The City Congregation For Humanistic Judaism (admin Offices)

The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism provides a secular look at Judaism for everyone: Jews, Christians, Muslim, white, black, gay, straight, believers and non-believers . . . . everyone. The Shabbat services, Passover Seders, High Holiday Services and the bar and bat mitzvah program are all reasons for my joining this Congregation. Born Jewish - never a 'practicing Jew' - The City Congregation has brought me closer to Judaism than I have ever been in my life. The High holiday services are inspiring and beautiful. The Kidschool and its bar and bat mitzvah program are extremely meaningful and personally educational experiences for all the children who take part. I urge everyone to visit and participate in a Shabbat service and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed. more

At City Congregation, one can be proud of being Jewish (or being the mate of a Jewish person) without needing to say ""I'm Jewish, but I'm not religious."". Here, one can be culturally Jewish without having to have the ""religious"" element. You may not have heard of City Congregation, but it is a multi-generational community of hundreds of people from all over the New York area - from little kids to people in their late 80s. Sunday classes for kids (leading up to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs) and adult programs are held on the upper West Side, and Friday night Shabbats are held downtown. High Holiday celebrations are held at various locations around town. What my family especially likes about City Congregation is that this is a vibrant community of non-judgmental people who look forward to being with each other at various events. Children and adult programs are thought provoking and we look forward to attending special events. I'd wholeheartedly recommend City Congregation to anyone in the New York area who wants to be part of a secular, welcoming Jewish community. City Congregation has several Open Houses held at various times during the year (that's how we found out about them). Give them a call and find out if they have one coming up soon. more

I was looking for community, somewhere to belong, accepting, open and not bound by dogma. As an adult single female, I've been there and done that, but I was still trying to find a place to call my congregation, where I could feel I found a group of like minded people. Never felt quite at home in most congregations until a friend told me she had met a couple who had similar beliefs to my own and that I should call them. So I did and started by going to an open house in the fall of 2008. Joined for the High Holy Days and have been an active member since. Pros: interesting friendly people Cons: Does not have a building of its own more

If you're looking for a place to celebrate your Jewish heritage and culture but don't want or need the supernatural aspect of the religion, this is it. The congregation is made up of interesting Jewish people (and in many instances, their non-Jewish partners) from all over NYC, as well as from Jersey, Westchester, and CT. There are many events (Shabbats, KidSchool, Adult Perspectives discussion groups, holiday celebrations, bar and bat mitzvahs) where you can meet like-minded secular Jewish people. TCC is a warm and stimulating place, and my husband and I feel lucky to have found a place where we can give our daughter a strong sense of her Jewish identity without indoctrinating her in the religion. Pros: full of smart and interesting people more

My wife and I wanted to find a Sunday school where our daughter could learn about her Jewish heritage and culture, but without being indoctrinated in the religion itself. We wanted to find a congregation where we could be accepted as an atheist (me) and an agnostic (my wife), and where we wouldn't feel like hypocrites whenever we opened a prayer book. We've found all that and more at the City Congregation. Pros: Stimulating discussions; supportive community more

I have been a member of the City Congregation for over 8 years. My wife and I have attended Shabbat celebrations, bar and bat mitzvah celebrations, High Holidays, Passover, plus many other events on the Jewish calendar. Joining and participating in the City Congregation has brought us back into Judaism. We have found our home. more

My wife and I have been members for five years and attend as many of the events as possible. We love the people, most of whom are in the helping professions. The Sunday school is terrific, the teachers committed and attentive, and there are adult programs while the kids are in class. Pros: interesting group of like minded individuals more