Taking the deism out of Judaism: Meet the new face of Humanistic Jews

[rug]

'My outsider status could be helpful because that's who we're trying to reach'



Paul Golin with wife Yurika and their son.

To stay competitive among denominations, incoming executive director Paul Golin distills Judaism to a culture that can compete

BY YAAKOV SCHWARTZ
December 27, 2016, 11:21 am

Some might find it counterintuitive for a Jewish denomination to select as executive director a man who, by his own admission, hadn’t attended High Holiday services for over 25 years. (He has since broken the dry streak.)

But the way Paul Golin sees it, that’s exactly why the Society for Humanistic Judaism hired him for the job.

“What I bring to the table is the perspective of an outsider. I am the target population. I’m intermarried, I don’t really consider myself affiliated, I’m not a believer, and I challenge the congregational model,” Golin tells The Times of Israel via telephone from his office in New York City after his August hiring.

“The board of SHJ made a bold move — you could even say took a gamble on me — because I’m not an insider. But my outsider status could be helpful because I’m the one we’re trying to reach. We’re looking to attract people who don’t necessarily want to spend all their time thinking about Judaism,” he says.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/taking-the-deism-out-of-judaism-meet-the-new-face-of-humanistic-jews/

http://www.shj.org/

[guillaumeb]

1. I see this as the essence:

“There’s a benefit in feeling this connection to Jewish life, Jewish history, other Jewish people,” he says. “To being part of a Jewish community, above and beyond being Jewish with your friends and family. And so I think we should come at it from this angle instead of, frankly, what are the benefits to our congregation

Part of a community. No matter if it is a virtual community, like DU, or a literal grouping, people need to be part of a community. To feel that they are not alone.