News & Events - Aug 27-Sept 9

NEWS & EVENTS

Aug. 27 - Sept. 9, 2024

5785 IS AROUND THE CORNER!

Rosh Hashanah begins on Wed. Evening, Oct. 2

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE!

REMEMBERING THE LABOR RIGHTS LEGACY OF AMERICAN JEWS

CLICK HERE TO READ

NO SHABBAT PROGRAM ON AUGUST 30 ... HAPPY LABOR DAY!

✦ September 6, 7PM

▶︎ RABBI FALICK WILL SPEAK

HAS WOKE IDEOLOGY GONE TOO FAR? A REVIEW OF TWO BOOKS

Rabbi Falick has spoken in the past in support of the basic concepts of "wokeism." Now come two books challenging much of what is being taught in its name.

From the pen of Dr. John McWhorter, renowned professor of linguistics at Columbia University, author, and NYTimes columnist comes "Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America." This acclaimed scholar argues that an illiberal neo-racism, disguised as antiracism, is hurting Black communities and weakening the American social fabric.

David L. Bernstein, founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values and former President and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs - a national umbrella for local Jewish advocacy - has also written a book about "wokeness" from a Jewish perspective. In his new volume, "Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews," he argues that woke ideology shuts down discourse, corrupts free speech, and has helped to spawn the new virulent strains of antisemitism.

What are the merits of these arguments? Rabbi Falick will share his thoughts from the perspective of freethought humanism.

✦ September 13, 7PM

▶︎ RABBI FALICK WILL SPEAK

OUR HUMANISTIC COMMITMENT TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT

American society has long grappled with the tension between Enlightenment ideals and religious beliefs. Today, a new challenge has emerged. Some on the philosophical left now reject the Enlightenment, claiming it imposes Western norms on non-Western societies and is a form of cultural imperialism. This perspective, known as "cultural relativism," has led to support for authoritarian regimes and oppressive societies.

Drawing on the work of Prof. Joe Chuman, a Columbia University philosopher and Ethical Culture Humanistic leader, Rabbi Falick will explore how to balance these competing forces. He will discuss how we can respect religion and cultural diversity while maintaining the Enlightenment’s core commitments to reason, equality, and universal human dignity.

✦ September 20, 7PM

▶︎ RABBI FALICK WILL SPEAK

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE NEW JEWISH YEAR

Rabbi Falick will introduce some of the history of the holiday and discuss those traditions and ideas that still have relevance to modern secular, Humanistic Jews.

He will also discuss some of the changes (beyond the "worship" aspects) that Humanistic Jews have made to our High Holiday communal celebrations over the years.

WED., AUG. 28, 12:30PM

LUNCH BUNCH

With a discussion of the next chapter of "Getting Good at Getting Older"

BOOK / FILM

DISCUSSION

Wed., Sept. 25, 1PM

Join us to discuss the book Caste and Origin, the film it inspired!

Whether you read the book or saw the movie (or both!) this discussion is for you!

Book by Isabel Wilkerson

Film written and directed by Ava DuVernay

Both the brilliant book and the movie it inspired provide a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America exploring, through an immersive, deeply researched, and beautifully created narratives and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.

Original and revealing, both Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents and the film Origin provide an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.

FILM IS INCLUDED IN DISNEY+ OR HULU SUBSCRIPTIONS!

Also available to rent for a small charge on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video & Fandango.

Coming this Autumn...

A New Weekly Class with Rabbi Falick

THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE

Join Rabbi Falick most Mondays at 12:30PM for a new class about Jews in America. Beginning with the pivotal year of 1653, at each session Rabbi Falick will explore the significant events and individuals that defined American Jewry.

From the earliest 17th-century settlement in New Amsterdam to the long-established American Jewish community today, participants will learn about the indelible mark the Jews of our continent and nation have made upon the millenia-long arc of Jewish history.

** The class will be held in person.

** Brown bags encouraged, coffee and tea provided.

** A Zoom stream will also be available and class sessions will later be posted to the CHJ YouTube channel.

BEGINS OCTOBER 14, 12:30PM

For members and approved guests only.

COMING UP

SPECIAL PRE-ELECTION WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!

Instead of our usual committee meeting, during the month of September we will be hosting in-person (non-partisan) election action work sessions: get-out-the-vote letter and postcard writing and information about other opportunities:

Saturday, September 14, 1:00 to 3:00
Monday, September 16, 1:00 to 3:00
Wednesday, September 18, 6:00 to 8:00.

Come for any or all of these. You may also request materials to work on at home. For more information, contact Audrey Pleasant (audreypleasant@gmail.com).

ADL WALK AGAINST HATE

(Sept. 29 - Save the date!)

We will show support for our congregation's social justice values with a team at this event. When you register--see link below--you will have an option to sign up for the CHJ TEAM. All temple members (it's family friendly) and their guests are welcome to join. You may choose to walk or just to mingle with positive people and listen to the brief program. A financial donation is NOT required.

⬇️ CLICK BELOW TO REGISTER! ⬇️

JOIN THE SJC EMAIL LIST!

Stay up-to-date!

If you want email updates about events, contact Audrey Pleasant:

(audreypleasant@gmail.com) to sign up!

No obligation!

NEW COLLECTION UNDERWAY!

To help the patrons of Oakland County Foster Closet have a positive start to the school year, we will be focusing our collection efforts for the next few weeks on their requested items:

** clean, good quality ** clothes in sizes preemie to teen **

strollers ** bedding ** suitcases ** duffel bags ** baby bottles ** 3-in-one shampoo/conditioner/body wash.

For anything else, please check with Audrey Pleasant at (audreypleasant@gmail.com) for more information.