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Rabbi Sherwin Wine founded the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews in 1986.  Tragically, Rabbi Wine was killed in Morocco in July 2007, leaving his cherished global umbrella organization, created to unify world secular and humanistic Jewry, with a void that current management is hard pressed to sustain as a facsimile, let alone expand from its eleven country base. The Federation’s objective was not to minister to individuals, causing its name to become a bit of a misnomer.  Thus, on June 14, 2008, its successor was incorporated in Washington, the District of Columbia, as the International Federation for Secular & Humanistic Judaism (“IFSHJ”).  In order to fully grasp the IFSHJ’s mission, it is recommended that the corporate charter, published herein, be studied by the reader. Since the definition of secularism is intrinsic in humanism, our rabbis identify themselves, as do most adherents, as members of the religious denomination, Humanistic Judaism. Click here to download our corporate charter.

Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines religion as “…..a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs and 2), a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.”  Today, Humanistic Judaism considers itself the fifth largest “religious” denomination within Judaism, albeit, according to various US and Israeli surveys, it represents in excess of half world Jewry, though they may be unaware of a formal proselytizing organization. 

Humanistic Judaism understands its human-centered heritage, culture, civilization, ethical values and shared experience of the Jewish people.  The message is that we have the power and responsibility of our own lives.  Humanistic Judaism requires a collective voice, that which the IFSHJ is supplying in Israel, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, France, Belgium, Italy and countries of the former Soviet Union.

click picture for more info    Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."                           - Albert Einstein "The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, an almost fanatical love of justice and the desire for personal independence -- these are the features of the Jewish tradition which make me thank my stars that I belong to it."  (The World As I See It,) p.143                                            - Albert Einstein