Sherwin T. Wine, Founder of Humanistic Judaism: 1928-2007

Sherwin Wine started his career as an orthodox rabbi, but he later founded Humanistic Judaism — "a fifth denomination" of Judaism alongside Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. He retired in 2003 but died tragically in Morocco when the taxi he was in was struck by another car. The loss of his voice and insight is a serious blow to humanism in America

A controversial figure who started his career as an orthodox rabbi before founding the godless movement that earned him nicknames "the Rebel Rabbi" and "the Atheist Rabbi," Wine taught his followers a philosophy that focused on the power of people to shape their own destiny.

"We look to people and the courage and strength of people to do what needs to be done rather than leaving everything in the hands of a divine being," said Birmingham Temple member Jim Grossman, 63, of Farmington Hills, who met Wine in 1959. "… The philosophy allows us to celebrate the history and culture and holidays we cherish, but look at them a different way."

Wine taught his followers, for example, that Moses -- and not God -- led the Jews out of Egypt. ...Though many in the Jewish community did not agree with his teachings, they respected him, nonetheless.

Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield said he was inspired by Wine's "brilliance and scholarship."

"Whether you agree with him or not philosophically, he gave you reason to think," he said. "It is such a great loss for the Jewish community."

Source: The Detroit News

Humanistic Judaism makes it easier for Jews to be a part of a Jewish community — participating in Jewish culture and traditions — without also having to adopt all the ancient religious, theistic, and superstitious beliefs which otherwise come as part of the package. Because Judaism can be construed as a culture and ethnicity rather than simply as a religion, it's easier for people to hold on to a sense of "Jewishness" without also having to be either religious or even theistic. This is much harder for adherents of religious ideologies which are entirely religious and not their own culture.

Wine took secular notions and gave them the trappings of religion — congregations, rabbis, services, structure. When he founded the Birmingham Temple in 1963, such a combination was “a novel idea,” he said. “How do you take a personal, humanistic philosophy of life and combine it with a strong attachment to Jewish culture and identity? That’s what Humanistic Judaism is all about,” Wine told the Forward in a telephone interview.

Wine’s critics said that Humanistic Judaism would never last. The movement, however, has endured — and grown. What began as an eight-family congregation is now a movement of 40 communities across the United States, claiming 40,000 members.

Humanistic Friday night services — actually, the word “celebration” is preferred — are built around a theme, such as “love” or “courage.” The celebrations don’t focus on the weekly Torah portion. “It’s too limiting,” Wine said. “We view the Torah as the beginning of Jewish literature, not the constitution.” Instead, selections from the breadth of Jewish literature are read, such as the poems of Yehuda Amichai and portions of the Song of Songs. ...

Over the years, the movement has gained acceptance in the mainstream Jewish community; five years ago, the United Jewish Communities recognized Humanistic Judaism as a denomination. “We reach out to this huge population of secular Jews who don’t have a method of connection to the Jewish community,” Wine said. “I’m not saying we have the answer for everybody, but we do for some of them.”

Source: Forward

The success of Humanistic Judaism is probably as much a testament to Wine's own activism and passion as it is to the appeal of the philosophy itself. Even in retirement he was still active, but now his absence is so complete that it will likely impact the movement his founded. Humanistic Judaism is large enough by this point to be able to stand on its own, but how well it can survive is something that will bear watching. A passionate leader is important to get movements going, but sometimes they can become so important that the movements cannot survive the loss of their founder. Hopefully that won't be the case with Humanistic Judaism.