Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/107047
Sarasota News Leader February 1, 2013 Page 79 beliefs, gender or sexual orientations, racial THE CONTINUOUS PATH backgrounds or any other characteristics that In addition to his work as a rabbi, lecturer and could be discriminated against. academic scholar, Chalom puts a substantial "We create a humanistic celebration of Jewish amount of effort into maintaining the memlife, that's what we do," Chalom explained. "If bership of his congregation and promoting you find that relevant, meaningful, inspiration- Humanistic Judaism as a whole, a process, he told the News Leader, he sometimes refers to al, then that's wonderful!" as "humangelizing." As a humanistic organization that looks be"I think we've been steady for the last few yond questions of the supernatural, the SHJ years," Chalom said in regard to memberemphasizes the positive potential and value ship of the SHJ: "Not growing, but not falling of the members of its congregation. "We're apart." focused on what we can know, what we can do here and now," Chalom said. "So you think Chalom explained that the organization had there's no personality intervening in the world. to reorient its structure after Wine's death and What next? What do you do now? How do you that divvying up the founder's responsibilities live a good life? How do you connect to your among the current leadership has been an inpast?" he continued. "There's so many more tense process. things to do than spend time worrying about However, he said, the SHJ continues to push what isn't there, or at least what isn't involved forward through the 21st century, adapting its in your life if there may be something there." outreach to new forms of social media, including Facebook and Twitter, releasing some of The time freed up by moving past these ques- its publications in eBook-compatible formats tions, Chalom explained, can be utilized in a and offering "freebies" as much as it possibly number of ways, including examining Jewish can to increase awareness. culture — both historical and present-day — conducting academic or scientific research As an organization funded largely through and providing aid or services to those in need. dues and donations, Chalom said, it is important that the SHJ strike the right balance "Most of our communities have either a com- between what can be given away for free and munity service or a social action committee what should be sold, so it can continue to covthat does works," Chalom said when asked er overhead costs and support its leaders fiabout the SHJ's involvement in helping others. nancially. "We absolutely try to involve ourselves in the Despite the challenges it has faced with the world, at least in part because we don't know loss of its founder, Chalom is confident the that anyone or anything else is going to do it SHJ will carry on its tenacious mission. "I'm for us," he added. "In the end, it does lead to a still convinced," he said, "that if we're relevant kind of human activist approach because you and interesting, then we'll continue to attract can't rely on anyone else to do it." members." %