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Machar (Washington, D.C) [revised 5/19/24 LML]
Machar (Hebrew: מחר, lit. 'Tomorrow)[1], officially Machar, The Secular Humanistic Congregation of Greater Washington, is a Jewish community founded on Humanistic ideals and dedicated to enhancing Jewish cultural identity. Humanistic Judaism teaches that “the source of power for solving human problems lies within human beings and that Judaism is more than a religion, that it is the culture of the Jewish people,” in the words of Rabbi Sherwin Wine, the founder of Humanistic Judaism. [2]
Machar embodies Humanistic Judaism as a complete and vibrant culture with a rich history, an evolving ethical outlook, and corresponding language, music, literature, and folk traditions. Machar rituals and services are non-theistic and do not use worshipful or prayer-like language or invoke the name of any deity or supernatural force.
Congregation
Machar is an inclusive community of people of all backgrounds, ages, and gender orientations, including intercultural and interfaith couples, as well as LGBTQ+ people.
Machar has a Jewish Cultural School, an adult education program, a social action committee and interest groups of women, nature lovers, and teens. <ref>"Community". Machar. Retrieved May 18, 2024.</ref/>
Education
The Jewish Cultural School (JCS) integrates Jewish history, culture, values, and practice into a developmentally appropriate curriculum at each grade level, from pre-school-aged children through the B’Nei Mitzvah year. In 2023, Machar began an experimental collaboration with Kehila Chadasha, a progressive and inclusive Jewish community. Machar/Kehila classes merged in 2024 with classes of Beth Chai Jewish Humanist Congregation of Greater Washington. This is an experiment involving combined school classes and festivals.
Machar offers programming for adults concurrently with the JCS. Topics include themes of Judaism, Humanism, geopolitical problems and other social, humanitarian or policy issues.
History
Machar’s origins trace back to the Birmingham Temple, a non-theistic congregation established in the Detroit area in 1963 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Some Birmingham Temple members who moved to Washington DC sought to create a similar congregation. In December 1977, Rabbi Wine gave a presentation to a group of area residents about Humanistic Judaism. The congregation grew out of this first public meeting.
Originally, the congregation was a voluntary organization whose school was taught by parent volunteers. Services at first were held in members’ homes. Children completed Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects and presented them to the congregation in group ceremonies. As an all-volunteer organization, Machar’s services were conducted by members trained as leaders until Rabbi Ben Biber joined in 2001. He was succeeded by Rabbi Nehemiah Benmosche in 2014 and later by Rabbi Jeremy Kridel in 2017.
Holidays
The congregation observes Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simcha Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, and Passover. In addition, Machar has programming around Yom HaShoah and Darwin Day, and periodic Shabbat services and Havdalah gatherings. Services are primarily in English and use language that is consistent with the non-theistic philosophy of Humanistic Judaism.
Affiliations
Society for Humanistic Judaism Association of Humanistic Rabbis
Partner organizations through the Social Action Committee: • Jews United For Justice (JUFJ) • Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) • Yachad • Jewish Earth Alliance • Congregation Action Network (CAN) External links Official website
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