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Kahal B'raira Greater Boston's Congregation for Humanistic Judaism

About the Congregation

Kahal B’raira is Greater Boston’s Congregation for Humanistic Judaism^[1]. Affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism^[2], Kahal B’raira (pronounced ka-HAL breyra) has offered a nontheistic alternative in contemporary Jewish life since 1975. Kahal B’raira is a welcoming congregation for all who identify with the history, culture and fate of the Jewish people, individuals of all ages, abilities and families, including multi-faith families and LGBTQ families^[3]^[4].

Humanistic Judaism

Humanistic Judaism ^[5] is an international movement and branch of Judaism. It defines Judaism as the cultural and historical experience of the Jewish people. It encourages humanistic and secular Jews to celebrate their Jewish identity through Jewish holidays and life cycle events with inspirational ceremonies that draw upon, and go beyond traditional literature. "Humanism" describes the secular ideology that espouses reason, ethics, and justice as a basis of morality and decision-making^[6].

Sunday School

Kahal B'raira offers secular Jewish education for young people ages 3-14^[7]. It also offers bar/bat mitzvah and teen programming including a youth group and employment opportunities in the Sunday School. Students involved in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah program^[8] and the Youth group^[9] also undertake additional social action projects. The Sunday School collects tzedakah in class throughout the year and then decides collectively what causes to support.

Community Involvement

Kahal B’raira offers a warm, inviting community that encourages active engagement and a myriad of activities related to social service and social justice, adult education, and social events^[10]. The community is lay-led which offers the opportunity for members to shape their experience and for a variety of levels of involvement.

Sunday Meetings

The congregation primarily draws members^[11] from Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Adults meet concurrently with the Sunday School 15 times a year^[12]. The morning with the children and adults together. After the children leave for class, adult members participate in member-led secular services, and a featured presentation by a guest lecturer on a topic typically relating to Jewish culture, humanism, history, philosophy, arts, society, politics, or other issues. Some past topics include “When General Grant Expelled the Jews”, “Current events in the Middle East”, “Jewish Cooking”, and an annual book group (past books have included “The Zookeeper’s Wife” by Diane Ackerman, “Patrimony” by Philip Roth and “What Remains” by Nicholas Delbanco.

Holidays

The major Jewish holidays^[13] are celebrated with unique and meaningful services that are consistent with our beliefs and include a high holiday services, building of and eating in the sukkah, a TuB’shvat program, a congregational Passover Seder, a Chanukah meal and party and periodic Shabbat services and get-togethers.

Social Action and Community Involvement

The congregation also has a vibrant social action committee^[14] which coordinates many events over the course of the year. Past years events including a blood drive, volunteering at Gaining Ground Farm, serving meals on Christmas at First Church Shelter, contributing to Jewish Family and Children's Services' Family Table food pantry, participating in the MLK day of service, adopting needy children/families at holiday time and bringing journaling workshops to women incarcerated at MCI Framingham through the congregation’s "Sheltering Arts Program."

The congregation’s Chesed (Caring) committee^[15] offers support to members facing medical illness or other crises helping members in need while giving members the opportunity for an important and meaningful volunteer experience.

Social Events

The Kahal B’raira community also offers informal social events throughout the year including frequent organized potluck dinners, an annual winter get-away weekend, group outings to Red Sox games, a summer barbeque and a day at the beach.

References

External Links

[1] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org

[2] ttp://www.shj.org

[3] ttp://joi.org/bigtent/?sec=find&page=directory&state=MA

[4] ttp://www.interfaithfamily.com/elgg/pg/groups/8666/kahal-braira/

[5] ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanistic_Judaism

[6] ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism

[7] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/youth/sunday-school

[8] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/youth/bar-bat-mitzvah

[9] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/youth/youth-group

[10] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/community/social-action

[11] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/membership

[12] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/calendar

[13] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/holidays

[14] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/community/social-action

[15] ttp://www.kahalbraira.org/community/member-care

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