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Machar (Washington, D.C.)

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Coordinates: 39°05′07″N 77°08′50″W / 39.085333°N 77.147117°W / 39.085333; -77.147117
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Machar
Hebrew: מחר
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
RiteHumanistic Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusJewish congregation
LeadershipRabbi Jeremy Kridel
StatusActive
Location
LocationWashington, D.C. metro area:
CountryUnited States
Machar (Washington, D.C.) is located in Maryland
Machar (Washington, D.C.)
Location in Maryland, just outside the Washington, D.C. boundary
AdministrationSociety for Humanistic Judaism
Geographic coordinates39°05′07″N 77°08′50″W / 39.085333°N 77.147117°W / 39.085333; -77.147117
Architecture
Date established1977 (as a congregation)
Website
machar.org
[1][2]
Machar, The Washington Congregation For Secular Humanistic Judaism
31-1600373[2]
Legal status501(c)(3)

Machar (Hebrew: מחר, lit. 'Tomorrow'[3]), officially Machar, The Washington Congregation For Secular Humanistic Judaism, is a Humanistic Jewish congregation located in the metro area of Washington, D.C., in the United States. Affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism,[4] the non-theistic congregation was founded in 1977,[5] and celebrates Jewish culture, education and celebrations.[6] The congregation has a Jewish cultural school, social action committee, and regular newsletter, and welcomes interfaith couples.[7]

Depending on the type of service, the congregation worships at either one of two locations in Maryland:

Belief and structure

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Machar is an inclusive community of people of all backgrounds, ages, and gender orientation, including intercultural and interfaith couples. The Association of Humanistic Rabbis supports an individual's right to marry someone based on love and the quality of their relationship, and the rights of rabbis to officiate and co-officiate at wedding ceremonies of people from different backgrounds.[8]

Machar is a member of Jewish Outreach Institute's Big Tent Judaism Coalition.[9] Machar supports the 2005 statement on Conversion (Adoption) of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis that says in part, “We, the members of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis, welcome all individuals into the Jewish people who desire to link their lives with the experience of the Jewish nation/family to identify with its historic memories and to participate in its culture and future.” [10]

The congregation has several committees and groups, including: ranging from Social Action to Community Service to Jewish Religious Text Study.[11]

Religious observance

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The congregation observes Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, and Passover. In addition, Machar has programming around Yom HaShoah and Darwin Day, and periodic Shabbat services.[12] Services use language that is consistent with the nontheistic philosophy of Humanistic Judaism.

History

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Jules Abrams and Mary Perica, two members of Rabbi Sherwin Wine's Birmingham Temple, sought to create a similar congregation in the Washington metropolitan area when they moved from Detroit. 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.[5] Machar was incorporated on December 22, 1986;[13] and celebrated its 35th anniversary in September 2012.[14]

Education

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Jewish cultural school

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Machar's Sunday school integrates Jewish history, culture, values, and practice into a developmentally appropriate curriculum at each grade level, from preschool-aged children through the B’Nei Mitzvah year. Post-mitzvah teens can assist in Jewish Cultural School classrooms and help to organize community service activities on behalf of the congregation.[15]

Adult education

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Machar offers programming for adults concurrently with Sunday school. Topics include themes of Judaism, Humanism, and other social, humanitarian, or personal issues.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Staff and Leadership". Machar. Retrieved March 17, 2020.[self-published source?]
  2. ^ a b "Machar-The Washington Congregation For Secular Humanistic Judaism". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Tomorrow". Google Translate. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "Find a Community". Society for Humanistic Judaism. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "About Our Congregation". Machar. Retrieved August 25, 2013.[self-published source?]
  6. ^ Mummolo, Jonathan (December 29, 2007). "Believers in Community". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  7. ^ Murphy, Carlyle (June 17, 2001). "God's Place Shifts Among Some Jews; Humanists' Services Put A New Spin on Tradition". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ "Co-officiating at Wedding Ceremonies". Association of Humanistic Rabbis. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "Big Tent Judaism". Jewish Ourteach Institute. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  10. ^ "Conversion/Adoption". Association of Humanistic Rabbis. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  11. ^ "Community". Machar. Retrieved August 31, 2014.[self-published source?]
  12. ^ "Holidays". Machar. Retrieved February 1, 2014.[self-published source?]
  13. ^ "Machar, The Washington Congregation For Secular Humanistic Judaism - Initial File Number: 864853". District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Treger, William (September 19, 2012). "Thirty five years of rational humanistic activism: Machar celebrates its anniversary". Washington Jewish Week.
  15. ^ "Jewish Cultural School". www.machar.org. Retrieved February 1, 2014.[self-published source?]
  16. ^ "Adult Education". Machar. Retrieved February 1, 2014.[self-published source?]
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