The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations
(CSJO) is composed of independent organizations that promote a secular expression of its members' Jewish heritage, with particular
emphasis on the culture and ethics of the Jewish people.
For us the continuity and survival of the Jewish people are
paramount. The prophetic tradition of social justice and humanism
is the foundation upon which our continuity is built.
As Jewish organizations
with a secular world view, we stress the historic, cultural,
and ethical aspects of our Jewishness in an effort to create
identity that is relevant to contemporary life and committed to justice, peace, and community
responsibility.
Although the Jews are a world people,
with a multitude of views and beliefs, we hold that it is not
only possible but also essential for Jewish survival that Jews
with all different world views work together in Jewish community
programs of mutual interest.
Our schools, adult and youth groups
function outside the framework of organized religion and carry
out programs of education directed towards understanding our
people's past and enriching our present Jewish lives. These
programs include study of our tradition, history, literature,
music, art, languages (Yiddish as a vital instrument of expression
of a significant period of our history; Hebrew as it relates
to modern Israel; and other Jewish languages created in the Diaspora). Creative approaches to holiday celebrations provide
an opportunity to reflect upon our cultural and historic heritage
and to relate their significance to present-day life.
CSJO has ties with Jews everywhere in
the world and are concerned with their welfare. We are hopeful that peace will come to the Middle
East and to the State of Israel, which is home to a significant
and vital part of world Jewry.
Through educational, cultural,
and social activities we hope to instill in our members an
ever-deepening sense of Jewish identity, as well as pride in being Jewish. |