Upcoming Events
Kol Haskalah Annual Meeting and Presentation on Jewish Cuba
Saturday, June 15, 2024. 10:00-11:30
Israel Center, Jewish for Good, Levin JCC (1937 West Cornwallis Road, Durham)
Presentation: Having recently returned from the Aleph Jewish Mission tour to Cuba, Tovah Wax and Lucjan Mordzak will offer a presentation of their encounters with the Jewish community in Cuba, given the current historical and cultural context–altogether a complexly interesting and sobering experience.
The presentation will be followed by a short business meeting to discuss the congregation’s wishes for programming for the coming year. This is the annual meeting of members. Anyone who wants to participate is considered a member this current year.
Come to the business meeting! Give your input and vote on next year’s
- Dues and budget for next year, which starts September 1, 2024
- Officers and board members
- Kol Haskalah activities and program choices
June Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Date: June 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 am
Topic: Why is Judaism important to us and how do we express our Judaism? What brings Jews together?
From the book The Jew in the Lotus:
I can very well understand people who say I’d rather cash in my chips, drop my Jewishness, and assimilate with society at large. The danger is, if we don’t transmit to people the utter joy and transcendence the tradition offers, if we transmit to them only that you should be on guard all the time, then we are going to lose them. The danger is failing to transmit the beauty, the joy, the profundity. If we fail to do that, that’s what the Dalai Lama told us, then we’re not going to survive.
Then that was the secret he gave back to us? I asked him.
Yes. To me that was the moment. If you have nothing to offer them, there’s no sense holding on to them. And if you have something to offer them, there’s no reason for them to leave. Boy, does every Jew in the world need to hear that.
A short reading: When Moment Magazine asked me: “Are there any beliefs or opinions that can disqualify someone from being Jewish?”
Location: Israel Center, Jewish for Good, Levin JCC (1937 West Cornwallis Road, Durham)
Refreshments: Lox, Bagels and Juice will be provided
Future Events
Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch Meeting Dates:
- July 21, 2024
Recent Past Events
April 20, 2024. Kol Haskalah Community Potluck Seder
Kol Haskalah’s Humanistic Jewish Congregation celebrates Passover with a Humanistic Seder. Everyone is welcome – bring family and friends!
March 17, 2024. KH Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Topic: Interfaith marriage, mixed families
Resource: Intermarriage Optimism and the Future of Judaism Presented by Paul Golin, Society for Humanistic Judaism Executive Director
Paul made a compelling case for the benefits of intermarriage supported by interesting data from the Pew Study and his own astute analysis of the data. “Intermarriage is good, period, no strings attached,” says Paul Golin of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, who has two decades of experience working on the issues around Jewish intermarriage and who is himself one of the few intermarried executive directors of a Jewish communal organization. A conversation about what the future of Judaism looks like as Jewish households become more diverse and intermarriage helps grow (yes, grow!) the Jewish population. How do intercultural/interfaith families find meaning in their heritages? How can we as a community better celebrate all forms of love and diversity? And what are the challenges we face in doing so?
February 18, 2024. KH Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Topic: Finding commonality, understanding our biases, and how do we approach spirituality?
In this world which appears to be encouraging diversity but in doing so is at times contributing to emphasizing differences rather than commonalities, are we doing the same? Should we not re-examine some of our own dogmas and consider whether our intellectualism about a deity is almost arrogant, exclusive, or elitist? Is there a spirituality which could be a commonality and regardless of prior biases find a meeting place?
Readings:
- An End to Arrogant Atheism. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/an-end-to-arrogant-atheis_b_4602404
- Can Spirituality Exist Without God? A Growing Number Of Americans Say Yes. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/01/13/spirituality-krista-tippett
January 21, 2024. KH Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
The topic for discussion this month is Exploring and Embracing your Jewish Identity in Contemporary Society. A related question is How does or should more traditional Judaism inform Secular Humanistic Judaism?
December 17, 2023. KH Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Topic: Humanistic Judaism
- What makes something a religion?
- Belief in God – yes, no, don’t know, and why or why not?
- Are there values that are unique to Judaism?
Resources:
December 9, 2023. 5-7 pm. Chanukah Potluck Party
Join Kol Haskalah, the NC Triangle’s Secular Humanistic Jewish community, for a warm and joyous Chanukah celebration and potluck. Activities include a secular, humanistic menorah lighting, cookie decorating, and time to eat and schmooze with new friends and old.
October 29, 2023 KH Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Topic: Antisemitism in America: What can we do?
Reading matter:
Anti-Semitism: 90 Ways you can respond
As antisemitism grows, so does its dangers to everyone. Here’s how you can fight against it
The first national strategy for fighting antisemitism is finally here. What’s in it?
October 1, 2023. Ethical Exploration: A Joint Venture
Panel Discussion on the Questions
- What do you consider to be the most salient (1 or 2) ethical issues in today’s world?
- What would you consider to be the most helpful individual or collective actions to address these?
Co-Sponsored by Kol Haskalah and the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle
High Holidays
Rosh Hashanah Eve Service: Friday, September 15, 2023, 7:00 pm. Fellowship Hall, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Tashlich: Sunday, September 17, 2023. 11:00 am. Location in Chapel Hill. RSVP required for location information.
Yom Kippur Eve Service: Sunday, September 24, 2023, 7:00 pm. Fellowship Hall, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
August 20, 2023. Discussion Group and Bagel Brunch
Topic for Discussion: Antisemitism in America Today
Reading: May 29, 2023 Letter from an American – Richardson on Fascism
Senior Lounge, Jewish for Good, Durham, NC
June 14, 2023. Religious Privilege and the Freedom to Oppress
with Kate Cohen, Author and Washington Post Contributing Columnist, in conversation with Paul Golin, Executive Director, Society for Humanistic Judaism/ Jews for a Secular Democracy. Stream the program here.
June 2, 2023. What is Humanistic Judaism?
Presented by Cathy Moore, President, Kol Haskalah, A Humanistic Jewish Congregation.
Location: Men’s and Women’s Groups, Jewish for Good, Durham, NC
Curious about Humanistic Judaism? View the slides here for a nice overview of the history, philosophy and the need for Humanistic Judaism.
May 13, 2023. Kol Haskalah Annual Members Meeting
February 8, 2023. Intermarriage Optimism and the Future of Judaism
Presented by Paul Golin, Executive Director of the Society for Humanistic Judaism via Zoom.
Paul made a compelling case for the benefits of intermarriage supported by interesting data from the Pew Study and his own astute analysis of the data. “Intermarriage is good, period, no strings attached,” says Paul Golin of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, who has two decades of experience working on the issues around Jewish intermarriage and who is himself one of the few intermarried executive directors of a Jewish communal organization. Join him for a lively conversation about what the future of Judaism looks like, as Jewish households become more diverse and intermarriage helps grow (yes, grow!) the Jewish population. How do intercultural/interfaith families find meaning in their heritages? How can we as a community better celebrate all forms of love and diversity? And what are the challenges we face in doing so? This event was sponsored by Kol Haskalah and Jewish for Good.
December 10, 2022. Kol Haskalah Chanukah Party
Please bring a snack or treat to share. Drinks and cookies for decorating will be provided. Date: Saturday, December 10th Time: 3 – 5 pm Location: Seymour Center in Chapel Hill, “Gathering Place” space