.

According to Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, co-chair of the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews and founder of the branch of Judaism known as Humanistic Judaism, "For the last 100 years, Secular Judaism has captured the imagination and attention of Jews worldwide. Its message is even more compelling today. It speaks to thousands of Jews who are searching for an authentic way to affirm, maintain, and perpetuate their cultural Jewish identity in the modern age. New York City, the largest Jewish metropolis in the world, and Cooper Union, which has provided a forum for social and political reformers since the 1800s, are the ideal locations to underline our commitment to progressive Judaism based on historical accuracy and rational inquiry."

Secular Humanistic Jews understand Judaism as the human-centered history, culture, civilization, ethical values, and shared fate of the Jewish people. Encompassing many languages and a vast body of literature, art, dance, music, and food, Secular Humanistic Jews see Judaism as much more than a set of religious beliefs and practices. Secular Humanistic Jews have a strong connection to Jewish history and culture and are committed to the future of the Jewish People. Secular Humanistic Jews rely on reason, rather than faith, to understand the world and believe that human intelligence and experience are capable of guiding their lives. For Secular Jews, the message of Jewish history is that humans have the power and the responsibility to take control of their own fate.

The International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews is a coalition of 50,000 Jews in 12 countries who are organized into communities and schools. The Federation links national organizations in Israel, the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

In 1990, the National Jewish Population Study conducted by United Jewish Communities indicated the 1.5 million Americans identify themselves as cultural, non-religious Jews. Yair Tzaban, co-chair of the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, former member of the Knesset, Minister of Immigrant Absorption and a member of the Security Cabinet under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, explains, "Millions of Jews worldwide embrace the philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism. However, they remain unaffiliated. The goals of the Federation and its constituent organizations are to reach out to these Jews and offer them a community where they can affirm their Judaism, celebrate their Jewish identity in a secular way, participate in Jewish life, and educate their children about their rich and vibrant heritage."

Honorary chairs of the International Federation are Albert Memmi, the well-known French writer and professor of sociology at the University of Paris, and Yehuda Bauer, the noted historian, Holocaust scholar, and Chair of the Yad Vashem International Institute for Holocaust Research.

The International Federation is affiliated with the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, the educational arm of the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement, training rabbis, leaders, and educators for Secular Humanistic congregations and communities. The first humanistic rabbi was ordained by the Institute in October, 1999. In North America, the Federation is also affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism and the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations.

For more information, call 212-581-6760 x303 or visit www.ifshj.org/nyc2000

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